Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-28
SENATE KILLS AMENDMENTS
Senate Turns Down Plan Regulating
Increase of Rates.
TAKES POWER FROM COMMISSION
Iovvan Sought TO Prohibit Raises I'm
Ill Approved by Interstate Com
mcrcc COmmissiOn-CInrl
Motion Likewise Lost,

| WASHINGTON May 27-Through the de-
! feat in the senate yesterday OF number Of
amendments offered by ''insurgent" re-
publicans and democrats, the way was
paved for an early vote on the administra-
ton railroad bill. It is expected this win
come tomorrow and the senate then will
adjourn over until Monday, when the state
hood bill probably will be made the UNI
finished business
The regular republicans maintained a
firm hold upon the situation during several
votes on important features notwithstand-
ing the fact that the insurgents and demo-
Gratis united their votes on several occa-
sions. More was accomplished during the
closing hours of the session today than in
any one week during the three months tho
bill has been the pending business.
Not until o'clock was anything done
beyond listening to discussion of the meas
IRE, but when at that time Senator La
Toilette concluded his two days speech in
opposition to the bill the voting proceeded
rapidly with the following results:
The Cummins amendment requiring the
approval Of the Interstate Commerce COM
mission Of all increases in railroad rates
before they become effective was voted
down, 20 to 43.
The Martin amendment requiring the
committee to reach a final decision on in
creases within six months was defeated
Is to 81
An amendment by Mr.. Clarke Of Ar
kansas to defer increased rates until passed
upon by the commission, but putting them
into effect after six months, pending a
final decision, was rejected, IS to 40.
Time Limit Extended.
An amendment composed of propositions
by Senators Jones and Paynter was ac-
cepted. This provision provides for the
extension for period of six months OF
tile 12O-day suspension of new rates and
regulations for the hearing as to their
reasonableness II not concluded in that
time and for refunding Of the difference
between rates If the new rate is found
to be unreasonable. This amendment was
adopted unanimously.
An amendment by Senator Hughes strk-
ing out the capitalization clause Of the
bill was adopted with practical unanimity,
Senator Burton casting the only negative
vote
OF all the votes Of the day the one on
the Cummins amendment was by far the
most important. The vote on this amend
ment was by no means so close as had
been predicted by its friends and feared
by its opponents. Three days ago the ad
vooates of the bill, as suggested by the
administration. had been apprehensive Of
the success of the Cummins provision, but
during that time they had been extremely
active, with the result that while they
made important concessions they scored
the defeat of the provision.
Position of Insurgents.
OF the twenty-nine votes favorable to the
amendment twelve were cast by insurgent
republicans, as follows: Beverage, Borah,
Bourne, Bristow, Burkett, Clapp, Craw-
ford Cummins, Dixon, Dolliver Gamble
and La Toilette. Only four democrats.
Bailey, McInery, Smith OF Maryland and
Taylor, voted for the provision.
The pairs on the vote were announced as
follows: Root with Tallaferro, Flint with
Culberson Lorimer with Davis, Dillingham;
with Tillman, McCumber with Foster and
Richardson with Rayner. Senators Bank
head, Buckley, Daniel, Hughes, Money
Newlands Penrose and Percy were absent
and impaired. Explanations were made in
behalf of most Of the absentees.
The closest vote was IS to 10 on the
amendment offered by Senator Clarke Of
Arkansas, regulating the extensions of time
allowed for hearing on rate changes.
The presentation of the Martin amend
ment requiring the Interstate Commerce
commission to reach its decisions on in
creased rates within six months and the
doubt as to the effect of that provision
3 after the expiration of that period in case
} of the failure of the commission to comply
. with this demand. were responsible in
/ large measure for the fate of that pro-
vision.
| Agree on Jones' Amendment.
The Jones' amendment presented a sim
pier solution and with the Cummins pro-
, vision disposed of, it was acceptable to all
parties-to the opponents of the bill because
1t was the best they could get, and to its
friends because it was found necessary to
go that far in order to get enough to de-
t feat the Cummins amendment.
Pending the vote on the Jones Poynter
r amendment there was much confusion as to
, the parliamentary statutes of the two
: amendments as separately presented.
The original suggestion of Mr.. Jones
merely provides for an extension of the sus
pension Of the To-day period, already al
. lowed by the bill for Investigations of new
rates by the Interstate Commerce com
mission. 1t goes into the bill as a proviso
I and reads as follows:
"That IL any such hearing cannot be
, concluded within the period OF suspension
the Interstate Commerce commission may
In its discretion. extend the time of sus-
pension for further period not exceed
i, ing six months"
The addition made at the suggestion of
Mr. Paynter provides that If the increased
! rate is found to be unreasonable the car
rier shall refund to the party paying II
:. the difference between that and the rate
as it existed before the increase, and shall
" do SO on the presentation of the bill of
a lading, receipt or expense bill at its office
, where the freight charges were made"
: The Paynter provision also directs the
\ issuance of way bills and receipts, show
ing the points of origin and destination of
freight giving the names of consignor and
Y consignee, and the total amount Of charges.
all to be used as a basis for settlement,
AIdrich in Affirmative.
Notwithstanding 1t was evident from the
| time on aoraunent WAS reached For a. =