The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-08
ALL TRUNK LINES
. ENTER into PACT.
Eastern and Cen tr a |
Roads Will With
hold Increases.
CHANGE IN BILL
URGED BY TAFT
President Sends Special Message
to Congress as Part of Agree
ment-Senate Amendments
Go to Confercnce-Demo-
Gratis and Insurgents
Oppose Reference.

Washington, June 1.-THE recent
furry as to the railroad situation be-
came a thing of the past to-day. Tho
railroad presidents went home; Pres
ident Taft went horseback riding. and
the railroad bill went to conference.
The Eastern and Central railroads,
at a conference with the President this
afternoon, agreed to withhold all
proposed freight rate increases until
the new railroad law becomes effec-
tive. and after that to submit the
reasonableness of the increases to the
Interstate Commerce Commission. The
railroads interested in the Southern
territory declared they had not as
vet filed notices of increase, but that
If they did they would be ready to
abide by the decision Of the commis-
sion.
At the Capitol things were not so
pleasant. President Taft sent spe-
cial message 70 Congress telling of the
settlement he had reached with the
railroads and urging that the pro-
vision OF the railroad bill which gives
the Interstate Commerce Commission
the power to suspend and investigate
new rates be made effective imme-
diately upon the signing of the act.
rather than have it go into effect
along with the other clauses which
tave sixty-day limitation, following
the approval of the measure.
The President did this as part
of the agreement with the railroads,
by which he promised them square
deal and a speedy determination as
to the Justice of their new rates. He
also did 1t TO prevent the filing of
any new rates during the sixty days
between the signing. OF the act and
the taking effect of the new law.
Fight I'm House.
Tkrre WIS a bitter fight IN the
House as to whether the Senate
amendment should be accepted as a
whole or the measure should be given
into the hands of conferees from
House and Senate. The Insurgents
and Democrats. who were opposed TO
a conference. declared that the Pres
ident's wishes as to the immediate ef-
fectiveness of the Interstate Com u,erce
Commission rate approval clause could
be met by an agreement on the part
| of the House. The Regulars. who
! desired to have the bill sent to con-
ference for smoothing OUT process.
| declared that the only way to effect
| the Presidents wishes was to send
the bill to conference. They finally
| won out by six votes
| The Presidents conference to-day
was with Presidents James McCrea. of
the Pennsylvania; w. c. Brown, of the
| New York Central. and W. w. Finley,
of the Southern Railway. These men
| represented all OF the trunk lines from
| Chicago Eastward. There was little
surprise when, after the conference,
which lasted an hour and half, the
statement was issued that there had
been a complete agreement
/ When the bill was brought up ir
the House that body almost accepted
1t. missing that consummation by the
slim margin of six votes. The vote
/ came on a motion by Representative
Lenroot, an 1nsurgent Republican, OF
Wisconsin. who moved to concur ir
4 the Senate amendments, with an ad.
ditional amendment that section OF
the bill. requiring increases in rail
road rates, to be submitted to the
q Interstate Commerce Commission II
advance become Immediately effective
The close vote was caused by com
bnation of Democra and "Insurgent
Republicans. and five regular" Re
publicans.
Sent to Conference.
The bill finally was ordered sent
of the House was named, These wer
!, Representatives Mann, of Illinois, an
Wagner, of Pennsylvania, Republican,
and Adanson. of Georgia, Democrat
The Senate conferees already name
are Senators Elkins. of West Virginia
Aldrich. of Rhode Island Republican,
, and Foster, of Louisiana, Democrat.
President Taft recommended tn
change in the Senate bill proposed b
Mr.. I.enroot. in messageto Congress
, in accordance with his agreement wit
: Western railway presidents reache'
last night, although he did not comm1
! himself upon the question of concur
renee by the House In the Senat
measure, without conference on tn
9 subject,
|; After two hours debate on the pre-
posal, made in tho form of a motion
Mr.. Lcnroot. the House declined to ac
cept II by vote of 1856 to 162. a me
ton to non-concur in the Senat
amendments then was carried, and cor
ferees were named
y The Senate conferees were name
soon thereafter
Announcing that he did not fave
1 the Senate bill in its entirety, Mtnol
: ity Leader Clark said he thought
!, was a better bill than would be give
y the country II the measure went
: conference, and therefore, he favort
: accepting the Senate amendments,
| E- / .