The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-03
RAILROAD BILL AFFORDS BIG
 SENATE FIGHT
Especial from United Press.)


 Washington, June 3.-There are diff ferences enough between the Senate and House railroad bills to afford fine fighting field for the conference committee that will try to arrange a compromise. Every conclusive point will have the backing of a majority in either the Senate or House. Threats are plentiful enough as aggressive statesmen declare that if the meas ures they fought for are removed the bill will not be adopted. Such threats are often made but rarely fulfilled. When Senator Aldrich and Represen- tative Mann clash in the conference committee the ensuing scene will be calculated to thrill the other members of the committee: Both go into their contests prepared for every angle and it promises to be a joyous and halcyon occasion when they meet to make bill satisfactory to the Senate. the House and the President. Barring some eleventh hour amendments that mittee without much dispute, each of the champions will be strongly insist ent for the product of his branch of the legislative mill.
 In the matter of a commerce court the Senate bill says five judges shall be selected by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court wkile the House insists that all the justices of the court shall have a hand in that task. The Sen ate also has some wrinkles in the way of procedure and court authority that do not appear in the House meas Ire.
 In the House bill 1t IS provided that the Interstate Commerce Commission shall have authority to make valua- tion of the property of the railroads. Senate to adopt such . provision and each has been beaten by two votes. Another effort for its adoption was expected to be made today just be- fore the final vote on the bill was taken in the Senate
 The House bill says that the Inter State Commerce Commission shall have authority to regulate the issue of stocks and bonds by railroads Such a provision appeared in the Sen Commerce Commission. but it was af- terwards limited by Aidrich and E1- kins. They said difficult problems were involved which should be con- stdered in a separate bill. In an eff fort to get stock and bond regulation back into the measure Senators Cum mins, Clapp and Stone offered amend ments but they were beaten
 There are many recently adopted features in the Senate bill that do not appear in the House measure. Most important is the Overman amendment which provides that the operation of g. State road cannot. as at present. be suspended by single States judge. Injunction having that effect can be issued only by three Federal judges, one of whom must be justice of the Supreme Court or Circuit Court judge
 Other provisions not in the House bill give the Interstate Commerce Commission power to prevent railways from manipulating rates so as to drive water competition out of existence; removing control of rates on traffic, wholly by water, from the commission and giving shippers the right to de- termine when the competing lines shall carry their goods.
 Both the Senate and House have voted to place telegraph and telephone companies under the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission and have adopted sections dealing with the practice of railroads in charging high CT rates for a shorter than for a long CT haul. s