New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-29
RAILROAD BILL AMENDED
To Include Telephone and Tele-
graph Companies.
HOUSE COALITION WINS
Democratic Absenteeism Saves
Regulars from Further Defeat
Another Tie Vote.
from The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington. Aprfi 2s.-Despite rUmors At
the Capitol that President TAFT was much
dispIeased with the attitude Of the House
Insurgents toward the railroad bill. Opposi-
tor 70 several essential features Of that
measure continued strong to-day. and every
evidence is given that the followers Of the
President will be forced 70 contest every
step of the way.
Until near the close Of tO-days session
the iusurgent- Democratic coalition was
unable 70 accomplish much in the way Of
amending the bill. but Just before adjourn
ment Representative Bartlett, OF Georgia.
presented an amendment including tele-
graph and telephone companies in the term
common carriers as used in the bill. and
# was adopted 100 TO %. despite strong
speeches against il by Representatives
Mann and Townsend.
The effect Of this amendment is prob
lcnatical Representative Mann said that
II not stricken out in the House or in con-
ference II would make a complete redraft-
ing OF the dill necessary, as the present
measure was framed to apply solely 10
railroads, express companies and sleeping
car companies. He declared that. TO compel
telephone and telegraph companies 90 obey
a law drafted without hearings bearing on
interests Nigh prove confiscatory and
would be objectionable a matter of
Justice His appeal however. fell on deaf
ears. and the insurgents insisted that IL
was the duty OF the conferrees so 70 re-
arrange the bin as to make II equitable 10
the added companies. There is grave dan
ger that IL the House insists on its amend
ment the entire measure may drag for
weeks in conference and that such insist
ence would result in killing the bill. which
Is the earnest hope Of the Democrats.
There is some regret that the President is
about 20 go away at this critical juncturc.
The insurgents. who voted for the amend
ment were Cary. Cooper, Morse. Kuster-
mann. Davidson, Nelson, Kopp and Len
root Of Wisconsin: Mckinley. OF Illinois;
Austin. Of Tennessee, Hubbard. Haughen.
Kendall. Woods and Good. OF Iowa; Fish.
Of New York. Smith, Of Michigan; Mad
den, Of Illinois: Hamilton, OF Michigan
Lindberg. Davis and Volstead. Of Mime
sofa. Murdoch and Madison. Of Kansas.
Poindexter. OF Washington. and Norris and
Hinshaw. Of Nebraska.
The first amendment voted on was that
Of Judge Hubbard, OF Iowa which would
eliminate the section which provides that
suits 20 set aside any order OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission shall De
brought against the United States, and
that the Commerce Court may suspend
this order pending the determination Of
the suit. The real motive Of the in
surgents in presenting this amendment
was 20 prevent the Attorney General from
appearing as counsel in such case They
intended, II the amendment prevailed, 70
provide that suits to set aside orders OF
the commission should be brought against
the commission Itself. This amendment
was defeated by a tie vote, II 10 II
Fourteen insurgents voted for this amend
ment The Democrats. however. failed to
appear although those who voted at all
were with the insurgents OF 173 Democrats
only 107 voted Repeated efforts on the
part Of the Democratic whip were fruit
less to bring any more OF them into the
chamber.
The committee accepted an amendment
offered by Representative Norris. Of Ne
braska, which specified that the Inter
state Commerce Commission be included
in the parties in interest who may ap-
pear and be represented by counsel in the
Commerce Court in any suit in which the
validity Of an order is involved. Repre-
sentative Pickett. OF Iowa. also obtained
the passage OF an amendment which per
mits all parties IN interest 10 control their
own cases IN the Commerce Court. leav-
ing tire Attorney General 20 control the
case Of the government. He accomplished
this bv moving 10 strike from Section 5
the words but such appearance and rep
reseutatson shall not interfere with the
control Of the case by the Attorney Gen
eral' Many other amendments were
orFered hut none commanded sufficient
votes FOR adoption.