Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-29
MADE COMMON CARRIERS
AMENDMENT DEFINES TELE-
PHONE AND TELEGRAPH.
Other Changes in Railroad Bill.
Probably Will Be Passed
Tuesday.

The principal feature of yesterday S
consideration of the railroad bill In the
louise of Representatives was the adop-
ton Of an amendment offered by Rep
resentative Bartlett of Georgia, a minor
ity member of the interstate commerce
committee. and which was supported
by the democratic and insurgent repub-
lican combination. declaring telephone
and telegraph companies to be COM
mon carriers, and, as such, subject to
control by the federal government.
This amendment went into the bill by
substantial majority. and is the most
radical change that has been made in
the administration railroad measure by
either the Senate or House Well in
formed House leaders would not be
surprised IL the amendment carried when
anal record vote is had in the House.
Mann Opposes Amendment.
Representative Mann of Illinois. chair
man Of the interstate commerce commit
tee. which reported the bill. announced
that he believed the government should
control the telephone and telegraph COM
panies. He opposed the Bartlett amend
ment, however, as in his opinion the
proposition SnOulQ De tdhefI Care VI III d
separate bill and In an amendment in
corporated in the railroad measure.
The amendment was adopted by vote
Of 100 to 78. The leaders are uncertain
as to It's fate by reason Of the fact that
1t was carried yesterday by a combina-
democratic minority.
If the Bartlett amendment is retained in
the bill the measure will have to be
changed in many important respects. The
IxtI tod danl fNnI
agencies of transportation. With the
provision giving the interstate comm cree
commission jurisdiction over telegraph
and telephone companies countless
changes would have to be made in the
language Of the pending measure.
Intrastate Commerce Excluded.
An amendment was incorporated in the
bill Wednesday specifically providing that
the provisions OF the railroad law should
not apply to commerce within the Dor
ders of state. This amendment restored
provision of existing law.
1t was adopted as result Of repre-
sensations made to members by various
state railway commissions. The conten-
ton was made that unless the law spe-
officially set forth that its provisions do
not apply to intrastate commerce there
was danger of the federal government
encroachlng upon the rights of the states
In the matter Of railroad regula ton.
The managers of the bill INSISTED that
as it dealt solely with commerce between
the states 1t was mere surplusage to
provide that 1t did not affect commerce
within the states. The amendment was
adopted, however, as a concession to the
views OF state railway commissioners.
Another amendment adopted is design
ed to protect the right of complainant
appearing before the commerce court to
be represented without interference on
the part Of the Attorney General This
was presented by Representative Pickett
of Iowa, an insurgent
Representation by Counsel.
The bill as reported provided that a
party in interest might be represented by
counsel upon such terms as the court
might prescribe such appearance and
representation not to interfere with the
control Of the case by the Attorney
General. Mr.. Pickett declared that such
an enactment would enable the Attorney
General, IL he were so disposed, to retard
cases. His amendment was carried with
out debate.
An amendment offered by Representa-
tive Hubbard of Iowa, authorizing the
interstate commerce commission, instead
Of the Attorney General, to defend such
Of its orders as may be attacked in the
commerce court was defeated by tie
vote.
will be passed next Tuesday.