Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24
RAILROAD BILL IS AMENDED
House Gives Substitute for LaFollets
u.s. Measure RIGHT Of Way.
WORD KNOWINGLY" IS STRICKEN OUT
Friends of Bill Say "a is Now
Stronger and Better Than ORIG.
inal Draft by Wisconsin
Senator.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.-Under rule
reported from the committee on rules by
Mr.. Dalzeii OF Pennsylvania the house to-
day amended it's substitute for the La
Toilette 16-hour railroad employees bill by
an Affirmative vote OF go. there being no
negative votes cast Both republicans. and
democrats agreed that the amendments
made to the bill strengthen II greatly and
It would be more satisfactory TO the pres
ident ~ .-s Ytt..tl
The most important amendment adopted
by the house is the elimination OF the
cord knowingly wherever II occurs,
which has the effect OF relieving tho rail-
roads OF responsibility for overwork unless
II is permitted or required with the knowl-
edge OF railroad management that an en-
pioye has worked overtime. '.'i'
The house agreed to the conference re-
port on the legislative executive and iJudic-
tai bill and then resolved itself into com.
mittse Of the whole for the further con-
sideration OF the sundry civil bill, holding
a night session IN the hope OF completing
the measure. BY vote OF 1ls to IS. an
amendment was adopted which provided
for the continuance Of work on a geological
map Of the United States. S
LaFoIIette Bill 90 Conferences.
ported today a rule making Of the
highest privilege the house substitute
for the LaFoilette sixteen hour rail-
road employees bill The bill. as re-
ported by the committee on rules, was
amended in several places, the most Inn
portant OF which is the elimination OF the
word 'knc wingly' wherever it occurs.
which had the effect OF relieving the rail-
roads OF responsibility for overwork un-
less II Is permitted or required with the
knowledge OF railroad MANAGEMENT that an
4employe had worked overtime. Another
amendment strikes out the provisions In
the section regulating employment which
reads: -.,s., -.-.4e.-
UNLESS Immediately prior to said twenty
four-hour period such employee had at least
eight consecutive hours of duty and during
| said period OF twenty-four hours following
had at least six consecutive hours on
duty" ~
The measure Is also 20 amended IA 70. re-
quire reasonable prudence" not Ordinary
prudence" as the house substitute pro-
vided. ,-. -. -t4-
I y Mr.. Daixell believed the bill very much
stronger than the LaFollette bill, for IL
now covered fast mail and excursions
trains. which. be SAID. were left put Of the
IAFoilette hill.
Mr.. williams OF Mississippi. the minority
leader. congratulated the republicans and
the country on the amendments made by
the rule. He said the republicans had seen
new light and they were now enacting
legislation. which the democrats had stood
for from the beginning.
MT. Esch Of Wisconsin said ne believed
the bill would meet the cordial support of
the president.
Mr.. Bartlett Of Georgia said that the
change that had come over the spirit OF
the republicans was traceable only to the
big stick" and he asserted that the
changed conditions had been due to the
attitude Of the democratic members,
The amendments were adopted on q roll
call by vote of-ayes 27A nays 0,
The speaker appointed MessrS. Hepburn.
Sherman and Davey oonferees on the bill
on part OF the house.