Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-18
RAILROAD BILL
APPROVED BY
SENATE
MEASURE EXPECTED
TO PASS HOUSE TODAY
Senators Doubtful Whether
Law viii Stand Test of Courts
But Let It Go as Best Thing
Possible at This Time.

IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire
py Washington, June 17.-The sen
ate today placed its final stamp ol
approval on the administration rail.
road bill which has been pending al.
most since the beginning Of the ses-
sion. by adopting the report of the
conference committee. The report
was adopted By a vote of 50 to H. The
bill is expected 10 pass the house to-
morrow.
The vote came at the close OF the
day devoted to = fragmentary discus
Si0n of the measure and was without
special feature. The report prevailed
by a large majority the ayes being 80
and the noes 1. Al the negative votes
were cast by democrats but Senators
Chamberlain, ClaN, McEnory SIM
mons Stone and Taylor voted with the
republicans for the bill
Just before the vote was taken SEN
ator Stone elected statement from
senator Elkins to the effect that no
agreement had becn entered into be-
tween the republican leaders and dem
ocratic senators looking TO the elm
iuation of the capitalization provisions
Of the bill
The motion to strike out the capi-
taiization feature WIS made by a dem
ocrat and was supported by the votes
Of all but one o. the senators 500
Mr Elkins After lhat there was no
necessity for a bargain. and SO far as
l know there WAS none,
During the perfunctory dcbatc to-
day Mr.. Davis denounced the bill as
partisan and vicious and said that
he would vote against the report.
AIr Borah said that the long and
short bnbI prpNieion p-p1t1 ~ do
clarcd unconstitutional and certainly
would result in much litigation He
thought it would hav. been much bet
ter to retain the senate provision
about which there was no doubt
Mr.. Hepburn, who never was for
the house or senate long and short
haul provision. said the orange tree
had turned ont 10 be q bearer OF
lemons
Mir. Bafley found himself in doubt
as to the constitutionality of the court
provision His point was based on
the ground that q man appointed
circuit Judge could not be assigned to
another service.
Announcing his intention OF voting
for the conference report. senator
Cummins expressed the opinion that
the bin reported was as good as the
senate bill, if not better. Neverthe-
less, tnGft were HldllN tIdittS ANi III
provement. and The Iowa senator pro-
ceeded to point thcm out. He again
prophesied undesirable results I'm the
operation of the commerce court.
With reference to the long and short
haul provision. Mr.. Cummins eN-
pressed the opinion that under II the
Interstate CONNIE commission
would have practical control of the
situation. He thought the railroads
would be slow to challenge the law
because of the fear Of getting some
thing worse.
Does the senator consider the lohS
and short haul provision unconstitu-
tional?" asked Mir. Smoot.
The Iowa senator confessed that ne
did SO.
IF that should prove TO be the
case" responded Nh Smott, then
there viii be prov ision that there
can be no question about. In tha'
event there will be- other measures
that viii not be to the advantage OF
the railroads
Nh Gallinger tool, exception to the I
last statement OF the Utah senator,
saying that such an attitude meant
unfair legislation. II that was to De /
others would take
hand"
Mr. Smoot dsaNOWcd amy threat
ana the incident passed with renafk
by Mr. Clay that he was pleased TO lliiu |
another champion OF the masses ails-
ing in Mr Smoot.