Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-28
MAKE PHONE AND
TELEGRAPH LINES
ANSWER To |. c. c.
Senate Takes important Step Be-
fore Reaching Voting Point
on Railroad Bill
ADJOURNMENT STAYS CRISIS
Effort Made to Restore to Amend
ment Section Dealing
with All Mergers
ADJOURNMENT STAYS CRISIS
GAssociated Pressl

VIZ ASHINGTON, May 27-At the
wv last moment before reaching the
" point of voting on the railroad
bill today the senate took the important
step of adding an amendment placing
interstate telegraph and telephone lines
under the supervision of the interstate
commerce commission. This action
was followed by an effort to restore
the portion of section IL, affecting
mergers, which heretofore was voted
out.
Both provisions were introduced so
suddenly as to surprise the senate, and
the latter was considered so important
that rather than vote on 1t without
more consideration the senate took
adjournment until tomorrow.
The suggestion for the inclusion or
telegraph and telephone companies
within the control of the commission
was made by Senator Dixon of Mon
tana. but ultimately his amendment
was supplanted by one in simpler
form, offered by Senator LaFollette.
VOTING LATE
The senate reached the voting stage
at D. m. after an animated debate,
which was carried on largely by the
Democratic side and which dealt espe-
cially with whether the Doll1ver
amendment regulating the stock and
bonds issues of railroads was in accord
ance with the last Democratic plat
form. 1t had been supposed that
action on the Dolliver amendment
would be followed by votes on the
physical valuation amendment of Mr..
LaFollette and the national incorpora-
ton amendment of Senator Newlands.
When, therefore, Mr.. Dixon was
| recognized to present his telegraph
amendment some surprise was mani
tested The amendment was in the
exact language of the telegraph pro-
vision carried by the house bill, and 1T
purported to re-enact the first section
of the prtesent interstate commerce
| law, with telegraph and telephone COM
panies added.
| 1t covered nine pages, and much OBJ
| lection to voting upon it without an
opportunity for examination was ex-
pressed. Even Mr.. Dixon himselt was
unable to state whether the provision
was an exact reproduction of the pres
ent law with the additions mentioned,
and a number of senators protested
against putting 1t to vote. Several
suggestions for adjournment were made.
Ultimately Senator Brandegee moved
to lay on the table, but this motion
was lost, % to 81.
OFFERS SIMPLE REMEDY
While the discussion and the voting
were in progress, Senator LaFollette
prepared an amendment so simple and
direct that senators could have no
difficulty in comprehending 1t. Mr..
Dixon indicated willingness to accept
this provision in place of his own, and
it went through without discussion.
The exception of wireless telegraph
companies was made at the sugges-
ton of Senator Hepburn.
The result of the vote had no sooner
been announced than Mr.. Brown OF
Nebraska arose to present his amend
ment reviving portion Of section II.
AS presented his amendment pro-
hibits all common carriers from acqu1r-
ing any interest whatsoever in the
capital stock Of or purchasing or leas-
ing any railroad which Is competitive
with that of the purchasing company.
A fine of $4,000 is imposed for each days
violation of this provision.
The suggestion of this important ac-
ton, following closely as it did upon
the vote to replace telegraph and tele-
phone companies under control of the
commission, was more than the senate
was willing to accept without more
opportunity for deliberation.
Many protests against immediate ac-
ton were uttered, and when Senator
Bacon moved to adjourn a large num-
ber of senators agreed. By a rising
vote the senate decided, 81 to q, to
adjourn.