Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
RAILROAD BILL on TABLE
Measure Fails to Come to Vote,
Although End is in Sight.
SENATOR CRAWFORD IN SPEECH
south Dakotnn ouofea from Roose-
vsIt's Message % 1900 I'm sup-
port Of Traffic Agree

I session. AZ Al o EA0lA NEeAcAMaN ~ ~
tangienent over the question of a quorum.
the senate adjourned q few minutes before
O'Clock. because Il was unable 70 muster
a sufficient number Of its members to con
tinue business. The debate On the section
Of the bill permitting railroads to enter
l into traffic agreements continued through
out the afternoon. the principal partici-
pants being Senators Crawford, Sutherland,
Clapp, Cummins Elkins and Carter. For
the most part the controversy partook Of
what to a iayman should be considered
hairs splitting, the chief contention being
/ over the point as TO whether the provision
Z In the Crawford Amendment making agree
ments subject to the approval of the
Interstate commerce commission." has the
I effect Of requiring this approval before the
7 agreements take effect
/ AFTER the pros and cons OF this question
had been presented at some length It ap-
peared for a few moments as though
vote might be obtained. The ayes ana
nos had been ordered when senator Dol
liver expressed q desire to be heard on the
Amendment AS he cid not want 20 pre-
csed at so late an hour. some friendly
senator raised the point OF no quorum.
RON Cau Ordered.
Only forty-four senators responded TO
their names and the senate was compelled
to close It's session AZ an earlier hour than
Mr.. Elkins desired. He tried TO obtain an
order for another II o'clock meeting, but
as the call Of the senate had begun no
was ruled out Of order. The senate will
not meet tomorrow until Il O'Clock. the
usual hour.
Quoting from the annual message OF
President Roosevelt In 1905 In support OF
the proposition that the railroads should
be permitted to enter into traffic agree
. meuts, Senator Crawford Of South Dakota
today asserted that Mr.. Roosevelt was still
! living force notwithstanding he may
! not be president"
Senator Crawford quoted from two
other messages OF President Roosevelt
and contended that the republican plat
form Of 1905 declaring for agreements made
. subject to the approval OF the Interstate
Commerce commission was in accord with
the Roosevelt views.
Senator Clapp pointed out that Mr..
Roosevelt's declaration had specifically
favored the previous approval Of the
commission.
working Agreements.
Mr.. Crawford asserted no lawyer OF
standing would contend that under the
. pending amendment working agreements
! subject to the approval OF the Interstate
I commerce commission would be valuable
: without such approval Mr.. clapp under
: took 10 say that both Senators Aldrich and
: Elksns had 30 construed the possibilities.
= In reply TO a question from Mr.. Crawford,
D however, Mr.. Elkins said he had been in
( correctly quoted. Mr.. Aldrich was not then
! IN the chamber.
S Mr. Crawford said he and the minority
Of the committee Of the Interstate Com
: inercs commission differed IS, 70 the practi-
I eablity OF having the commission pass or
! every item in rate schedules made In con
formity with traffic agreements.
, But IL the rates are unreasonable,
, Interjected Senator Jones Of Warrington
the public must go On paying them"
Senator Carter OF Montana, supporting
: Mr.. Crawford's position would have tn
rates filed with the agreements Senate
: Elkins called attention 10 the fact that /
: found unreasonable any schedule sub
mitted to the commission could be sus
pended. under the terms Of the bin. Tn
|. agreement would bind only the railroads
He said Il followed TO its legitimat
conclusion the cummins amendment woul
q allow the commission TO fix rates All owe
= the country and tear down one eommunit
" at the expense. of the other.
q Mr. Crawford resuming his speech. sal
his purpose was 10 bring the railroad
IN under the supervision OF law in matter
? in which there was abuses under III
q. present law. He said hat not nntn IN
bill was entirely completed could he ga
q that he was for the measure as a
- entirety.
7e After the South Dakota senator had cor
N cluded Mr. Sutherland spoke in advocac
D. Of the Crawford amendment- He agree
AZ with a view expressed by Mr.. Carter ths
N necessarily the commission would requiT
the filing with each agreement Of the rats
provided under IT, and that in many case
the rates would be examined before th
approval OF the commission