The Cairo bulletin., 1910-06-15
C(NFEREES MAKE
THEIR REPORT
RAILROAD BILL SAID TO BE SAT-
lSFAcTORY TO THE SEN
ATEeNcWs
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
But Effort Will be Made Today to Sc
cure Its Adoptjpn--House Also
Received Report Of
Conferees.


ence report on the administra
tion railroad bill was presented
to the senate this afternoon 1t
was also laid before the nouse
but under the rules 1t can not
be acted upon by the house until dis
posed of by the senate. 1t represent
ed one weeks work by the conferees
Of the senate and house in an effort 10
haFmaHize the differences in the bills
passed by the two branches OF con-
gress, and nearly four months OF con.
tinuous consideration in one or the
gress. The request Of several sen6-
tors to report it went over until to-
morrow when an effort will be made
to procure it's adoption. The two
Democratic conferees did not sign the
report. Senator Newlands gave no.
tice today that he would present a
minority report.
Senate Satisfied.
Generally speaking the finished
work of the conferees is declared
satisfactory to the senate, although in
large part it follows the lines of the
house bill A number of amendments
were secured by the 'insurgent" Re-
publican senators, however, and were
retained by the conferees. So far az
indicated the only objection which
may be raised in the senate to the
adoption Of the report relates to tho
ACTON Of the conferees in the adop.
tion of the house provision on TIN
subject of long and short hauls.
Some of the western senators favor
ed the retention of the senate pro.
vision on the ground that the house
amendment, might be construed by
the courts to be unconstitutional
The last amendment disposed of by
the conferees was that relating to the
period for which increased rates
might be suspended by the commits
sion. The conferees accepted the SEN
ate provision of ten months.
Almost Like Original.
AS finally perfected by the confe-
rees, the bill carries most of the fea
lures of the original administration
measure except that the sections to
permit the railroads make pooling
Agreements, to authorize the govern
ment to regulate the issuance of
stocks and bonds, and to permit n
stock of another line In which it az
ready controls fifty per cent of the
stick. SO much opposition developed
in both houses against the provisions
that all except the securities section
were abandoned outright. The house
bill retained the section providing fo9
the federal regulation of the secur-
ties of railroads, but it was objection
able to the senate chiefly because OF
its inability to meet the opposition OF
the Democrats who weere determined
to fight against the adoption.
In the place Of the mouse provision
the conferees incorporated provis.
ion authorizing the president to APP
point committee to investigate the
questions pertaining to the issuance
of stocks and bonds by railroads. Ex-
penditures by the commission are linn
tied to $25,000, and 1t was not given
authority to summon witnesses or
compel the production of books and
papers. No time was fixed for making
the report.
The Commerce Court.
The bill as perfected, therefore, and
as likely to become a law, would ere.
ate commerce court composed OF
five judges. the first of whom are to
be selectsd by the president and
thereaftef by the chief justice OF the
supreme court. This court will have
jurisdiction over all suits brought to
enforce or set aside the orders Of the
interstate commerce commission. In
other words, It would centralize the
existing authority and the jurisdiction
of the circuit courts, in matters affect
ing interstate commerce.
Other sections would enlarge the
mower of the commission over railroad
regulations and practically place un-
der the jurisdiction OF the commission
the telegraph, telephone and cable
companies, whether wire or wireless,
and would broaden the scope of the
word railroad" so as to extend the
jurisdiction of the commission over
bridges ferries, and terminal facili-
ties This extension of power Is re-
garded of the utmost Importance.
Must Furnish Rates.
N General provisions were made to
compel the railroads to furnish rates
upon application and authorize the
commissin to Institute inquiries OF Its