Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-19
IAssociated Presa1

WASHINGTON, June 1S.-Two of the
most important of the administration
measures, namely, the railroad and the
statehood bills. were acted upon finally
by congress today and will become
laws as soon as they receive President
Taft's signature.
This action was taken by the house.
the senate having previously disposed
of both measures. 1t was accomplished
practically without debate and in rec
ord time, not even a roll call being
required in the whole procedure.
The railroad bill was the first to
receive consideration. Chairman Mann
of the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce called the conference
report from the speakers table. Brief
speeches were made, among them be-
ing several by Democrats in express
sion of their opposition to the report
Final action on statehood legisla-
tion was accomplished with even
greater ease. BY reason of pressure
from the White House ana aided by
some diplomatic work by Postmaster
General Hitchcock, opposition to the
acceptance of the senate amendments
to the statehood bill was almost en-
tirely dissipated.
The Democrats were induced to fore
tion of a report that If the bill went
into conference 1t might not emerge
during the present session. Chairman
Hamilton of the house committee on
territories at once realized that the
only way to put the legislation through
and not delay the present session was
to agree to the senate amendment and
welcomed the administrations assist
ance.
DELAY Is ANTICIPATED
1t cannot be stated definitely when
Arizona and New Mexico will come into
the Union under this legislation. 1t
requires that the constitutions adopted
by the proposed states must be ratified
by congress and approved by the prest-
dent Conceding that the statehood
bill will be in force within a few days,
1t will be necessary for the territories
to hold constitutional conventions,
which will reAire many weeks, submit
the consti It ~ to the people of the
territories for adoption and then re-
turn them to washington Provision
is made against joint elections for the
adoption of the constitution and for
the nomination or election of state Of
ficers IT is impossible, therefore, to
specify when the people of the two
territories will enjoy the benefits of
statehood and many believe that it
VIII not De DelOI0 lic
election of 1912.
The railroad bill, which will be ready
for the presidents signature on his re-
turn to washington, is substantially In
accordance with the presidents mes
sage demanding amendments to the in
terstate commerce laws. About the
only exceptions are that it does not
legalize holding agreements made by
railroads, permit mergers or regulate
the issuance of stocks and bonds. 1t
creates commerce court and broad
ems the scope of the jurisdiction for
the interstate commerce commission
regarding railroads. It also brings
telegraph, telephone and cable COM
panies within that jurisdiction. Super
vision is given to the commission over
increases of rates, and this section, as
well as one making provision for the
investigation of the stock and bond
question, will go into effect imme-
diately upon the bills being signed.
other provisions, and they are extern
sive. will take effect within sixty days
from the date of approval.