The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-04
Both Houses Begin Dis
mantling of Taft's
Railroad NJ Measure.
FINAL OUTCOME
IS NOT CERTAIN
Long and Short Haul Question
Causes Debate in Senate-Prac-
tically Agreed To as Report
ed in House - Traffic
Agreement S tion
Stricken Out.

washington. D. c., May 3.-The dis
nantling of the administration rail-
road bill proceeded in both houses of
Congress to-day.
Section I. the traffic agreement pro-
vision. was eliminated by both Senate
and House. The Senate struck out
also Section IL. which would have
permitted any railroad owning 30 per
cent of another road to absorb II al
together. The section prohibiting a
railroad TO charge higher rate for n
short than for long haul was adopt
ed by the House in the form report
ed by the Committee on Interstate
Commerce, but with an additional pro-
vision for all Investigation and report
to Congress by the Interstate Com
merce ComnissICh of the facts rela-
tive to the long and-short-haul dues-
ton. There is no section correspond
ing to this in the bill as it Is pend
ing in the Senate; but an amendment
offered BY Scator Hepburn to-day to
modify the existing law to similar
effect precipitated an extended debate.
which was still in progress when the
Senate adjourned.
was boring holes in a separate bill
the Senate in the Senate bill. intro
duced by Senator Elkins; the House In
the House bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Townsend-but the bills at
the outset were Identical; though they
were made different in various re-
spects by the committees which re-
ported them
Each version of the bill has yet TO
be passed in its own house. and then
will have to undergo the tender mer-
cies of the other. Whether either will
ever emerge from the final stage of
joint conference is thing nobody is
prepared Just now to prophesy.
Quick Action in Senate.
Never since 1t vas reported to the
Senate some nine weeks ago has the
bill moved along with such celerty as
10 day The entire program outlined
at Yesterdays conference of Republic
can leaders was carried out and ex-
tended In rapid succession, the Cum
Minis and the Crawford Elkins amend
ments to the traffic agreement provis-
ion were withdrawn. and the entire
traffic and merger provisions stricken
out
The Clay amendment. striking out
the agreement provision. was accept
ed without division. and this action
was followed Immediately by the ad-
dition of motion by Senator Nelson
striking out without division. Section
u. which covered the questions of
mergers.
Mr.. Hepburn then precipitated the
debate of the day by presenting an
amendment prohibiting greater
charge for short than for long hauls.
In support of his amendment. Mr..
Hepburn presented many instances of
alleged discrimination. Admitting
that apparently there are some cases
of injustice, Mr.. Aldrich said the trou-
BILE was to find a remedy. Declaring
that many cities. such as ST. Paul
Kansas City and Denver, had been
! built up by the railroads. he asked Mr..
Hepburn whether be advocated their
annihilation, in thr interest, for in
stance, of some unknown place In
Idaho.
He declared that Mr. Heyburn's con
tentions, carried to their legitimate re-
suit, would convert. the great central
part of the country into barren waste.
That is tho old siren song" re-
sponded Mr. Hepburn.
He would not, a1nit Its applicability;
and declared that IL the terminal
renumerative there could be no in
justice in charging the same pricas
for a shorter haul.
The Hepburn amendment was still
adjourned.
Voting Begins In House.
Voting was begun on amendments
to the lorg and short haul section, af-
ter two hours debate upon 1t in the
House.
BY 55 to 132 an amendment by Mr..
Hardy, of Texas. to strike out the pro-
vision permitting the Interstate Com
merce Commission to permit tho max
ing of low through rates over water
competition was disagreed to-
The section relating to the long and
short haul clause was then agreed to
in practically the form in which It was
the section permits railroads to charge
low rates for a long haul. In view of
water competition. only after such
lower rates have been agreed TO by the
| Interstate Commerce commission.
| The provision authorizing the traffic
agreement between railroads then was
taken up. Mr.. Townsend. of Michi-
I,that in case any such agreement should
result in higher rates than previously
charged the Interstate Commerce Com
mission should approve the rates be-
| fore they became effective. MI. Mar
tin, OF South Dakota. offered substi-
| the traffic agreements should be ap-
| proved nv the commission before be-
Coming effectlve In all instances
| BY a vote of S3 to SO Mr.. Martins
| substitute was agreed to-,
Mr.. Madden, Of Illinois offered an
| traftic agreement section. BY vote
| of no to 81 the amend ment was agreed
Ito. many of the Regular Republicans
| voting with the Democrats; a number
Of Insurgents voting against the Mad
| den proposition.