Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-09
SENATE PASSES
RAILROAD BILL.
Votes of Only IL Democrats
against Measure after IL
Weeks Consideration.
RADICAL CHANGES ADOPTED
Progressive Republicans Claim to
Have Won Signal Victory
House Must Now
Agree.
RADICAL CHANGES ADOPTED

Washington. June 5.--The Senate
passed the administration railroad
bill at 955 o'clock tonight 1t had
been under consldora ton for moro
than 1G weeks and practically no other
business except appropriation bills was
considered IN that period. only IL
votes. all by democrats. were recorded
against tho bill
Tho practical urenimity with which
tho measure wea passed. was duo to
tho radical changes made IN the meas
TIRE from the form in which 1T wGs
drafted by Attorney General wicker
sham after humorous conferences Mt
the White House on tho subject OF
amending Interstate commerce laws.
All tho insurgents who opposed many
features OF the original bill voted for
It tonight
In the elimination &C pooling ana
merger sections and tho adoption or
many amendments IN the Interest of
shippers the progressive republicans
claim to have won signal victory
and most OF the democrats express
themselves as favorable to the largo
portion OF the measure. Had 1t not
been for the retention Of tho sections
to create court of commerce. II is
likely that the vote for the bill would
have been unanimous.
No republican voted against the bill and
six democrats voted for It. They were
Messrs. Chamberlin, Clay, Gore, Paynter,
Simmons and Stone. The democrats re-
corded against il were Nessrs. Bacon.
Fletcher, Frazier. Hughes, Money. New
lands, Percy, Purcell, Rayner, Shiviey,
Smith OF Maryland and smith of South
Carolina.
LAFOLLETrE WARNS SENATE
Just before the voting began Senator
IaFollette. one Of tho insursent republi-
Fan leaders. served notice upon the Senate
hat unless the Senate confcrees made a
determined fight for retention of amend
ments procured by progressives and
democrats. II could not hope TO approve
he conference report The measure had
ilready passed the House 1t will now &c
20 conference and the new law will take
affect co days from the date of approval
by the President,
The salient features in the railroad bill
is 1t passed the Senate may be described
as follows:
The bill provides for the creation of q
new court Of commerce FOR the cons!d-
GRAFTON exclusively of appeals from or
ders OF the interstate commerce COM
mission. The court f. to consist of five
judges, to SIT in Washington; their pow
ers are to DO coordinate with the Judges
Of the federal circuit court, they are &c
receive the same pay and are 10 be APP.
pointed in the first instance by thu
President for terms respectively of one
he retires 70 take up the work of IL cir
cult Judge Is to be succeeded by q de
signation from the circuit bench, thes
Bnd other vacancies TO he filled by ap
pointment by the chief justice of Tho
Supreme Court.
COURT MAY SIT ANYWHERE.
While the offices of the court are to bt
in Washington and regular sessions are
to be held here, provisions is made fol
sittings anywhere In the United States
The government rather than the inter.
state commerce commission Is made the
defendant in all cases coming before
she court but the commission is per.
hiitted to intervene. as are other inter.
ested parties.
The defense Is placed under the dircc
ton of the attorney general but the com
mission and interested parties are per
United to have counsel and to carry or
the suit In case of the failure OF the at
torney-genersl to do so. Appeal may b'
taken to the Supreme court
The long and short haul provision o
the present interstate commerce law |.
amended to permit a greater charge fo
short haul than for a longer haul only
with the consent OF tho interstate com