Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-15
LONG AND SHORT HAUL CLAUSE
Compromise Provision to Railroad
Bill Adopted in Senate.
FIXES ALL RELATIVE CHARGES
Makes IL Unlawful to Put Excessive
Rate short Trip-SenRtOrs
Burkett and Brown Fa-
VOr Ii.

WASHINGTON, May A-By sudden
welding yesterday of supposedly irrecon-
cilable factions the senate by a vote of
Sc to 10 adopted a compromise amendment
to the railroad bill for the regulation of
| relative charges for long and short, haul.
The agreement was reached chiefly for the
reason that each faction apparently
thought it was getting the better of a
shrewdy driven bargain Some senators
tonight suggest that the supreme court may
have to arbitrate the question as to which
factions judgment is right.
Before adjournment Senator Bacon sought
to show that Senator Aldrich leader of
the forces in charge OF the BILL had voted
for a provision different from that which
ne had advocated during the long debate
on this question, Senator Bailey remarked
that Mr.. Bacon was mistaken and was
quoting from his (Bailey's) remark.
Il hope the senator from Texas will not
interfere" said Mr.. Aldrich laughingly,
the senator is trying TO justify his action
in voting with me-"
| THAT is the time / usually have to
justify my vote" retorted Mr.. Bacon.
Senator EIkins Happy.
! While upholdrg regular republicans for
what he asserted was a change of front,
| WI poNOh was ihtSll upNSu w CcHdlOI
Elkins, whose rudy face was wreathed
with smiles as he asked:
well, you're happy, aren't your"
This railery plainly irritated the Georgia
senator, for he retorted rather sharply
that it took "a very little thing to make
some people happy"
| Maybe the senator will find that 1t is a
| big thing" said Senator Elkins, beaming
across the chamber. Significant glances
passed between senators and the people on
the floor and in the galleries began to sus-
pect the compromise amendment that had
just been adopted meant something diff
ferent than appeared upon it's face.
| The New section
| AS adopted the rev provision strikes out
| Of section of the interstate commerce
law under substantially similar circum-
stances and conditions" and also eliminates
the proviso of that section and amends the
section so as to make 1t read as follows:
Section 4-That it shall be unlawful for
any common carrier subject to the pro-
visions of this act to charge or receive any
greater compensation in the aggregate for
the transportation of passengers, or of like
| kind of property for shorter than for a
longer distance over the same line of route
in the same direction, the shorter being in
cluded within the longer distance, to
charge any greater compensation as a
through route than the aggregate OF the
local rates; but this shall not be construed
as authorizing any common carriers within
the terms of this act TO charge or receive
as great compensation for shorter as for
a longer distance:
| provided, however, that the Interstate
Commerce commission may. from its
/ -.
application, ascertain that the crcum-
stances of the long haul are disslmiar to
the circumstances and conditions of the
short haul, whether they result from com
petition by water or rail; then 1t may au-
thorize a common carrier to charge less
for the longer than for the shorter dis
lance for the transportation OF passengers
or property but in no event shall the au-
thority be- granted unless the commission
is satisfied that all OF the rates involved
are Just and reasonable and not unjustly
discriminatory nor unduy preferential or
prejudicial.
Present Rates Unchanged.
"And provided further, that no rates or
charges lawfully existing a. the time o.
the passage of this amendment amendatory
act shall be required to be changed BY
reason of the provisions Of this section
prior to the expiration OF six months after
the passage OF this act. nor in any case
where application shall have been filed be-
fore the commission in accordance with the
provisions of this section until a determine
ton of such application by the commits
sion"
OF the ffty-six votes in favor Of the
amendment twenty-five were given by re-
publican senators who have opposed the
insertion OF any long and short haul pro-
vision In the railroad bill, thirteen by demo-
Gratis and the remainder by republicans,
chiefly insurgents. The negative vote was
equally divided between republicans and
democrats.
provision were:
Aldrieh CumminS Owen
Bacon Curtis Page
heveridgs Dillingham; PAINTER
Bradley Dixon Penross
Brandesee Dolliver Percy