The Washington herald., 1907-02-26

thought they knew the worst that the Ia
nous tactician from Wisconsin could do.
Apparently supporting the bin. TO which
in committee he had added the anti-smoke
BILL and the brOad-tire bill. and the
Northeast Washington street railway line
he led the Democrats and a goodly num-
Der OF Republicans over a steep place and
into the deep, wide sea.
There was j strong sentiment for Scent
fares or universal transfers. Amend
ments. however. could only be offered by
unanimous consent, and when Mr. Bah
cock. caught in a trap by Mr.. James, ad-
mitted ne would allow the amendments.
! Mr.. James offered the 3-cent-fare pTopo-
sition and Mr.. Madden, of Illinois. the
universal-transfer amendment. Mr.. Mann
/ arose and objected 20 unanimous consent
Then the House pros eeded- to vote down
the whole bill rather than allow it to pass
without the 3-cent-fare or the universal
transfer amendment being put on il.
Down with it went the three measures
the anu-smoke law. the broad-tire bill, and
1.-THE Northeast Washington line. which the
Washington Traction had been fighting
tooth and nail at both ends Of the Capitol.
Charge of Bad Faith.
/ Chairman Babcock did not come through
the day without sweating much blood ana
getting badly Scared. The first antag-
onist he met was his redOubtablo old friend
Mr. Hepburn. Of Iowa. When the bin was
called up Mr. Hepburn asked for Ave
minutes 70 discuss Il. The House lead
er. Mr. Payne, objected automatically.
/ Mr. Hepburn. one Of the oldest and
ablest members Of the House, was aghast
/ at the treatment he was getting. Shak
ing his fist al Mr. Babcock and calling
him many kinds of an artihcer he sat
down. The colloquy continued for sew
eral minutes. Mr.. Hepburn shaking his
/ fist at Mr.. Babcock and the latter re
/ turning the compliment For a time there
was some fear OF d personal encounter,
as the two, although well on in years,
are Ia weight and agility well matched.
The Speaker decided on an inquiry from
Mr.. Underwood, Of Alabama that II was
suspension day. and recognized Mr.. James
as the leader in opposition % the bill.
Twenty minutes was allowed each side
for debate Mr. Babcock had a small
map hung up IN front Of the House and
proceeded 60 explain the bill. Mr.. James,
District day. when there was opposition
TO a minor franchise bill unless an amend
ment for lower fares was put in. Mr.
+ Babcock promised that when the Union
Station bill came TO the House from the
District Committee, the proposed amend
ments would be germane and there should
be ample opportunity 10 discuss them. Mr.
James read from Mr.. Babcock's remarks
IN the Record and there was no getting
away from them. Repeatedly in the dis
cussion members referred to the bad
faith of the chairman Of the District Com
mittee.
Catechised by Kentuckian.
why haven't you kept faith?" de-
manded Mr. James. shouting across the
House.
Mr.. Babcock admitted that he had made
the promise. but it had been impossible 10
get the bin out Of the committee. and
now it was necessary to consider it under
the two-thirds rule because the time OF
the session was short
/ "Wiu you refrain from refusing unan-
imous consent If 7 now OFFER an amend
ment for Scent fares?7 asked Mr. James
This taken with the charge Of bad faith
for a moment unsettled Mr. Babcock
and he consented, and Mr. James
then offered the 3-cent-fare proposition
When tie Speaker put the question TO the
/ House TO get unanimous consent, It
seemed for moment that no one would
object The silence for once was felt
Then Mr.. Mann arose and objected.
eve can only get at this" said Mr..
James, In despair, by defeating the bill.
/ These roads have been built at a cost Of
S300o0 or $4,000 mile, and are capitalized
at 100000 or COO a mile They are rob-
bling the people, and II should be stopped. -
Mr.. Madden offered his universal-trans-
fer amendment. Again there was silence
and it seemed as if unanimous consent
might not be withheld. But Mr. Mann
again arose and sclemnly objected
Mr.. Sulzer. Of New York. presented an
amendment requiring the railways to sell
/ two tickets for . cents. The same pro-
| cedure was again gone through, and Mr.
Mann, of Illinois, who should not be for
gotten, objected.
Reason for Peculiar Tactics.
MI Hepburn here expressed an opinion
Of Mr.. Babcocks tactics There must be
some reason for the peculiar method of
/ the chairman of the District Committee
said the Iowa member He certainly
promised the House that this bill should
] come in here when there would be a
chance to amend it and to discuss it on
/ its merits. He has chosen to bring it in
and ask for suspension of the rules SO as
/ to cutoff amendments.
1T is the grOssest sort OF bad faith.
/ Members have desired to offer amend
ments for accent fares, for a provision
/ against overlooking the street railway
| cars, to correct inefficient management
I IN n Ar h..
| plete reports that can be understood The
chairman OF the committee has assured
us on many occasions. public and private.
| that the bill would be brought in before
/ this. Why is II that this bill. the only
one on which these amendments could
/ be made, is brought in now under such
conditions that these matters cannot be
discussed"
Mr. Hepburn went on to say that the
street railway companies were capitalized
out Of proportion to cost Of construction;
/ that they complained that they could not
reduce fares. but they held on TO their
+ business because OF its speculative value.
The men VINO owned them were glad 10
buy them. One company had bought
thirteen roads. lie thought that il was
time TO regulate them.
MIR. Shaekleford. of Missouri created
soEie diversion by the remark that if Mr..
I Babcock were dead and in heaven the
| House could not remedy the situation.
! because Of the pernicious rules under
which II was gagged
Mr.. Underwood admonished the House
that it was only on a bill Ike the one
UP that any corrective legislation could
be had.
Amendments TO regulate" said he.
must be put on when the roads ask for
something of Congress
Mr.. James urged that the bill be de-
fedted, and the committee directed bv
the House to bring in hiIl for p