The Detroit times., 1910-06-03
70 HASTEN final
VOTE ON RAIL BILL
cnator Aldrich Takes His Seat Pre-
pared To Push President Taft's
Measure Through.

WASHINGTON. June 3.-When the
railroad bill was taken up today Sen
nior Aldrich (Rep.. r. ID, was In his
Heat ready TO hasten a final vote Oh
the measure.
The Democrats In caucus failed 20
report en- agreement as to the action
they should take in the final vote
The vote on a motion that they sup
port the bill resulted In tie.
There are differences enough
between the senate and house
xailroad bills to AFFORD nne
f|ghting field for the conference
uommittee that will try TO arrange
compromise Every conflicting point
will have the backing OF majority In
either the senate or house. Threats
are plentiful enough as aggressive
) statesmen declare that. II the sections
I they fought for are removed from the
bill. the conference report Will not
be adopted. Such threats are often
made but rarely fulfilled.
When Senator Aldrich and Rep.
Mann clash In the conference commit
Tee the ensuing scene will be calculat-
'.od TO thrill the other members OF the
committee. Both go into their con-
tests prepared for every angle and II
promises TO be joyous occasion
when they meet to make a bill salts
factory to the senate and the house
mnd the president. Barring some elev-
enfh hour amendment that will be
dropped by the conference committee
without much dispute each Of the
champions will be strongly insistent
Tor the product OF his branch OF the
legislative mill.
In the matter Of the commerce
court, the senate bill says that the
i've judges shall be selected by the
chief justice of the supreme court,
while the house insists that all the
justices Of the court shall have a hand
+ tn that task. The senate also has
some wrinkles in the way OF pro-
cedure and court authority that do not
appear In the house measure.
IN the house bill 1t Is provided that
4 the Interstate commerce commission
shall have authority to make a valua-
ktiOn OF the property OF the railroads.
Two attempts have been made in the
SENATE TO adopt such a provision and
each has been beaten by two votes.
Another effort for its adoption was ex-
'pected to be made before the final
vote on the bill was taken In the
1nonate.
The house bill says that the inter-
tHtAte commerce commission shall
have authority TO regulate the issue
(, Of stocks and bonds by railroads
Such provision appeared In the SEN
Mte bill as IL came from the interstate
commerce commission but IL was af-
terward eliminated by Aldrich and FL
kihs. They said difficult problems
were involved which should be con-
nidered In a separate bill In an ef-
4oFt to get stock and bond regulation
back into the measure, Senators Cum
minis, Clapp and Stone offered amend
ments but they we're beaten.
There are many recently adopted
features In the senate bill that do not
appear In the house measure. Most
important Is the Overman amendment
which provides that the operation OF
q state law cannot, as at present, be
suspended by single United States
district judge. An injunction having
inst eject can be issued only by three
Meueral judges, one OF whom must be
g Justice or the supreme court, or
circuit judge.
Other provisions now in the house
DAi give the interstate commerce com
mission power to prevent railroads
rom manipulating rates so as to drive
water competition out of existence:
9emoying control Of rates on traffic,
wholly by water, from the commits
lion and giving shippers the right to
4etermlne which OF the competing
lines shall carry their goods.
Both the senate and house have
voted to place telegraph and telephone
Humpanies under the jurisdiction of
<ne interstate commerce commission.
md have adopted sections dealing
Nith the practice OF railroads In charg-
ms higher rates for a shorter than for
~ longer haul.