Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-13
BILL AT CRISIS
VOTE ON LONG AND SHORT
HAUL" TODAY.
Regulars Hope to Dominate and In
surgents Are Confident
of Victory.

The administration railroad bill is max
ing headway in the Senate. June 1 is
now taIktd of as the approximate date
for a final vote on the measure.
At O'Clock today the Senate will be-
gin voting on the Tong and short haul
amendment. It has been agreed that all
those proposed additions to the bill shall
be disposed Of before the close of the leg
islative day.
This arrangement is elastic. The legis-
calendar days 1t is thought. however.
that Saturday evening will see that phase
of the railroad legislation disposed of.
Both Sides Confident.
Opponents of any change in the present
law regarding long and short haul
charges claim that oil proposed amend
ments will be voted down. While grant,
ing that probably nineteen or twenty re-
publican senators Will vote in favor Of a
new clause, those against it say that
twelve or fifteen democratic senator's will
vote against it and thus defeat any
amendment.
Republican senator's from the Rocky
mountain states, who have been stren-
uously arguing for a new long-and-short
haul law. do not concede defeat. They
claim twenty-five or twenty-three repub-
lican votes for one of the amendments.
and assert that all but eight or nine
democrats will vote for it, giving them
majority.
To hasten the railroad bill to n final
vote, it has been agreed that the Senate
will meet at IL o'clock every day, be-
ginning Monday. Even with this daily
extra hour for consideration 1t is not
believed the final vote can be reached
inside of two weeks.
Senator Cummins, leader or the repuo-
lican minority in opposition to some OF
the provisions of the bill. will insist that
all his amendments be considered and
voted upon. He points out that there
was a gentlemen's agreement when the
bill was first taken up that the amend
ments of the majority OF the interstate
commerce committee should be consid.
cred first, and that the amendments of
the republican minority OF the committee
should then be taken up.
..e insists upon carrying out that pro-
gram. Until it is carried out. he has
announced. he will oppose any unani-
NOUS consent agreement to nix GATE tor
the final vote on the bill
Test on Dixon Amendment.
The first vote, to be taken at o'clock
today. will be on the Dixon substitute
for the Hepburn provision. Both propose
to stiffen the present law regarding long
and-short-haul charges. The Dixon sub
stitute Is designed to give the interstate
commerce commission more discretion
than would the Hepburn provision.
Senator Dixon framed his substitute
after consultation with many who are
in favor of some such legislation. 1t is
compromise. he believes. that Will re-
ceive majority of the votes in the upper
house. 1t is expected that the vote on the
Dixon amendment will be the test OF
strength.
Should the Dixon amendment be de-
feated, other amendments In different
form will be offered. Under the agree
ment these can be explained. and any pro-
tracted explanation will extend the legis-
lative day until the calendar day of to-
morrow and delay the final disposition OF
those provisions.
Senators Clapp. Smoot and Nixon spoke
in favor Of the Dixon amendment yester-
day afternoon.