Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-30
RATE PLAN IS CONDEMNED
System Employed by Big Lines Crit
icised by Senator Bristow.
CLAY GOES AFTER WHOLE BILL
Says Crawford Amendment Operates
Against the Anti-Trust Law
Union Pacific Road Was
a Present.

Against the Amtt-IEuAN LAW
Union Pacific Road Was
Present.
WASHINGTON, April 29-when the sem
ate adjourned last night there was a gen
eral understanding that a vote would be
reached today on the traffic agreement pro-
vision Of the railroad bill So far as was
known. Mr.. Cummins was the only seua-
tor who would desire to speak further on
the subject The first vote will be on the
Cummins substitute, requiring approval of
the rates embraced in agreements in ad-
vance Of their taking effect with this
provision defeated as probably it will be,
the ballot then win recur on the Elklns-
Crawford amendment, which has been ac-
cepted as the committee provision. The
supporters Of the administration are claim
ing a majority of seven or eight votes in
favor of this section.
The debate yesterday continued to be of
an animated character. 1t was participated
In by Messrs. Cummins, Root, Aldrich,
Borah, Bailey, Hepburn and others. Sena-
tor Clay delivered a set speech in oppo-
sition to the bill and Senator Bristow
| closed his address In condemnation of the
present rate-making system.
Senator Bristow resumed his speech as
soon as the bill was taken up today He
entered upon discussion OF the rates on
sugar, with the evident intention of demon
strating that by charging more for short
than for long haus the railroads were
discriminating unfairly against many COM
munites,
Canadian Competition.
| In explanation Of the cause for the low
| transcontinental rates Mr.. Elkins in
stanced the competition of the Canadian
roads.
That's a reflection on the American
roads," promptly responded the Kansas
senator, who asserted that there would
be no good reason why the foreign roads
| could operate more cheaply than the Amer
ican roads. When Mr.. Elkns called at
! tention to the connection Of the Canadian
government with the Canadian roads, Mr.
Bristow declared the American govern
ment had built the Union Pacific railroad
and presented 1t to its owners.
Mr. Smoot came to the assistance of Mr.
Bristow in contending for the adoption of
the long and short haul amendment where
upon Mr.. Elkins charged that the effect
would be to raise, rather than decrease
local and non-competitive rates. The Utah
and Kansas senators said their states were
willing to take their chances on that.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Bristow's speech,
Senator Clay took the floor in his own
right He spoke in opposition to the entire
railroad bill and the provisions authorizing
traffic agreements between railroads and
operating combinations, contending that the
Crawford -Elkins traffic agreement pro-
vision would have the effect of multiplying
| nqf Ian In 20
roads, Mr.. Clay referred to the prosecution
of President Gompers and other officers
of the American Federation Of Labor and
asked:
IF the labor organizations are bound
by the antitrust law why should the rail-
road magnates be exempt from it? Who
can stand before the people and say that
the statute shall apply to the farmer the
laborer and the labor organizations and
not the railway systemsf'
Effect on Trust Law.
Senator Borah then exemplified his pre-
vious argument to show that the Craw-
ford -Elkins provision has the effect of re-
pealing the antitrust law. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Crawford, who contended that
the Interstate Commerce commission could
be trusted to promote the public welfare.
Out of his contention grew a general de-
bate. In addition to Mr.. Crawford the dis
cussion was participated in by Messrs.
Cummins, Aldrch, Root, Bailey and Hey
burn.
Messrs. Aldrich and Bailey engaged in a
prolonged controversy during which the
Rhode Island senator asked the Texas
, senator whether an agreement be-
tween two roads at the present
time would not be lawful. Mr..
Bailey agreed providing the agreement
was not in restraint of trade. Mr.. AIdrich
contended that this concession covered the
whole case and urging that there was no
great difference among senator's, said:
The trouble is that the senator from
Iowa (Mr, Cumminsl is not willing to let
any other person write the provision unless
the writer uses his language"
The regular republicans ran nip and tuck
with the insurgents" republicans and the
democrats in sustaining their organization
when the voting on amendments to the rail-
road bill began in the house today.
! Only by a tie vote of 121 to 121 did the
regulars prevent the striking from their
bill of the provision which placed on the
attorney general the responsibility for the
defense of suits brought to set aside de-
cisicns OF the Interstate Commerce commits
sion, instead of allowing that duty to be
performed by the commission itself as under
the present law.
The motion to strike out this committee
provision had been made by Mr.. Hubbard
; Of Iowa, one of the staunch insurgents, and
thirteen other insurgents voted to sustain
his amendment. The democrats, however
: failed to appear although all those who
voted at all, were with the insurgents OF
> 173 democrats only 107 voted.
Disguised with the absentesism in his
party. Mr.. Adamson Of Georgia, led the
opposition to the bill.
The same absenteelsm on the part OF the
democrats continued when other votes tC
modify the provisions OF the bill were
taken. Although the regular republican,
could gather only about 1S5 votes, and al
. though about fifteen 'fnsurgent republi
cans" struggled to obtain amendments, tn,
: democratic members failed TO appear OF
n the floor
Democratic leaders upon making inquiry
learned that about forty democrats wer,