New-York tribune., 1910-05-11
TAFT RAILROAD BILL
PASSED BY HOUSE
President Expresses Much Graft
fication at Retention of
Commerce Court.
INSURGENTS JOIN REGULARS
Thirteen Democrats Support Ad
ministration Measure-Flnal
Vote 200 to 126-Harmony
in House Thought Assured.
From TIE Tribune Bureau. J


u-ss7ingfon. Nav 10.-The administra-
,.,, railroad bill was supported by every
psnuhlican in the House of Representa-
tires this afternoon and passed that body
- vote Of 200 TO 126. Thirteen Demo-
,.,sts we're recorded in favor OF the
-,essrre AS passed. the bill is identical
.,;-b that agreed on by the committee of
,be whole last week Representative
,4amson. of Georgia. moved to recon-
-,it the bill with instructions TO elm
.nste the Commerce Court, but this mo-
r,on failed by a vote of 176 to 150 Rep
-esentative Mann offered an amendment
which practically restored the merger
section stricken out by the committee.
hut this was defeated. 169 to 100
The Democrats who voted for the bill
--o-e REPRESENTATIVES Havens. Of New
York; Bartlett. of Nevada; Jameson. Of
Iowa: Hughes of New Jersey: Hardy,
smith. Russell and Gillespie, Of Texas;
saunders. of Virginia. and Webb, Pou,
Kftchin and Page. OF North Carolina
The vote Of each Democrat was applaud
~ hv the Republicans, and when the
measure had been passed there were
man, predictions that from now until the
end Of the session the relations between
Insurgents and the regulars would be
decidedly more harmonious. Gratifica-
ton was expressed by Speaker Cannon
and others that there were sufficient Re
rublican votes alone to pass the measure.
President Taft said tonight that he
was much gratif1ed by the passage OF
the bill. He was especially pleased with
the comfortable margin by which the
Commerce Court feature was retained.
for he regards this court as probably the
most important forward step in the pro-
posed law.
Regarding the amendments made ana
provisions added in the House, the Pres
ideut said he did not feel that this was
The time and he was not fully enough
scq,1ainted with the changes to discuss
fhern. Referring to the clause providing
rar physical valuation Of railroads, MI
Taft said that this power practically
row rests with the Interstate Commerce
commission and that the difficulty in
,arrving out such a plan has always been
found in the enormous cost OF the under
taking.
Motion 10 Reconnr1it Lost.
The Adamson motion TO recommit was
defeated by much larger majority than
had been expected. Only twelve Repub-
rcars supported il. and they, with the
exCeption Of Representative Fowler. of
New Jersey. were followers of Senators
~rr7n1ins and La Toilette. These ultra
insurgents were Representatives. Cary,
Nelson and Lenroot. of Wisconsin;
Davis and Lindberg. of Minnesota:
Fowler. Of New Jersey; Gronna, of
North Dakota: Haugen, Hubbard and
Woods. Of Iowa; Norris, of Nebraska
and Poindexter. of Washington.
The failure to adopt the Mann amend
r7ent prohibiting railroads from acqulr-
ing interest in the capital stock OF or
purchasing another railroad when the
lines arc competitive was due TO the
votes of the New England Representa-
ti7-es. who believe that such mergers as
the. recent one between the New York,
New Haven & Hartford and the Boston
4 Maine should not be prohibited A
few ir-econciIable insurgents joined
these men in voting against the Mann
amendment. Those Who Joined the DEM |
ec-ats were Representatives Cary, Len |
root and Nelson of Wisconsin; Gronna. |
RI North Dakota: Draper, of New York: |
Davis and Iindbergh, OF Minnesota; |
Currier. of New Hampshire; Gardner. |
Greene, TirreIl. Roberts. Washburn and |
Weeks. of Massachusetts,; Haugen, Hub |
hard Kendall and Woods, of Iowa; Hig- /
gins Hin. SperTy and Tilson. of Con- |
necticut. Madden, OF Illinois; Sheffield, /
Of Rhode Island: Parker. Of Few Jersey. |
snd Pondexter, Of Washington. Three |
Democrats Representatives Havens, of
New York. and Russell and Gillespie, of
Te1as-voted with the Republicans.
L has been decided by the insurgents
% make nc effort to elect the Republican
conferrees. They have every confidence
m Representative Mann, and il is con-
idently predicted that the conference re-
port viii be adopted by a substantial
majority. There was no debate on the
h'll to-day. although Representative
Fitzgerald. o. New York. attempted TO
aelag the ole b. numerous points OF
eoccr
Hc~ the Bill Would Change Law.
TIE MI makes many changes IL exist
'ag .sw which. II accepted by the Sen
te. viii greatly affect interstate COM
f1eroe. The Court Of Commerce is Great
- 70 ad3uGicaue cases on appeal from
he Interstate Commerce Commission.
Z IS provided that this court shall be
frgarl:zed by the justices Of the Supreme
tourt of the United States. future ap-
continents &c membership in the court
- Ue made by them.
Stock sac bond issues Of railroads are
ecntrolled by the bill. Under this clause
railroad before issuing any additional
s:ock, Esust obtain an order from the
commission. which must. among other
things, fx The price at which the Sc
'lirities MAJ be sold. a nilar provision
IL carried IN respect 70 railroads which
are organized through the courts. =
froF SION IS made tnat on the reor-
E@.ii2atso1 Of e railroad through court
r-oceedings stocks and bonds cannot be
-ssued for more than the fair value OF
ne property.
The long -short-haCl clause pro-
ioes that a railroad cannot, without
h1st obtaining permission, charge more
'or short than for long haul over the
sane ite The Interstate Commerce