The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-06-14
CONGRESS Will
SOON ADJOURN


road bill were in session over six hour,
Sunday. The progress made indicates
they probably will report by tomor
row. In the tentative draft, the only
questions remaining in serious dispute
are those relating to long and short
hauls and the period increases in rates
should be suspended to give the inter
state commerce comission time to pass
upon them.
With an agreement on the railroad
bill in sight, members of congress are
beginning to figure on adjournment.
Few members expect the session to
last longer than June 30, and not a
few have put their guesses as early
as June 25. Few other matters of leg.
islation are expected to consume much
time.
A canvass of the senate indicated a
decided sentiment in favor of adopt
ing the house amendments to the postal
savings bank bill. This course would
avoid conference.
The bill to authorize the president
to withdraw public lands for conserva.
tion purposes is the only conservation
measure slated to go through this SEES
sion. To that will be added, it is ex.
pected, the bill that has already passed
the senate to permit the issuance of
certificates of Indebtedness to the
amount of $30,000,00O to complete rec.
lamation projects.
The opposition to the conservation
bill, based upon the statement by for.
fer Forester Pinchot that it would
authorize the fling of mineral claims
on certain water power sites. known to
be underlaid with minerals, apparently
has not been generally accepted as a
serious criticism. Advocates of the bill
assert few water power sites could be
affected, and in those cases it would
be necessary for the claimant to prove
the tract more valuable for minerals
than for development Of power.
Statehood Not Decided.
No decision has been reached ON
statehood legislation, but it is the i'm.
preston that nothing will be done at
this session. Even If the bill reported
from the senate committee on terri
tories should pass, it differs so from
the house bill there would be slight
chance for agreement in conference.
The railroad bill. therefore, appears
to be the key to the adjournment sit.
uation, just as it has been for nearly
four months. Whether the conference
report viii be such as the two branches
of congress would be ready to ae.
cept, remains to be seen.
Those who advocate the retention
of the house amendment providing for
physical valuation of railroads will be
disappointed. Similar fate awaits those
~ L.
late the issuance Of railway securities
although the conference bill will pro
vide for a commission to investigate
the matter.
The plan for commission is not sat
isfactory to the supporters of the
house revision relating to stocks and
bonds. Tn the absence of the definite
Instructions there is no assurance that
the commission can report by next ses
sion. The Democrats are opposed to
federal regulation of the securities OF
corporation. although they favor reg
ulation by the states
Conferees have made great many
changes in the form of the bill. They
have had the assistance of ATTORNEY
General Wickersham throughout in the
work Of harmonizing the phraseology
Of the bills All agreements are tenta
tive. and therefore. the conferees are
rot inclined to make them public.
II in known. however that the sen
ate amendment shifting from shippers
to the railroads the burden of proving
the reasonableness of rate increases
and the fverman amendment prescr.p
ing the rule under which federal courts
NOV set aside orders Of state courts
win be retained.
Manv Chances Made.
These provisions are highly pleasing
10 "prooreseive' Repuhlicans ans
Democrats. The most serious trouble
looked for in the adoption of the con
ference report viii he in connection
with the lorg and short hauls. A rig',
requirement that no railroad s'oul'
charge more for p short than for
long haul, is not favored hv the sen
ate eonferees. II would not be sur
prising. therefore. if the house amend
mot prevailed.
Many lawyers hold that the hous
pne~ tlmert would he declared uncoh
stitutional in that II delegates leg'sla
tive authority to the interstate con
merre commission, The senate amen 4
ment prescrihes the rules hv wh'c,
railroads would not be permitted Z
discriminate against short hauls an
thus meets the constitutional reonire
ments. according to the views of it