The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-05
Will Demand That Rail.
road Bill Amendments
Be Retained.
ARE SUSPICIOUS
OF CONFEREES
If Drastic Contributions to Sen
ate Measure Arc Cut Out or
Toned Down They Will
Take Up Fight Anew on
Behalf of the Pub

Washington. June 4.--When Senator
La Toilette, in announcing in his
charming speech last night his pur-
pose to vote for the railroad bill.
sounded a warning that the country
would hold those responsible for the
bill to strict accountability for
happenings in conference, he spoke
not only FOR himself, but for the In
stood together in their fight to Inn
prove the measure. 1t is expected that
an effort will be made to tone down
materially the amendments forced into
the bill to protect the right OF the
public and shippers against the en-
croachments of the common carriers
The managers of the measure had to
accept the amendments TO pass the
bill. Their retention at the final stage,
the addition of the conference report,
depends upon the vigilance of the In
surgents.
II presidents are followed, the Re-
publican managers of the conference
on the part of the Senate will be Ell.
kins. Cullom and Aldrich. If Mr. Cul.
lom should not care to serve, the duty
viii fall upon Kean. of New Jersey
the next ranking Republican. All OF
these are popularity classed as railroad
Senator'S.
Tillman. of South Carolina. is the
ranking Democrat of the minority He
is i'll and absent from Washington
The next two Democrats in line are
Foster. of Louisiana, and Newlands. OF
Nevada, Mr.. Foster frequently has
supported the propositions Of the com.
mittec and voted with Aldric:l
insurgents Suspicious.
study NJ the personnel of the con-
| ierenee committed. therefore. would
seemato justify the suspicion of Insur-
gents that drastic amendments nay be
toned down.
Among the amendments thus adopt
ed and which are particularly obnoxi-
ons Is that by Mr. Ovcrnian, providing
that no Injunction or order suspan6ins
the operation of State laws shall be
granted by any Federal court on the
ground of the uncoustitutionallty OF
the statute, without a hearing before
three Federal Judges aud unless Il ma
jority of these three Judges shall con-
cur. This was inser,ed to prohibit
Federal Judges In Southern States
from setting aside the operation Of
State laws concerning rat
There also is suspicion, perhaps
we'll grounded. that the amendment
allowing interested parties to inter-
vene before the court of commerce and
prosecute suits IL the A,torncy-t;en-
eral declines may be modified materi.
| ally.
This proviso safeguards the provis-t
| lon of the proposed lay placing the
Acknowledgement In full charge OF all
cases arising before the court. The
telephone and telegraph companies UNI
der the jurisdiction of the commission,
is more. drastic than the House bill,
and is distasteful to al least one mem
| Der of the Senate conference commit
Itee. 1t will be attacked If possible.
The amendment directing the com
mission once in six months to ana
show ''the changes in through rates
on all staple commodities between tho
principal producing and consuming
sections. of the country" and report
to Congress. will be stricken from the
bill il possible Mr.. La Toilette forced
| this in.
Railroads VS.. Public.
The fact that It may illuminate the
of itself makes 1t Objectionable to those
/ who. believe the interests Of the rail-
! roads are paramount TO those OF the
Another little amendment, short in
form but vital in effect, provided that
when railroad lowered a rate in
competition with water transporta-
ton 1t should not be restored to tho
former rate without the approval OF
1 the commission
This was intended to prevent the
practice of killing competition by wa
tor lines. and after driving such lines
out OF the business restoring the for
mer high rates.
Other safeguards were thrown around
! water competition These amendments
/ If retained In the bill will materially
1 interfere with the present practices
| of railroads. At the same time they
Insure an effective water competition.
i They may go out unless unceasine
| watchfulness is maintained.
| From statements of Senator'S who
4 obtained these concessions it is under
/ stood that unless they arc found in
(, tho bill when tho conference report
is submitted the whole fight will be
| reopened. Debate on tho conference
report cannot be tsoff In the Senate
any more than 1t can be upon tho
| bill In. the first instance.
If tho managers on the part of the
4 Senate really desire to get the ad.
Z. ministration's railroad bill enacted into
i law and adjourn this session of Con-
i gress within tho next thirty days, they
will not trtfle with the Senate in its
4 present mood,
4 Appropriation of S11O,00O,0NO.
Especial to The -Dispatch,1
Il Washington, June 4.-After serving