Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-04
Original Measures introduced Are
Shorn Beyond Recogni-
tion by SoIonS
SENATORS RUSH TRIMMING
Traffic Agreement Provision Is
Eliminated by Upper and
Lower Chambers
IAssociated Pressl

w ASHINGTON, Nay S.--The dis
w mantling of the administration
railroad bill proceeded in both
houses today.
Section 1.-THE traffic agreement pro-
vision-was eliminated both by the
senate and the house; the senate also
struck out section II, which would have
permitted any railroad owning 80 per
cent of another to absorb it altogether.
The section prohibiting railroad
charging a higher rate for short than
for a long haul was adopted by the
house in the form reported by the com
mittee on Interstate commerce, but
with an additional provision and report
to congress by the interstate commerce
commission OF the facts relative to the
long and short haul question.
Strictly speaking, each house today
was boring holes in a separate bill-the
senate in the senate bill introduced by
Senator Elkins, the house in the bill
introduced by Representative Town
send-but the bills at the outset were
identical, though changed by the COM
mittee that reported them.
Each version of the bill has yet to
be passed in it's own house, and then
will have to undergo the tender mercies
of the other.
Whether either will ever emerge from
the final stage of joint conference is a
InlnB nODOuy Is pISpdiSu W plOpllSoJ.
Never since 1t was reported to the
senate some nine weeks ago has the
bill moved along with such celerity as
today. The entire program outlined at
yesterdays conference of the leaders
was carried out, and extended. In rap
id succession the Cummins and the
Crawford -Elkins amendments to the
traffic agreement provision were with
drawn and the entire traffic and merger
provisions stricken out.
The Democrats had agreed to vote
against the CumminS provision in con-
sideration of the adoption of the Clay
amendment striking out the entire Sec
ton.
The motion to lay on the table was
promptly withdrawn by Mr.. Elkins,
who then Withdrew the Crawford-Elk-
ins substitute.
The Clay amendment striking out
the agreement provision then was pre-
sented and accepted without division.
This action was followed Immediately
by adoption of a motion without di-
vision by Senator Nelson striking out
section II, which covered the questions
of merger.
Mr. Hepburn then precipitated the
debate of the day by presenting an
amendment prohibiting greater
charge for short than for a long
haul.
REMEDY DlFtICURT IO FIND
Admitting that apparently there
were some cases of injustice, Mr.. AL
drich said the trouble was to find a
remedy. Mr.. Hepburn would not ad-
NIT it's applicability and declared If
the terminal charges of the railroads
were fair and remunerative there
could be no injustice in charging the
same prices for a short haul The
Hepburn amendment was under con-
sideration when the senate adjourned.
Voting was begun on amendments
to the long and short haul section
after two hours debate in the house.
The house accepted an amendment
offered by Mr.. Stevens of Minnesota,
providing for an investigation of facts
relating to the long and short haul.
The section relating to the long and
short haul clause was then agreed to
in practically the form it was reported.
The provision authorizing traffic
agreements between railroads was
then taken up. Mr.. Townsend of
Michigan offered an amendment pro-
viding in case any such agreement
should result in higher rates than pre-
viously charged the interstate COM
merce commission should approve the
rates before they became effective.
Mr.. Martin of South Dakota offered
a substitute providing any rates made
by traffic agreements should be ap-
proved by the commission before be-
coming effective. BY SO to 80 Mr. Mar
tins substitute was adopted.
Mr.. Madden of illinois offered an
amendment to strike out the entire
agreement section. BY 110 to 81 the
amendment was adopted.