Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-13
Endeavor Being Made to Rewrit'
Provision.
EQUALIZATION FEATURE TO GO
Both House and Senate Unable to
Agree on 1t,
MANY RADICAL FEATURES STAY
Committee Finds They VIII Prove
ACCOMPLISHMENT TO Meet
shippers of the west ON
Monday.

WASHINGTON, June fa-Meetlngs OF the
conference committee. which Is dealing
with the railroad bill have resulted, &C.
cording to reliable information In such
rapid progress as to warrant the belief
that a report on the bill may be made
to both houses OF congress by the middle
of this week or a day or two later. This
will, it is asserted give abundant time
for the discussion on the report on ths
floor of both chambers
Reliable statements concerning the work
done in conference today indicate that
much of the change to be introduced into
the bill win be seen at points, where there
had been comparatively little controversy
on the open floor. The bill contains a
number Of important provisions that slipped
by without much debate, and which the
conferees feel they are safe in altering
particularly as it would appear in certain
cases that those who urged these pro-
visions did not recognize the large scope
they were giving to the measure.
Considerable anxiety is felt with respect
to the long and short haul clause provis-
IONS as that which was passed by the
house is considered unconstitutional and
that OF the senate is held to be unwork-
able. An endeavor is being made to re-
write the long and short haul clause in
such a way as to conciliate all sections.
The capitalization sections will have to
go. President Taft has been eager for
some measure OF that sort, but there Is
so strong a combination in the senate
against the proposition that 1t cannot be
enacted. -
Radical Features stay In.
There is a general agreement that II
will be necessary to retain most or the
| radical features OF the measure, upon
which there has been direct and heated
| controversy in either house of congress, In
order that the conference report may not
be Immediately rejected. Several OF the
/ nepibers, who voted TO send the Dill TO
/ conference in tho lower charuber have In
formed Mr.. Mann that unless there Is
substantial regard for the amendments
made on the floor. they will be Obliged to
change their votes, thereby throwing the
balance of power irto the hands Of those
who want to accept the senate bill as
that measure stands Moreover there is
| feeling on the part of the conferees that
many of the radical amendments Will not
be as bad as they look.
The conferees are unquestionably work.
ing toward the end of getting a bill thar
will be accepted by both houses by re-
tanning as much as is necessary OF the
radical portions of the bill while modify
ing or rejecting other things that Will ar-
tract less controversy when the report Is
made.
President Taft will meet the shippers
committee from the west today and hear
what they have to say on the question OF
the advance in rates. One thing that VIII
be discussed with considerable insistence
during the shippers visit Is the ultimate
jurisdiction over the rate dispute.
question Of jurisdiction.
The reference Of this matter after the
commission has dealt with the issue, would
presumably be to the newly created court
of commerce, which Is provided for In
the bill now pending. Provisions as to the
} selection of the judges who are TO SIT
on this court of commerce differ In the
two drafts of the bill which are now in
the hands of the conferees and II Is open
/ IN question whether the conferees will not
nut back substantially the original provis-
ions of the Taft measure, respecting the
( appointment of the court and the scope Of
its jurisdiction.
: Should this be done some OF the shippers
r would by no means be satisfied with the
situation, as it has been their feeling
from the genesis of the railroad bill during
= the last winter, that the court provisions
were inadequate. In this they were backed
= by members of the radical wing OF the in
5 terstate commission. The view adoptsd
D was that the provisions of the bill were
4 likely TO curtail the powers of the commits
sion in a very material degree and to
s throw to a court, consisting Of judges to
c be selected under conditions which were
c unsatisfactory to them, the ultimate power
I of control in matters which preceding de-
Y cislons on the part of the federal supreme
court had definitely secured to the COM
; mission.