The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-05-28
DIXON AMENDMENT GIVES COM
MERGE COMMISSION FULL
AUTHORITY.
WIRELESS LINES EXEMPT
During Debate LaFoiistte simplifiss
Wording Of Amendment, Which IL
Approved by Montana Senator-lan-
guase Of Original Identical With
House Provision.

Washington, May 27.--At the last
moment before reaching the point Of
voting upon the railroad bill today the
senate took the important step OF add.
ing AN amendment placing Interstate
telegraph and telephone lines under
the supervision OF the Interstate COM
merce commission. This action was
followed by an effort 10 restore por-
ton of section l2. affecting mergers.
which heretofore was voted out
Both provisions were introduced 40
suddenly as to surprise the senate and
the latter was considered so important
mat rather than vote upon u without
more consideration the senate toulx
adjournment until tomorrow. 1h.
suggestion OF the inclusion Of teIe-
graph and telephone companies within
the control OF the Interstate commerce.
commission was made by Senator
Dixon OF Montana, but ultimately his
amendment was supplanted by one IN
simpler form offered by Senator La
Toilette. The senate reached the vot-
Ing stage at 4 o'clock after an anil
mated debate. which was carried on
largely by the democratic side OF the,
chamber and which dealt especially
with whether the Dolliver amendment
regulating the stock and bond issues
of railroads was In accordance with
the last democratic platform.
II had been supposed that action
upon the Dolliyer provision wonld be
followed by votes upon, ths physical
valuation amendment offered BY Mr..
LaFollette and the national incorpora
tion amendment OF Senator Newlands.
When. therefore. Mr.. Dixon was recog-
nized To present his telegraph amend
ment. some surprise was manifested.
The amendment was In the exact Ian
gnage OF the telegraph provision car
ried by the house bill. and II purport-
ed To re-enact the first section OF the
present Interstate commerce law with
telegraph ana telephone companies
added. IL covered nine pages and much
objection To voting upon II without Al
opportunity for examination was ex-
pressed Even Mr.. Dixon himself was
unable TO state whether the provision
was an exact reproduction OF the pres
ent law with the additions mentioned.
and number of senators protested
against putting 1t To vote. Several
suggestions for adjournment were
made. Ultimately Senator Brandegee
moved 10 lay the amendment on the
table but this motion was lost, 22 to
81
While the discussion and the voting
were In progress. Senator I.aFollette
prepared an amendment 50 simple and
direct that senators could have no dif-
ficulty In comprehending II. Mr. Dix
on indicated a willingness To accept
tlllH nrnki1fnn In tiana "a
IL went through without discussion.
The exception of wireless telegraph
was made al the suggestion
Of Senator Hepburn. The result OF the
vote had no sooner been announced
than MIR. Brown Of Nebraska arose to
present his amendment reyivIng a por-
tion OF section IL. AZ presented, his
amendment prohibits all common car
riers from acquiring any interest
In the capital stock OF, or
purchasing or leasing any railroad
which Is competitive with that of the.
purchasing company A fine OF 5000
Is imposed for each days violation OF
this provision The suggestion OF this
important action. following closely aa
II did upon the vote To place telegraph
and telephone companies under the
AOhiiOl VI the WAS more
than the senate was willing to accept
without more opportunity for deliber-
alton
Many protests against Immediate ac-
tion were uttered. ana when Senator
Bacon moved to adjourn. large num-
ber Of senators aeauieseed BY ris-
ing vote the senate decided. 81 10 27,
10 adjourn.
The DolliNer amendment. on which
the first vote of the day was taken,
was lost by the decisive vote OF ls to
A.. The affirmative vote was east BY
Messrs. Beyeridge, Borah. Bourne.
Bristow. Brown. Burkett Burton,
Clapp. Crawford, cummins. Dixon,
Dolliver, Gamble. Jones. LaFollette, re-
publicans. and Chamberlain. Newlands.
Purcell and Stone. democrats.
Speeches favorable 10 the Doliiver
were made by Senators
Iones and Stone, and against Il bs
Senators Bailey, Hughes and Rayner
The opposition was on the ground OF