The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-14
PROGRESS ON BILL
Senate DispOSeS of Amend
mentS to Railroad Act.
COLLoQUIAL DEBATE LIVELY
Senator ElkinS Offers Two ImpOr-
tnnt Amendments, which Are
Readily AdOpted-ConsIdera Ne
gotintiOnS Among Insurgents and
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Active.

The Senate made substantial progress
yesterday in disposing OF pending COM
mittee amendments to the railroad bill.
There were no set speeches. but COL
loquial debate was carried on from the
time tine bill was taken UP at g. clock
until the Senate went into executive
session shortly after o'clock.
Two important amendments offered
by Senator Elkins on behalf of
majority OF the Committee on Interstate
Commerce were adopted after some little
debate without the formelity Of roll
call. One of these amendments strikes
out Of the bill the provlso authorizing
the acquisition by one corporation which
al the date of the passage OF the act
owns not less than one-half OF the entire
stock Of another railroad corporation, any
part or all OF the outstanding stock and
gives the Court of Commerce jurisdiction
10 pass upon any such proposed acqusi--
ton in advance Of It's cOnsummation-
The other committee amendment which
IS considered Of some Importance and Is
in tho nature Of a concession 10y the
committee to the critics OF tHe bill. Is
as follows:
Right 10 Appear.
.'Complainants before the Interstate
Commerce Commission interested in a
case shall have the right 20 appear and
be made parties 10 the case and be rep
resented before the Court Of Commerce
under such regulations as are now per-
mitted in similar circumstances under
the rules and practice OF the equity
courts
These amendments were the result or
considerable negotiations during the
morning hour in the Senate. Senator'S
Elklns and Aldrich were in frequent con-
ference with Senator Cummins, repre-
senting the insurgents. and with a num-
Der OF Democratic Senators in an EFFORT
To bring about an agreement. Senators
Crane. Curtis and other ENJOYS from
the Republican side were busy among
the Democratic Senators taking sound
ings and making reports 10 the leaders.
Senator Cummins made an unsuccessful
effort 10 strike out Of section y all OF the
proviso which authorizes one interstate
carrier 20 petition the court for permits
sion to acquire stock in another line. He
declared the whole proposition was bad
and Senator Bailey agreed with him and
added that IL was unconstitutional
Senator Cummins amendment raised a
point OF order which precipitated a debate
lasting for more than an hour. The point
involved was whether an amendment 70
an amendment. offered I'm the form OF a
substitute, which proposed 20 enlarge
upon the original amendment by propos-
ing TO strike out not only all of the Ian
Euage covered by the original amend
ment but additional language. was in
order Senator Aldrich declared Il was
Unprecedented IN Senate procedure. Sen
ator Cummins consented TO withhold it.
and will offer II at some convenient time
in the future
EIkins Offers Amendment.
Senator Elkins offered the committee
amendment pcstponing the date when the
law is 10 so into effect until sixty days
after IT'S passage. Senator Cummns at
tackled the proposed amendment. and
finally Senator EIlins withdrew It tempo
rarily The amendment TO section .
offered by Mr.. Elkins, I'm the nature OF a
concession 70 the carriers of water led
20 a long debate.
Senator Aldrich asked Mr.. Bristow II
ne would have the interstate Commerce
Commission enter upon the business Of
establishing water routes for transporta-
ton. But the Senator from Kansas was
resisted In his objections to the amend
ment. because he thought It intended II
create a monopoly even granting that
the public might be satisfied with the
rates and even his fellow-insurgent. SEN
ator Cummins, was unable 20 satisfy the
Kansas Senator.
The matter. was still pending when the
Senate went into executive session. and
soon afterward adjourned.