Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-11
ALLISON AMENDMENTS TODAY
Senate Arranees to Take Up Compromise
Sections Of the Rate Bill.
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE
Provision Added to Measure MakinE
Acceptance of Rebates Punish-
able by Fine and Impris-
Onment.

WASHINGTON, May l0.--The senate to-
day completed the consideration of the sec
ond section OF the railroad rate bill and
just before adjournment listened to the
reading OF sections 3 and without con-
sldering any amendments offered to them
The purpose of this reading was to bring
the consideration Of the bill UP to the point
OF taking UP the Allison compromise
amendments, which will be done tomorrow.
number Of very important changes
were made in the second section. includ-
Ing provision restoring the imprisonment
penalty Of the act of 1887 and an amend
ment suggested by Senator McCumber,
imposing a penalty Of fine and imprison-
ment against shippers who secure rebates
from transportation companies The latter
amendment was incorporated for the
avowed purpose of hitting the trusts. An
other amendment adopted was offered by
Senator Warren. Il gives the government
business preference over all other traffic
! In time of war.
! A long series of changes was also
made at the instance of the Interstate
Commerce commission. Many of these
were verbal and all were intended to i'm
/ prove the administrative feature of the
| law. There was continuous debate
/ tie complaint that senators manifested
disposition to increase the time allowed
them under the fifteen minute rule by
| speaking on amendments to amendments
and also by speaking in the time of other
senators. Senator Tillman stated pri-
vately when the senate adjourned, that If
these practices continue he would make
an EFFORT tomorrow to have the speeches
| limited to fve minutes duration.
Text of Rebate Amendment.
Following is the text of the rebate
amendment:
Any person, corporation or company who
shall deliver property for interstate trans
| portat1on to any common carrier subject
to the provisions of this act, or for whom,
as consigner or consignee. any such car
] rier shall transport property, who shall
knowingly or wilfully, by employe, agent
| officer or otherwise, directly or Indirectly
| by or through any means or devices what
| soever, receive or accept from such com
mon carrier any sum of money or any other
| valuable consideration, as a rebate or on
/ set against the regular charges for trans
| portation of such property, so fixed by the
sehedules of rates provided for in this act
! snail be deemed guilty of fraud, which Is
| hereby declared to be a misdemeanor, and
shall, upon conviction thereof in any court
| Of the United States OF competent juris.
diction, within the district where such Of
| Tense was committed. in addition TO ans
other penalties provided by this act, be
! bhbJecNeu 10 d Hne equal 10 three tlfnaS the
| sum OF money so received or accepted and
three times the value of any consideration
so received or accepted. TO be .ascertained
by the trial court: and in the trial fol
| such onense all such rebates or other con.
slderatons so received or accepted for Q
period OF six years prior to the commence.
ment OF the action naag be received In evi.
dence and the said fine BhaH be thres tisnes
the total amount Of money or three times
the total value OF such Considerations Sc
| received or accepted. as the case may be
| provided. that the foregoing penalties shall
not apply to rebates or considerations re.
| ceived prior to the passage and approval
| of this act.
The senate sat until o'clock and II
then adjourned to meet at IL o'clock to-
morrow morning