Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-15
Reaches Senate and Will Probably B)
Acted Upon Today Aarmonizes
Differences and Drops Several
''|nSurgent" Amendments.

washington, June 1.-THE confer
| ence report of the administration rail-
road bill was presented to the Senate
| at 100 P. NJ. today by Chairman Ell
kins of the Senate committee on inter-
state commerce. 1t was laid before the
House late in the day, but under the
rules it cannot be acted upon by the
House until disposed of by the Sen
ate. 1t represented one weeks work by
| conferees of the Senate and House in
an effort to harmonic the differences
In the bills passed by the two branches
Of Congress and nearly four months
continuous consideration in one or the
other of the two branches of Con-
gress. AT the request of several sena-
tors the report went over until to-
morrow when an effort will be made to
procure its adoption. The two Demo-
cratic conferees did not sign the report
| and Senator Newlands gave notice to-
day that he would present a minority
report.
Generally speaking the finished work
of the cOnfereeS is declared to be sat
iSfactOry to the Senate, although in
large part it follows the lines of the
House bill. A number of the amend
ments secured by "Insurgent" Repub-
lican senators, however. was retained
by the conferees. So far as has been
indicated the only objection which may
be raised in the Senate to the adoption
| of the report relates to the action Of
the conferees in adopting the House
provision on the subject of long and
short hauls.
The last amendment disposed of by
the confereeS was that relating to the
period for which increases in rates
must be suspended by the commission
The conferees accepted the Senate pro-
vision of 10 months.
AS finally perfected by the confer
ees. the bill carries most of the fea-
lures of the original administration
| measures except the sections to per
NIT railroads to max" pooling agree
ments, to authorize the government to
regulate the issuance of stocks and
bonds and to permit q railroad to pur-
chase the remaining stock of another
| line in which it already controls 80 per
cent. of the stock. SO much opposition
developed in both Houses against these
provisions that all except the Securi-
ties section were abandoned outright
| The House bill retained n section pro-
Viding for federal regulation of the Sc
curities of railroads, but it was objec-
| tionable to the Senate chiefly because
of it's inability to meet the opposition
of Democrats, who We're determined tC
fight against its adoption.
In the place of the house provision
| the conferees incorporated a provision
authorizing the President to appoint g
commission to investigate questions
| pertaining to the issuance of stocks and
| bonds by railroads. Expenditures b!
| the commission are limited to $4,000
and it was not given authority to
summon witnesses or to compel tho
production of books and papers. No
| time was fixed for the making of re
port
The bill as perfected. therefore j:
| likely tn become law, would create
| commerce court composed OF hvt
| Judges the first of whom are to b
| selected by the President and there
after by the chief justice of the SUI
preme court. This court will have
| jurisdiction over all suits brought t.
| enforce or set aside orders Of the In
| terstate Commerce Commission. II
| other words. it would centraliZe TIL
| existing authority and jurisdiction o.
circuit courts in matters affecting in
terstate commerce.
| Other sections would enlarge thu
power of the commission over RAILROAD
regulations and practices and place un
der the jurisdiction of the commission
telegraph, telephone and cable com
panies, whether wire or wireless, anC
would broaden the scope of the wore
| railroad so as to extend the jurisdic
ton of the commission over bridges
| ferries and terminal facilities. This eN
| tension of power is regarded as of tn
| utmost Importance.
General provisions are made AFFECT
inc railroads to compel them to furnis!
rates upon application and TO authoflz
the commission to institute INQUIRE
on its own motion. by provisions
adopted by the House and retained o.
the conferees, the scope OF the com
mission to make regulations Is eiiiars
ed II is also provided that cohsiSne
of freight shall have the right 10 oesis
nate by which of two or more 'hrous
routes his property snail De .rah9po -.
ed to destination. The strihihs uii
ferences between the Seua'e a."
House bills were reconcieu as '''
lows:
The new court will be known as IN
commerce court. as provided by tn
House. instead of court OF comnerc'
as desired by the Senate. me hetho
of selecting the judges TO form th'
court is q Senate provision Anothei
Senate amendment retained permlIs o
appeals to the supreme court IRON
interlocutory orders or DEGREES oi.h'
commerce court granting or con'ihuiht
injunctions to restrain the enforcement
of orders Of the commission. IL IS re
uuired, however. that the appears Nus
be taken within 80 days.
II was providei by the administra