The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-27
Insurgents and Democrats in
Congress Combine Against
the Administration.
SECURE AMENDMENTS
DURING LIVELY DEBATE
Taft May Not Recognize His Pet
Measure When 1t Comes
Back.

HAShlNulON, aprll So.-Iae rall-
road bill was the one conspicuous fea-
ture before both the senate and the
house today. In the house the E'insur-
gents Joining the Democrats, practi-
cally took charge Of the measure. They
succeeded in having adopted numerous
amendments; one of which would re-
move from the president to the SUI
preme court of the United States the
authority for organization Of the court
of commerce. The entire day was de-
voted TO discussing and voting on the
commerce court provision. a motion
by Mr.. Hubbard Of Iowa to strike out
the entire commerce court provision was
defeated by tie vote.
In the senate Mr.. Clapp of Mime
sofa hurled defiance at the administrs-
ton and regular party leaders in con
gress for the supposed effort to read
''lnsurgent senators out of the party.
Mr.. Clapp intimated the people were
not following the leaders, who, he said,
were merely reading themselves out Of
the party by the course they were
adopting. He took especial exception
to the recent speech Of Attorney Cen
eral Wickershams
hughes Denounces Bill.
Senator Hughes denounced the rail
road bill AS a whole. and Mr.. Hey
burn undertook to combat the couten-
tion that the Crawford Elkins provision
nulliied the Sherman antitrust law so
far as it affects the railroads.
Voting on the amendments to the
railroad bill began in the house late
today. 1t became evident practically
all the insurgents were voting with
the Democrats.
The amendment OF Representative
Cooper OF Wisconsin to strengthen tho
provision that the commerce court
should not have jurisdiction exceeding
that of the circuit courts was adopted.
lis the amendment of Representative
Leuroot of Wisconsin for the dcsigns
tion of the judges Of the commerce court
by the supreme court of the United
States, instead of by the chief Justice
of the supreme court, was adopted.
Mr.. Lenroot offered another amend
ment, providing the commerce court
should be organized in the first in
stance by the supreme court, instead of
by the president. as recommended by
the interstate commerce commission In
the bill reported to the house This
was carried, 135 10 131, the
insurgents voting almost solidly 70
take this power from the president.
The house. acting as in committee oil
the whole no record vote was taken,
the voting being viva voce, by division
and by tellers.
Lose by Tie Vote.
Upon the motion of Mr.. Hubbard OF
Iowa to strike out the entire paragraph
relating TO commerce court, Mr.. Ben
net of New York in the chair, an
nounced the vote was l3l 10 130 and
then announced his own vote in the
negative, which defeated the motion,
Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York protested
that the chair had no right to vote
in such a case, but this point OF order
was quickly overrruled,
A demand for vote Of tellers was
made. While this vote was being TAX
an, Speaker Cannon came iu,o the house
from his private room. to vote with the
party organization. The vote by tell
,rs was l40 to 139, Mr.. Bennett again
voting in the negative. This tie vote
defeated the motion to strike out the
PROVISION.
The defeat of the motion was ac-
.omplished only after the greatest ac.
:ivity on the part of the majority to
summon regular Republicans. Another
pectacular feature of this vote was the
hurried entrance Of the speaker without
collar. He had been called unexpect-
'dly, when there was not moment to
ose,
One Democrat. Mr.. Russell of Texas
-oted with tho regular Republicans on
every motion. The insurgents
-aricd In their voting. AT times as
many as twenty-five voted with the
Democrats. while on other motions their
umbers were reduced TO about a
ozen.
The amendment of Mr.. Macon of
Arkansas 10 reduce tho number OF
udgos on the commerce court from hNs
O three, and that of Mr.. Wagner of
to increase their terms
f service on the court from five to
en- wears. were defeated
Another amendment bv Mr.. Lenroot
{ Wisconsin, insuring the right 10 APP
cal TO the supreme court Of the UNIT
d States, in special eases, was defeat
d, 1874 to l35.
Sheppard Left Too Soon.
Representative Norris Sheppard Of
exas. supposing the important amend
tent had been disposed OF. went to the
ouse barber shop, but no sooner had
is head rested on tho chair, his col
Lr being removed. when a messenger
lshcd in. The Texas member buried
ack TO vote. With towel.wrapped
eek he quickly made his way TO the
oor, arriving in time to pass between
lie tellers.
Mr. Madison of Kansas, au "iusur
mt, offered an amendment reducing
om sixty to seven DAYS tho period
lring which an order of the Interstate
'mmssion might be suspended by the
mmorce court. pending application to
e court for its injunction in certain
ses. The insurgents very gener-
VI.