The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-11
HOUSE PASSES
RAILROAD BILL
Vote on Administration Meas
ute 200 to l26.
MERGER AMENDMENT LOST
Republicans Present Solid Front on
the Final Vote - Fourteen Demo-
Gratis Voted For the Bill.


Gratis Voted For the Bill.
Washington, May 1.-THE admins
tration railroad bill. amended in many
important particulars, was passed by
the house by a vote OF 200 to l26. A
final effort made to restore section II.
which proposed to legalize mergers,
failed. The Republicans voted solldly
for the bill, while fourteen Democrats
also cast votes in the Affirmative.
The tariff agreement clause and the
provision permitting railroads to pur-
chase the stock of non-competing
transportation companies were the
chief features of the measure as)re-
ported to the house by the committee
on interstate and foreign commerce
that were stricken out by the house
In other respects the provisions OF the
measure, as drafted by Attorney Cen
eraT Wickersham at the instigation OF
President Taft and later amended In
committee, were but slightly changed
during its passage through the house
The sections to provide for the crea-
ton of a commerce court were retain
ed with but few amendments, az
were the paragraphs placing limfta-
tiohs upon issues of stock.
BEST Bill Ever Passed"
y TT is the best bill ever passed by
the house." said Mr. Mann. of Illinois.
IN charge of the measure, Immediately
after its passage.
After voting ON amendments came q
motion to recommit the bill. This was
defeated by vote of 157 to 156.
; The bill was promptly placed be-
fore the house for final action upon
various amendments that had been
voted upon when the measure was
under consideration in the committee
Of the whole
The previous question upon the en-
tire measure being ordered. Mr.. Mann
offered an amendment fer the re in
sertion of section II. authorizing the
purchase by railroads of the stock of
non competing transportation COM
panies. Mr. Mann explained that as
pEcSeutcu ny HIN Tue diACuuiACAe was
precisely as agreed to in the commit
tee OF the whole before being stricken
out
y vote of 169 to 100 the house
'@7ted the amendment.
This Mann amendment Is what has
tion''
On a roll call the bill was then
adopted by vote of 200 to 1875. The
announcement of the vote by Speaker
Cannon was greeted with applause by
the Republicans.
By the house. is different in some ma
terial respects from the measure as
originally drafted by the attorney gen
eral, and is also different from'the
bill as 1t was reported to the house
from the committee on Interstate and
foreign commerce
Commerce Court Saved.
The chief feature which is retained
in the bill as prepared by Mr. Wicker
sham, and for which the president and
the administration leaders have con-
tended, is the provision for the estab-
lishment of the court of commerce. All
efforts to strike this provision from
the measure and the movement to re-
commit the bill to the committee with
Instructions to eliminate this feature,
were defeated. I
There is also contained in the bill
as originally drawn the provision for
having the decisions of the commission
defended in court by the department
Of justice. This was objected to by the
insurgents who cOntended. that it
would weaken the powers of the com
mission. but is kept in the bill. The
capitalization, and the stocks ami
bonds features, as contained in sec
lions 49, II and Is. are also retained.
BY an amendment the house struck
out Of the present interstate con
merce law the words under similar
circumstances and conditions" in rsf-
erehce 10 the long and short haul pro
vision. This language has been c"n-
sidered as the Joker" ia existing Il y.
and which mas Enabled Inc railroads Il
charge more for short than for longer
hauls over the same routes and lines
In the same direction. The advocates
Of this amendment believe that Ii will
eliminate railroad discrimiGati-n
against inland localities ana id favor
Of seaboari towns.
The ho.i-a aIso sdiad an smaai
ment providing for the physical Taiua
ton OF railroad. ana li.f.,l I u ~ 49,
This il an issTrseni propaailian b,it
was offeral in theShonze BY Repr7zan-
tative Madden. a regular and support
ed BY nine reg diaTs sli tha Incur gents
and the Democrats IL il not ..:,i.tainad
IN the original draft o: ne bill, nor Ii
the senate measure
The house also addri "a, Ii.-ni.., an
which makes telegraph and telephone
lines common carsieis Tits i an
ctr insurgent amentEi7It which l.
not il the original bill nor ia tL= sel
ate measure.