Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-20
Makes a Reduction on Number Of Items Of
Fifteen Per Cent.
DESPAIR sTlRs UP A LITTLE WUSs
Writes a Threatening Letter to Adam
MoMullen Of House.
CHARGES FAIL FLAT UPON INVESTIGATION
Prohibition Amendment Proposition
IL Placed on General File of
House over Adverse Report
OF Committee.
trrom a star correspondentO

LINCOLN, March l9.-(Special. THE
Aldrich maximum freight rate BILL which
caused a deadlock In the senate committee
OF the whole yesterday, was today amended
and recommended for passage by a vote
which was close but apparently decisive.
The vote in committee I'm favor of the bill
ranged from 10 to Is, while the vote against
It stood at IL. When the report OF the
committee was made to the senate mo-
tion not to concur in that part of the
committee report relating to the bill was
lost by a vote OF 10 to %, giving the bill
to all appearances enough supporters to
insure its passage by the senate
The debate on the measure lasted over
an hour and while It was heated at times
the personalities that marked the discus
sion yesterday were omitted. Considera-
able time was spent on the legal side OF
the question, those who we're opposing the
bill asserting It would hamper rather than
help the railway commission. The hostile
! minority took the ground that the question
| of freight rates should be left entirely
! to the commission. The friends OF the bill
contended Il would give speedy relief from
! exorbitant freight charges and would give
! the commission a basis from which to
work. The original measure provided for
a cut of 20 per cent in all present schedules,
/ giving the commission power to raise or
| lower these rates as proof presented to II
/ by the roads or by shippers might justify.
In order to secure a good working ma
! iorty for the bill, those who were backing
! It consented to amendments making the
! reduction in rates Is per cent instead OF
| 20 and making the bill apply only to live
| stock, potatoes, grain and grain products,
| fruit coal, lumber and building material
in carload lots. The change in the amount
| of the cut was made on motion of Will
cox Of Thayer after a motion TO cut 1t to
10 per cent, made by McKesson. had been
voted down. The change limiting the scope
Of the bill to certain commodities was made
on motion OF Patrick of Sarpy.
Buck OF Otoe, the only fusionist who
opposed the bill yesterday supported 1t to-
day at every stage of the night. The fusion
caucus which met at the Lincoln hotel Mon
day night is said to have devoted con-
siderable attention to him, with the result
that he changed his attitude on the meas
ure.
First Test of Strength.
The first vote in committee came on a
motion of Epperson of Clay TO indefinitely
postpone the bill. This was lost, IL to To-
When Aldrich's motion to recommend IL
for passage was put is voted for it, and
the motion was declared carried without
the negative being taken.
When the committee made it's report to
the senate Epperson Of Clay continued the
fight on the bill and moved that the part
of the committee report recommending the
bill for passage be not concurred in, but
that the bill be indefinitely postponed
Ashton demanded roll call. The vote
was as follows on the motions