The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-05
AGREE ON
RAILROAD RATE BILL
Victory Perches Upon the Banner of
Aldrich, Foraker, Knox
and Spooner.
Roosevelt and the Representatives Bend the Knee the In
terest of Party Harmony in the Com
ing Campaign.

Washington, May 4.-What amounts
practically to an agreement on the ex-
listing differences concerning court fea-
lures of the rate bill has been reached
by senate conferences extending over
the last week and Senator Allison will
offer an amendment comforting juris-
dictiOn upon the circuit courts to hear
and determine suits brought against
the interstate commerce commission.
The amendment will not suggest to the
court whether their judicial review
shall be confined to external questions
or whether it shall be an inquiry into
the business or reasonabIeness of the
rates fixed by the commission.
Senator Long, who made the princi-
pal legal argument for the house bills,
and Senators Aldrich and Crane, the
leaders in the movement seeking an
amendment providing for a broad court
review, express themselves today as
favoring the amendment and both fac
tons are agreed that the compromise
is satisfactory to the president.
Undoubtedly this means that obsta-
cles to the speedy passage of the meas
ure have been removed.
Sacrificed to Politics.
Whether the conservatives or the
radicals have won victory is a ques-
ton that is not disturbing either fac
ton. The agreement in a measure is |
regarded as political. IT is believed now
practically the Republican strength of
the senate will be cast for the bill, /
whereas. under the long continued es-
arrangement IL was considered that il !
would require a minority endorsement !
to pass the bill and the Democratic |
party would be in a position to take /
fun credit for il.
Despite the attitude Of Republican /
senators not to discuss the subject of I
victory or defeat. friends of the house /
bill, when charged with surrender to /
the conservative forces in defense. are (
pointing to Senator Longs speech on /
the bill. In that speech the Kansas /
senator said:
Il do not object to an amendment [
authorizing such suit to be brought |.
against the commission and comforting /
Jurisdiction on the court sitting in .
equity, to hear and determine any such /
suit
Emanated From White House.
It was stated today that Senator /
Long spoke for the friends of the bin :
and he pointed out the agreement now /
reached is in exact accord with the /
suggestion made by him. In the same /
speech Senator Long quoted Senators /
Lodge, FOrakes and Knox declaring |
that an amendment should provide for
whether the rate is confiscatory. but I
also as 20 whether it is just and rea- /
sonable
Friends Of the bill in speeches in the F..
senate, have cOntended throughout that
the house bin comforting Jurisdiction
upon the courts. but they opposed
enormously any amendment which
suggested TO the court that it should
review the action OF the interstate COM
merce commission as to the reason
able charge Of business of the rate
fixed. Opponents OF the bill without
amendment asserted that the courts
should be given the right of review
ing all questions involved
Both factions now say an amend
ment comforting jurisdiction upon the
courts will be satisfactory. The thin
waveTing line dividing the two forces /
has been eliminated.
Bailey Amendment Left Out.
The agreement does not take into
consideration the several pending
amendments, providing for non-suspen-
sion OF the orders of the Interstate
commerce commission Thus far pro-
vision Of that character has not been
offered by any Republican senator. It
IS known that several of the ma joritv
senators believe with Senator Bailey
that such an amendment would be con
stitutiOnal. but the aCl cement on the
court review feature, IL is said, pre-
cludes beyond the remotcst possibility !
the adoption of a nOn-suspension pro-
vision
Under the agreement reached, in or
der to confer Jurisdiction, there must
be two amendments to the bill. The /
first is to section 10 Of the Elkins bill.