New-York tribune., 1910-06-08
SENT TO. A CONFERENCE
House Refuses to Accept Senate
:. Railroad Bill.
INSURGENTS DEFEATED
But by Only Six Votes-Con-
ferrees of Both Houses
Named.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, June An attempt on the
part Of the insurgents and Democrats 10
agree to the Senate railroad bill in the
House was defeated this afternoon by a
vote Of 162 to I56 The adoption of the Sen-
ate bill was strongly advocated by Sena-
tor La Toilette and his followers but the
Republicans had the support of six Demo
Gratis.
The success of. the organization came
only after a struggle. The main body OF
the insurgents. with one or two recruits.
voted solidly for the adoption of the Sen
ate bip with an amendment proposed by
Representative Lenroot Of Wisconsin.
which provided that Section of the bill
become Immediately operative. The amend
ment was based on the recommendation Of
President Taft and would give the Inter
state Commerce Commission immediate
power to suspend rates pending investiga-
ton.
The regulars voted against the Senate bill
on the ground that it did not carry out the
wishes OF a majority Of the House as ex-
pressed in former votes, and because the
House would relinquish one of its greatest
prerogatives by submitting to the wishes
Of the Senate without a conference. The
insurgents based their votes on the allie
cation that the Senate bill is a better meas
ure than will come from the conference
committee
on the motion Of Mr.. Lenroot to adopt
the Senate bill with the amendment de-
-scTibed above the following Democrats
voted with the Republicans: Oscar Under
wood, one of the minority leaders: Craig.
OF Oklahoma, and Fitzgerald. Harrison.
Goldfogle and Goulden, of New York.
These men have announced themselves all
along as unalterably opposed to the Senate
bill
The insurgents to the number Of twenty
five followed the lead of the La Toilette
lieutenant. They were Carr. Cooper. Da-
wilson. Kopp, Kustermann. LenrOot, Morse
and Nelson, of Wisconsin; Murphy. OF
Missouri; Murdock and Madison, of Kan
sas: Norris. kinkaid and Hinshaw. of
Nebraska: Martin, Of South Dakota; Fish
and Foelker. Of New York: Gronna, OF
North Dakota; Hubbard, Haugen. hendan
and Woods of Iowa; Davis and Lindbergh
Of Minnesota and Poindexter, of Washing
ton.
When the vote was announced Mr.. Mann
moved that a conference with the Senate
be ordered. and the motion was carried
without division. Speaker Cannon ap-
pointed Representatives Mann. of Illinois
Wanger. of Pennsylvania, and Adamson. OF
Georgia, as conferrees on the part Of the
House
The action Of the House was Immediately
reported to the Senate, and Senators FL
l1ins, Aldrich and Foster were named as
conferrees,
Mann Criticises Senate Bill.
Mr. Mann. in opening the debate in the
House declared that the pending bill
showed the wisdom Of having two branches
of Congress. Citing the various court pro-
ceedings stipulated IN the Senate bill, ne
pointed out numerous instances which he
declared proved that the distinguished
Senate" was. not familiar with many OF
the courts. Citing the Senate provision
that in the case, of any persons suffering
dana ges in consequence of any failure OF
railroad company to furnish correct
rates they shall have a right to recover
such damages by suit. against the carrier
Mr.. Mann declared that that amendment
permitted rebates
That is not opening the door to rebates,
he declared; 'ft is opening the entire side
OF the house TO rebates
II shipper could sue for damages, in
such a case, said Mr. Mann. no court would
prevent the railroad company from paying
damages without being sued. -
THAT absolutely repeals the Elkins anti
rebate law and every rebate provision ir
the present bill he asserted.
Switching. and terminal charges were. to
he regulated by the Interstate Commerce
Commission under the House bill, said Mr..
Mann. but all these restrictive provisions
were left out of the Senate bill.
Some Of these amendments were doubt
less put into the bill by the Senate inno-
Gently" ne declared. in sarcastic tones, be
cause so many of these things must have
been put in iIinocently''
Interurban roads could not have the bene-
fit of through rates on. their passenger ser
vice under the Senate bill he said Mr.
Mann pointed out numerous instances OF
what he termed errors 10 be found in the
Senate bill. and said all were TO the disad-
vantage of the shipper
The House should have its way in its
stock and bond regulation provision" de.
clared Nr. Mann amid applause Of mem.
bers on both sides Of the chamber
Among the funniest things probably thu
funniest thing in the Senate bill is in refer.
ence TO the telegraph and telephone com
panies, said Mr. Mann. explaining that the
interstate commerce law could not appl8
to anything except the transportation o.
passengers and property"
And If the Western Union Telegram
Company should engage to use its wires a:
trolleyS for the transportation of passen
gers. il might come within the control Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
suggested Mr. Mann. derisively.
Champ Clark supported the Lenroot mo
ton. declaring that while he did not ap
prove the Senate bill he was suspicious o.
conference reports and did not want Il
take any chances or the railroad bill
SCHIFF PARTY TO TOUR ALASKA