Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-13
To
SOON FOLLOWER.
BILLS ADOPTION
Congress Will Likely Finish Work
on Conservation and Postal
Savings and Quit
STATEHOOD is SIDETRACKED
ConfereeS on Railway Measure
Make Many Changes and
Will Soon Report
STATEHOOD is SIDETRACKED
ASSOCIATED Press1

WASHlNGION, June 16.-ConIelo0S
on the administration railroad bill
were in session over six hours today.
The progress made indicates they prob
ably will report by Wednesday.
In the tentative draft, the only ques-
tions remaining in serious dispute are
those relating to long and short hauls.
and the period increases in rates should
be suspended to give the interstate
commerce commission time to pass
upon them.
With an agreement upon the rail-
road bill in sight, members of congress
are beginning to figure on adjourn
ment. Few members expect the ses-
sion to last longer than June 30, and
not few have put their guesses as
early as June 25.
Few other matters of legislation are
expected to consume much time.
4 canvass of the senate indicated a
decided sentiment in favor of adopting
the house amendments to the postal
savings bank bill. This course would
avoid a conference.
The sundry civil bill probably will be
passed by the senate tomorrow.
The bill to authorize the president to
withdraw public lands is the only
conservation measure slated to go
through this session. To that will be
added it Is expected, the bill that has
already passed the senate, TO perinlt
the issuance of certificates of indebted
ness to the amount of $9O,0O0,O0O to
complete reclamation work.
sTATEHoOD's CHANCES FEW
The opposition to the conservation
bill, based upon the statement py
former Forester Pinchot that it would
authorize the filing of mineral claims
on certain waterpower sites known to
be underlaid with minerals, appar-
emily has not been generally accepted
as a serious criticism. Advocates OF
the bill assert few waterpower sites
could be affected, and in those cases
It would be necessary for the claimant
! to prove the tract more valuable Tor
minerals than for development or
| No decision has been reached on
statehood legislation, but it is the i'm
preston that nothing will be done at
this session. Even if the bill reported
from the senate committee on terri
tories should pass, it differs SO from
the house bill that there would be
slight chances for agreement in con-
ference.
The railroad bill, therefore, appears
to be the key to the adjournment sit
uation, Just as it has been for nearly
four months. -,
Whether the conference report Will
be such as the two branches of con-
gress would be ready to accept re-
mains to be seen.
Those who advocated the retention
of the house amendment providing for
physical valuation of railroads Will
he disappointed. Similar fate awaits
those who wanted the government to
regulate the issuance of railroad Sc
curities, although the conference bill
will provide for a commission to IN
vestigate the matter
MANY CHANGES IN R. R. BILL
The plan for commission is not sat
isfactory to the supporters of the house
provision relating to stocks and bonds.
In the absence of definite instructions
there is no assurance that the comnls-
sion can report by next session.
The Democrats are opposed to fed
eral regulation of the securities of cor
porations, although they favor regula-
ton by the states.
Conferees have made a great many
changes in the form of the bill. They
have had the assistance of Attorney
General Wickersham throughout in the
work of harmonizing the phraseology
of the two bills. All agreements are
tentative, and therefore the conferees
are not inclined to make them public.
II is known, however, that the senate
amendment shifting from shippers to
the railroads the burden of proving the
reasonableness of rate increases and
the Overman amendment prescribing
the rule under which federal courts
may set aside orders of state courts
will be retained. These provisions are
highly pleasing to progressive" Re-
publicans and Democrats.
The most serious trouble looked for
in the adoption of the conference re-
port will be in connection with the long
and short haul clause. A rigid require
ment that no railroad should charge
more for a short haul than along haul
Is not favored by the senate conferees.
IT would not be surprising therefore II
the house amendment prevailed.
INSURGENTS NOT SATISFIED
Many lawyers held that the house
Amendment would be declared uncon-
stitutional in that it delegates legisla-
tive authority to the interstate conn
merce commission. The senate amend
ment prescribes the rule by which the
railroads would not be permitted to
discriminate short hauls, and thus 1t
meets the constitutional requirements
according to views of it's trainers.
The senate insurgents fear that If
the senate yields to the house in this
matter their hard fight over this ques-
tion will prove TO nave peen waste
of time. 1t is likely that they will de-
bate the conference report at length
before the house provision Is adopted.
In the main, the senate conferees
have agreed to accept the provision in
the house bill to amend section l of
the existing law, so as to greatly en-
| large the jurisdiction of the commission
| over the practices of railroads.
There is still some dispute over a re-
qulrement that all railroads be pre-
pared to arrange with other lines for
the establishment of through routes,
and to "provide reasonable facilities
for operating through routes"
The senate conferees. say some roads
| might be crlppled by a strict applica-