Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-09
Railroad Bill Conferees
Face vexati0uS Problems

The first formal conference on the rail-
road bill was begun at IL o'clock today
and was adjourned at 80 pm. 1t was
attended by Senators Aldrich and Elkins
and Representative Mann Of Illinois. Rep
resentative Wanger Of Pennsylvania was
unable to be present.
1t is understood that the democratic
members will not be called In until the
republicans tentatively have reached an
to the commerce court features. Another
meeting will be held this afternoon.
Radicals VS.. Conservatives
The task confronting the conferees in
the effort to compose the differences be-
tween the House and Senate measures
is determinable in a comparison Of some
Of the main points of differences between
t.le two bills.
1t must be understood, of course, that
these differences represent conflict be-
tween the radical and conservative intent
to control the railroads by government
supervision. Oddly enough. both the rad
icals and conservatives lind fault with
some provisions Of each bill.
Another unusual feature Of the situa-
tion is that the radicals were willing to
accept the legislation Of the supposedly
conservative upper body and when 1t
came to the pinch the conservatives were
violently opposed to their own legislation
This is accounted for by the fact that
the Senate accepted many radical amend
ments with the idea that they could be
adjusted in conference" They came
within seven votes Of being hoist with
their own petard, as change OF that
number of votes would have made the
Senate bill the act of Congress.
Some Important Differences.
A -. ,,r;,c,noI d;fYerences between
the House and Senate bill the following
are claimed to be important:
The Senate bill places the burden OF
proof as to the reasonableness of in
creased rates upon the railroads instead
of making 1t necessary for the shippers
to prove them unreasonable. The radi-
calls desire that provision to stand and
the railroad interests are fighting IL.
The Senate bill provides for ten
months suspension Of rates pending
investigation of them by the interstate
commerce commission while the House
authorizes four months suspension
The radicals fear that IL the Senate
comedies four months 1t viii demand
a concession from the House on the
point of physical valuation OF raa-
roads.
1t is claimed that the rights Of ship.
pers are better safeguarded by the
Senate bill In the provision giving the
Attorney General cOntTol over dStio'o
brought in the commerce court.
The Senate bill. it is claimed. gfves
greater protection to shippers by con-
trolling competition by water carrierS
and preventing destruction OF sues
competition.
Under the Senate bill. the redicalA
claim, there are strcter prohibitionS
against disclosure by railroad agents q
information concerning shipments Ii IL
charged that much of the advantage OBJ
tanned by the Standard Oil Company over
competitors was secured by this evil
which the Senate bill is said to correct.
Reports to Congress.
A provision of the Senate bill not found
in the House measure requires the inter-
state commerce commission every six
months to report to Congress an analysis
Of tariff rates upon principal commodi-
ties.
The Senate bill is said to be more ef-
fective in its provision relating TO the
practice Of federal courts enjoining state
statutes, In requiring that there shall
be q hearing on the injunction and that
three judges, one Of whom shall be a
circuit or supreme court justice, must
sit in the hearing.
The Senate bill requires railroad COM
panies to maintain at Washington an
agent upon whom process can be served
Some of the objections found to the
Senate bill are said to be serious. Among
the features deemed important which the
House bill includes and the Senate bill
lacks are the following:
The House bill provides for summary
proceedings in the court of commerce.
No replication need be filed to the an
swer, and objections to the sufficiency of
the petition must be taken at the final
hearing and not by demurrer. This Is
to prevent long delay and great expense
to the Htigants in bringing cases finally
to the Supreme Court.
Alaska and Hawaii.
The House bill included the territory
OF Alaska and the steamship companies