The Washington times., 1907-01-15
Hours of Service Meas
ure Meets Strong OPP
position in House.
Sent to Committee of IN
terState and Foreign
Commerce.
Railroads Making Deter
mined Effort to Have
Bill Buried.

The outlook for the Ia Toilette
hours OF service bill is decidedly worse
now than when the measure passed
AS soon as the bill had passed the
Senate friends followed II 10 the
House, and explained to the manage
nent there that they were exceeding
~ anxious 10 get consideration Tor II
this session. They explained that
similar measure had already been IA
vorabIy reported 10 the House, and
vas on the calendar. 80 they asked
that the Senate bill be allowed 10 lie
on the Speakers table, whence II
might be called up with motion 70
substitute il Tor the measure already
reported.
This would have given the measure
a highly favorable status, and the
friends OF the bill went away with the
decided impression that they had gain
ed a promise. They understood that Il
was agreed that the Senate bil should
lie on the Speakers table XII today,
subject 70 the privileged motion. 10
substitute II Tor the reported House
bah.
Measure Sent to Committee.
Bat before there had been opportunity
10, take IL up in thla way, the House
authorities changed their mind ana sent
the ball 20 the ComaltJee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. That commit
tee Is regarded As comfortably hostile
10 such legislation, and is reported al
ready TO be arranging for a series OF
hearings This Is accepted by friends
Of the oil as equivalent 10 assurance o.
ITS defeat at this session, unless the
President shall personally bring pres
sure 10 bear.
In his letter 70 Representative Wat
son last summer the President strongly
declared for this legislation, and said
no hoped and had reason, To- believe"
It would pass az the short session. Now
the friends Of the measure are wonder
ing whether the President had reason
70 believe" in its passage because OF an
understanding with the Speaker.
Railroads Determined Fight.
The railroads are making a determined
night against the bill. and all along have
been trying 10 get it sent To commit
tee. drsI in the Senate. now in the
House. They have lined up the rail
road employees against It, so far as
possible, and an interesting sample of
this work is presented by a letter which
Senator Burkett. of Nebraska. has just
received from constituent at Omaha
This constituent had signed a letter
protesting against passage Of the bill
The Senator replied that he should
vote for II, and explained why.
To this letter he received the follow
ing answer.
Signed Through Misunderstanding.
Omaha, Neb.. Jan. IL. 1907.
Mr. f j. Burkett Washington, ID. @.
Dear Sir: received your letter of the
9Th instant and ] do most certainly
agree with you views on the subject
discussed
wish 10 say that the letter You refer
TO was signed by me through a misun
derstanding II was handed 10 me Il
sign a few minutes before leaving on my
run so i had time 10 look over only
part of IL. and / understood il was il
favOr OF the ''stXteen-hOur bill
The man who asked me TO sign tn,
letter / have since learned in an eX-cOn
ductOr, who was promised reinstate
ment If he would work 10 have this bill
defeated.
1 thank you for the interest YOU hav,
taken in the matter and trust YOU vii
work for our interests when the bill il
10 be voted on. Yours truly,