Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-02-23
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. J
Washington, Feb. %.

Washington, Feb. %.
The democratic members of the Senate
committee on interstate commerce this
morning, in conference at which sew
eral other democratic Senators were
present, decided that they would vote as
unit on resolution for the report of
the railroad rate bill as it passed the
House without committing any member
of the committee to its support, or against
it. The idea of the democrats is that 1t
is a waste of time to consider the bill
further in the committee in view OF the
well demonstrated fact that the real
legislation will have to be framed on the
floor of the Senate.
Senator Knox's bill for the regulation
Of interstate commerce, which he intro
duced Yesterday as a solution OF the rail-
road rate problem, is moi, it Is said, an
administration measure as many believe,
aud does U0t represent the views OF
President Roosevelt Instead Of voicing
the Presidents sentiments, Mr. KnOx's
bill stands for course Of procedure that
The President has "turned down" 1t is
understood that the reason Senator
Knox introduced bis bill is found in
the fact that the President refused
to accept the amendment to tie
Hepburn bill which he brought to
the White House a few days ago.
Had the President agreed to the
amendment in question Mr.. Knox would
not have offered the bill in the Senate
Yesterday. 1t is understood that Mr.
Knox LETT the White House 10 very
warmIframe of mind, declaring that rather
than allow his amendment to be edited,
az the President is said to have suggest
ed, he asserted that he'd father none at
all. But as he was anxious to make
public his views on the great question
he decided to incorporate them in bill
which he know would have slim chance
of getting through. 1t is said that the
introduction of Mr.. Knox's bill WAS as
much of surprise TO the President as
it was to the members OF the Senate.
The crucial period in the consideration
If the railroad rate legislation by the
Senate Interstate Commerce Commission
was reached this morning. According
TO agreement the committee met at 1890
10 begin the fiual work of perfecling the
measure which it will report to the
Senate. The bill which is under con-
sideration is the Hepburn bill as it came
from the House. There are more than
hundred amendments pending, all OF
which are 10 be voted upon today if it
is a physical possibility to do so. The
desire is to complete the bill this week
so that it may lie reported to The Senate
when it meets again Monday morning.
Senators Elkins, Aldricb, Kean, Foraker
and Crane, members of the committee,
have agreed to abandon the propositions
they have submitted and TO accept the
plan proposed by Senator Knox in his
bill introduced yesterday which provides
(or full review by the courts. The
Presidents view that rate fixed by the
commission shall remain iG effect during
the judicial proceedings is supported by
Senators Dolliver and Clapp. Senator
Culoni, who is absent, also agrees with
this position. The democrats of the
committee occupy a middle ground.
They have agreed to support an amend
ment for judicial review but insist that
the rate OF the commission must remain
in effect pending the courts decision.
During the discussion in the commit
tee this morning Senator DOlliyer pro-
duced letter from Senator Cullom asking
him to record his vote fOs the Hepburn
bill as il passed the H ,use without
amendment. Senator Dolliyer here
upon moved that vote should be taken
at once on the question of reporting the
Hepburn bill without amendment aud
with favorable recommendation. This
being 10 opposition to the agreement
which the democrats had reached among
themselves, TO vote to report the bill
without any recommendation at all, a
recess was taken TO enable the democrats
to have another conference. The COM
mittee will meet again at two O'Clock.
The democrats in the meantime are con-
ferriug in Senator Tillman's room.
The reason for the democratic ccn-
tenlion that the bill should be reported
without any recommendation was deyel-
oped 10 the committee. 1t appears thst
ST nator Foster and C,rmack favor the
incorporation Of provision for judicial
review. The democrats being thus di
vided, they concluded the best way
would be to vote to report the bill with
out committing any body to its support.
The Senate committee on interstate
commerce this afternoon decided to re-
port favorable to the Senate the Hepburn
bill as it came from the House, with
out amendment, reserving the right of
members ofthe committee to offer amend
ments on the floor of the Senate. The
vote stood s to 5.
Rear Admiral Asa Walker has been select
ed by the Navy Department TO act as super
intendent of the naval observatory here upon
the retirement of Rear Admiral Colby NJ.
Chester, February 49,
The House committee Oh the judiciary to-
day considered the recommendations peril.
nent TO federal control Of insurance in the
Presidents message, but came 10 no conclu-
sion The committee, on March z. will vote
on the pending bills providing for the ex-
clusion Of liquor from prohibition States.
In addressing the National Association Of
Mexican War Veterans today Judge Adyo.
cate General George p. LAWS said that he
believed the government should bring back
10 the states the hOdies of soldiers who lost