The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-06-24
RAILROAD BILL 4
SIGNED
IPREsiDENT TAFT A.-,u
g MEASURE ON RETURN "S
70 WASHINGTON.
1,'.a'a and New Mexico s,.,.A..,
s'''' Passed BY Both House, }, : ~
aFs'' 5 House Agree. to s.. w.
ndme"''-prine'paI prov,,,.. :.
Of Railroad Measure. Guns

Washington. June 1s
TAFT signed the railroad bin a at! 3a',t
o'clock tonight, shortly after his IS Nv, ae:lS
from Pennsylvania. He did NO return
the statehood bill. o' Sign
Two of the most import.n. :.
administration measures n.m. " me
railroad and the statehood bills vs as
acted upon finally by congress . were
and will become laws as soon >. 't -
receive President Taft's signatur ~ 'us'
This action was taken tod.v :.
house, the senate having nror ~ 'ae
disposed of both measures N''
It was accomplished practico,,,, -,
out debate and in record tima ' ~
even q roll call being required IN -. Nv
whole procedure. 'u'
The railroad bill was the first 70 .
ceive consideration. Chairman M...
OF the committee on interstate and -,
eign commerce, called the conferenc.
report from the speakers table p,i.,
speeches were made, among them h.
ing several by Democrats in expressio.
OF their opposition to the report
Final action on statehood lesislat,o,
was accomplished with even Create,
ease.
BY reason of pressure from ths
White House, aided by some du]e
matte work by Postmaster General
Hitchcock, opposition to the accent.
ance of the senate amendments to the
statehood bill was almost entirely dis.
sipated.
Democrats Acquiesce.
The Democrats were induced to fore
go objection through judicious circula,
ton of a report that if the bill went
into conference it 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 amendments
and welcomed the administration as.
sistance.
It cannot be stated definitely when
Arisona and New Mexico will come In
to the Union under this legislation. III
requires that the constitution adopted
by the proposed states must be rat-
fed by congress and approved by thsI
president.
Conceding that the statehood BID
will be in force within few days It
will be necessary for the territories tol
hold constitutional conventions, which
will require many weeks, submit the
constitution to the people Of the terri
tories for adoption, and then return toI
Washington.
Provision is made against joint eec-
tions for the adoption of the consttr-
ton and for the nomination or election
OF state officers. It is impossible, tnelsl
fore, to specify when the people OF ns
| two territories will enjoy the benen1I
| OF statehood and many believe tna y
will not be before the presidential eec
ton OF 1912.
The railroad bill is substantially Y
accordance with the presidents mss
sage demanding amendments 70 u
interstate commerce laws. About ~
only exceptions are that 1t aoes =
legalize holding agreements maoe
railroads, permit mergers or resu',
the issuance of stocks and DonaS'
creates a commerce court and Oloas
ems the scope of the jurisdiction Vi -
interstate commerce commission
garding railroads.
Telephones Come I''
It also brings telegraph, telepu.
and cable companies within 'ne ~
diction. :. .r,n;s
Supervision is given to the co,uu -.
aion over increases of rates and na
section. as well as one making r. +.
vision for the Investigator, - into
stock and bond question, WIN .
the bill. ia, Al
All other provisions, and .n J. .irtt
extensive, will take effect Wl.n
days from the date of approval.
judgment Liens