The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-04
Regulars and Insurgents
Line Up for the
Measure.
SIX DEMOCRATS
HELP TO PASS 1T
Radical Changes Made Since Bill
Was Drafted by Wickersham
Make It Acceptable to Pro-
gressive Republicans-Mi-
nority Satisfied With All
but One Provision.

but One Provision.
passed the administration railroad bill
Mt 8,65 o'clock Tonight. 1t had been
under consideration for more than
twelve weeks, and practically no other
business except appropriation bills
was considered in fhnt long period.
Only twelve votes, all of thOse by
Democrats, were recorded nRainst the
bill. The practical unanimity with
which the measure WAS passed wns
due to the radical changer made from
the form In which II was drafted by
Attorne y-G enernl WickernhnIn, follow
ing numerous conferences mt the White
House ON the snbject OF amending In
terstate commerce laws. All of the
Insurgents, who opposed many features
OF the original bill voted for 1t to-
night.
Through the elimination of pooling
and merger sections. and by reason OF
the adoption OF many amendments in
the interest OF shippers. the progress
sive Republicans claimed TO have won
signal victory. and most of the DEM
ocrats expressed themselves as favor
able to the large portion OF the meas
urc.
Prevents Unnnimity.
Had 1t not been for the retention
OF the sections 10 create a court of
commerce II is likely that the vote for
the bill would have been unanimous.
Debate cease at $3.50 o'clock when
Senator Elkins. chairman of the Inter-
state Commerce Committee moved 10
tako up the bill which WAS passed by
the House, and after striking out the
body of that measure TO substitute the
matter agreed upon by the Senate In
that form the bill WAS voted upon with
the result that 1t was passed by vote
Of 80 to IL.
No Republican voted against the bill
and six Democrats voted for IT. They
were: Messrs. Chalnberlln. Clay. Gore.
Pnynter, Simmons and stone The
Democrats recorded against 1T Were:
Messrs. Bacon. Fletcher. Frazier,
Hughes, Money. Newlands, Percy, Pur-
cell. Rayner Shively Smith of Mary
land. and Smith. of South Carolina.
Just before the voting began. Sena-
tor La Toilette. one of the Insurgent
Republican leaders. served notice upon
tho Senate that unless the Senate con-
ferees made determined fight for re-
tention OF amendments procured by
Progressives and Democrats, 1t could
not hope to approve the conference re-
port
Speeches in explanation of their
votes were made by Senators Bacon,
la Toilette, Dolliver. Paynter. Clay.
Simmons and Gore. and brief remarks
were made by others.
Bits "High Spots.
Tho high spots in the railroad bill
as 1t passed the Senate may be de-
scrbed as follows:
The bill provides for the creation OF
new court Of commerce" for the
consideration exclusively of appeals
from orders of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The court Is to
consist of five judges. TO sit In Wash
ington: their powers are to be CO.
ordinate with the judges OF the Fed
eral Circuit Court, they are to receive
the same pay and emoluments and are
TO be appointed in the first instance by
the President for terms respectively of
one. two. three, four and five years
Zach, as he retircs to take up thel
work OF a circuit Judge, is to he sue
ceeded by designation from the cir
circuit bench. These and other vacan-
cies are to be filled by appointment by
the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
While the offices of the court arc to
be in Washington. and regular ses
klons arc to be held here. provision is
United States. The government, rath-
fr than the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. is made the defandant In all
cases coming before the court; but the
commission is permitted to intervene.
as are other interested parties. The
defense is placed under the direction
of the Attorrey-General, but the COM
mission and interested parties are per-
{ 1nltted to have counsel and to carry
"a rot1 .
tho Attorney General to do SO. Ap-
peal may be taken to the Supreme e
Court.
The long and short haul provisldh Of
tho present Interstate commerce law
would be amended SO as to permit a
greater charge for a short haul than
for long haul only with the CON
Hent of the Interstate Commerce COM
mission.
Water Competition. Assured.
Especial provision is made against
{ the fixing of a lower rate for the pur-
pose of destroying ater competition.
Railroad companies are required to-
furnish written statements of rates
from one place to another upon tho
Written application of a shipper. un-
der penalty Of $3.50 for lmlsstatement
or failure to-comply with such appli-
ration In addition, the shipper could
bring suit for additional damages,
Either upon complaint OF upon it's
own initiative, the commission is a,-
thorized to determine the reasonable
ness of individual or Joint rates or
classification, and ifI,such rates are
FOUND to he unreasonable, dscriml-
natory preferential or prejudicial. the
rommission Is authorized to determine
and presclbe a proper rate. Rates re-
s nuced to maet water competition must
hot be restored unless after hearing
by the commission to determine
! Whather conditions have changed
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