Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-13
Conferees on Railroad Rate
Bill Close to Agreement.
WORKING AT WHITE HOUSE
Republican Members Keep in Close
Touch With President.
APART ON FEW ITEMS ONLY
Long and Short Haul Clause Has
Yet to Be Adjusted-Report
This Week.

The csnferees on the railroad rate bill
were hard at work again today, following
six-hour session yesterday. which was
attended by Attorney General Wicker
sham The conferees were making good
progress today and there seemed every
likelihood that the work would be con-
ciuded tonight or tomorrow and a report
made to the Senate the middle Of the
week.
The main points at issue today were
the long and short haul clause and the
period of time for the suspension of
rates pending investigation by the COM
mission.
the House and Senate provisions as to
tie long and short haul charges. with
differences Of legal opinion among the
conferees as to the effect Of the respect
claim that the House provision as 1t
stands will be unconstitutional, but this
is denied by the House conferees.
Where Senate Bill Differs.
1t is claimed by the Senate conferees
that the House provision delegates to the
Interstate commerce commission legis-
lative functions and will be thrown ont
by the court.
The Senate provision. while in sub
stance aiming at the same object pro-
posed by the House. diherentiates by pre-
scribing the rule by which railroads
shall not discriminate in rates against
hort hauls
The Senate does not favor a rigid re-
uirement that railroads may not charge
higher rate for a short than for a long
aul. but specifies circumstances under
-hich by ascertainment of facts and
arrantable conditions such charge can
made.
Hope for Full Agreement.
There 10 considerable work yet to be
me in polishing up the verbiage Of the
i'll. and a redrafting of the provision
elating to telegraph and telephone COM
.anies is necessary.
The conferees hope to reach full
agreement and make a complete report
to their respective houses SO that the
question Will come on the adoption or
rejection OF the conference report. OF
course. If it should be rejected by either
body a separate vote could be demanded
on specfhed paragraphs and the sense Of
that body taken on the particular subject
The conferees were In session again
this afternoon. after a preliminary morn
ing discussion.
The republican conferees-Senators Aid
rich and Elkins and Representatives
Mann and Wanger-were much in evil
dence around the executive Offices today
MT. Mann was at the White House early
with the President
Senator ElkiDs also made a brief visit
and later in the day all four conferees
showed up at the executive Offices spend
ing much time in the cabinet ROOM both
with President Taft and without him,
while he attended to other business in
his offices.
Thinks Agreement Near.
When the conferees finally left for the
Capitol they had little to say, Senator
Aldrich expressing the belief that an
agreement was nearing and would prob
ably came in the late afternoon or to-
morrow.
The conferees are trying to whip the
bill into shape. and they found the execu-
tive offices convenient for their work and
that they might be near the President
for his views in case of a serious hitch
Early in the morning Representative
Mann seemed TO think there would be an
agreement and report by the conferees
either this afternoon or tomorrow.
Beyond giving their views as to the
time Of probable agreement. the con-
ierees would say nothing as to the de-
tails OF their work
President Is Sanguine.
President Taft, in his talks With
visitors today. was most sanauine the
railroad Dill would be an acceptable one
to the whole country, and also conf
dent that the administration legislative
program would go through before Con-
gress adjourns.
The conferees are going to provide
fer commission to study all phases
of the question of stocks and bonds ana
their issue under governmental SUPER
vision. The commission will be left to
President Taft to appoint.
The Presidents optimism as to admin
istration legislation would mean that four
important measures advocated by him
will become law These are the railroad
bill. conservation legislation. postal saw
lngs bank bill and statehood. The Pres
ident was sure today that statehood
would go through in spite of the late
DAY and the opposition. The only admin
istration proposition that will go over