Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-04
UP TO CONFERENCE
Railroad Bill Is Passed by the
Senate.
INSURGENTS VOTE FOR IT
Twelve Democrats Register Noes
Against Passage.
D0LLIvER PRAISES ELKINS
West Virginia Senator Lauded for
Management of Troublesome
Legislation.

! Following the passage of The admins
| tration railroad bill by the Senate at 10
o'clock last night by vote of 80 TO II.
the measure goes to conference.
There are many points OF difference be-
tween the bills as passed by the House
and the Senate. Representatives of the
two houses will PROBABLY lock horns for
| three weeks before reaching a final agree
ment.
All votes against the bill were cast by
democrats. Senators Bacon of Georgia,
Fletcher of Florida. Frazier of Tennes-
see. Hughes of Colorado. Money of Mis-
sissippi. Newlands Of Nevada, Percy of
mississippi, Purcell of North Dakota,
Rayner of Maryland Shively of Indiana,
Smith of Maryland and Smith of South
Carolina, SO voted.
| Republican regulars and insurgents
| were united in favor of the bills passage.
| Democrats who voted for the measure
were Senators Chamberlain of Oregon,
Clay Of Georgia. Gore Of Oklahoma.
Paynter of Kentucky. Simmons of North
Carolina and Stone of Missouri.
Good Feeling Prevails.
The last days consideration of the bill
| in the Senate was characterized with ut
most good feeling, despite many vain at
tempts to amend it in the final hours
| 1t has been the unfinished business of
the Senate for twelve weeks. two weeks
| longer than the railroad rate bill was
under consideration in 1896.
| The insurgents. who fought many fea-
-, lures Of the original bill, were aligned
in favor of it, because Of numerous
changes made in the Senate. The elimi-
nation of the pooling and merger sections
toe thA tSSit, frN> fol
control Of railway capitalization and the
adoption Of amendments giving shippers
the right to be represented in court on
appeals from the decisions of the inter-
state commerce commission, and extend
ing the time of suspension of increases
OF rates pending the investigation by the
commission Of their reasona bleness, won
over the insurgents. While they say they
are not entirely satisfied with the meas
ure, they agree it is a step forward in
railway regulation.
AS expected. attempts We're made to
have adopted in the Senate amendments
which were rejected when the bill was
in the committee Of the whole. Senator
La Toilette offered his amendment for a
physical valuation OF all railroad proper
ties. Senator Hepburn offered a more
drastic long-and-short haul provision
| than was in the bill. Senator Bacon
establishment of court Of commerce.
Senator Simmons also presented again
his amendment for physical valuation.
All were rejected.
A few minutes before 10 o'clock. no fur
Their amendments Offering, the Vice
President put the motion for the final
passage Senator La Toilette demanded
the ayes and noes, and they were or
dered.
At five minutes before 10 o'clock the
Vice President announced that there were
80 ayes and IL noes, land the bill is
passed"
Few Amendments offered.
Only few of the many amendments
considered during the day were accepted
by the Senate. First came the accept
ance Of the provision of Senator Suther-
land modified by Senator Paynter. that
the interstate commerce commission shall
determine what lower rates shall be al
lowed for a long than for a short haul
within one year of such further time, not
exceeding another year, that the COM
mission may deem necessary.
There was also adopted an amendment
to the La Toilette amendment prohibit
ing telegraph and telephone franks, which
allows such franks to be given to en-
ployes of such companies.
Widows and mino. children of persons
who died in the employment of common
carriers will be allowed to accept passes
from railroads. in accordance with an
dEuCllQIIlSiIl ollcicu pS SCudtoi La L VI
lette and agreed to.
Two amendments offered by Senator
La Toilette created much discussion. One
provided that no person Interested i'll
abroad company should be appointed
Judge Of the commerce court, and it was
rejected by vote Of % to j. Those
voting against it maintained that such
a provision was q reflection on the jul
dietary.
The second proposed to substitute the
entire Supreme Court for the Chief jus
tice in performing the duty OF designating
the circuit judges to sit on the bench
Of the court of commerce. AS soon as
it was read 1t aroused sharp criticism
on the ground that it was q reflection on
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
John Jay and John Marshall might
we'll turn in their graves, commented
Senator Carter. The vote was Is ayes
and 50 noes.
Among other amendments reje:ted were
one offered by Senator Beveridge prohib-
iting members of Congress from receiving
any fees or gifts from railroad companies
engaged in interstate business another,
proposed by Senator Newlands, directing
the interstate commerce commission to
Investigate the intercorporate holdings or
common carriers. and q third. urged By
Senator La Toilette, designed to strength
en- the present law regulating the hours
Of service. Of railway employees.
Senator La Toilette also sought to en-
large the interstate commerce cOmmis-
sion. Ills amendment pfoposeu " uAN'oc
| the countrS into four districts and to ap-
point commission of three to preside
over each district. Objection was made
| to this amendment on the ground that 1t
involved too many large questions to be
considered in the brief time remaining
| before the final passage of the BILL
Dolliver Praises Elkins.
A closing feature was the high tribute
paid by Senator Dolliver to Senator Ell
! kius chairman OF the committee OH in
terstate commerce, who was i'll charge
of the bill during the twelve weeks it
has been under consideration. All the
senators seemed to he III entire accord
with MI Delivers sentiments.
| ."rhe chairman of the committee Oh
Interstate commerce. he said, 'has had
the hardest task that has been presented
to q member OF the Senate within my
service here, ana | think YOU will agree
with me, the hardest task that has been