Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-05-28
THE RAILROAD BILL,

= IL - u <htLAsoao O1LLs
The surprise in the railroad bill sit1a-
ton In the Senate yesterday CINE jast
before the clcae of The session, when an
amendment plsclpg telephone and tele.
grsph companies under control of the
1T rstate Commerce Commission and
giving to the commission power t. regu-
late rates was sprung upon the Senate
and adopted almott before the regular
leaders knew Wba. had been done.
This is the same provision that WIS
put into tie House bill, and strong op.
position from the Aldfich. E,kins forces
was anticipated. At The TINA the
Htu'e adopted this feature 1t was pre-
ditt,d generally that 1t would not go
thrt uyh the Senate. Tue action yester-
day makes 1t certain that 1t will form g
part OF the bill SO finally reported from
the conference committee.
After the Dolliver amendments REFER
ring to the physical valuation and stock
and bond Gestures had bean voted down
and most of. the senators thought the
6usl vote on the bill was coming. Sens.
tor Dixon offered The telephone and
telegraph amendment. The section was
long one, re-enstting psrt OF the pres.
ent law aud adding telephone and tele
graph companies. Senator Lodge in.
msdiately protested. He insisted that
1t was net possible for the Senate to di.
ges. this amendment, covering nine
printed psges, in 80 short time, aud
demanded that an sdjournmen. be taken
in order that senRtora might intelligently
study it. Mr.. Dixon explained the
amendment, but YVES unable to convince
Mr.. Lodge CO to iis simplicity, Sera-
.ors Bscou, and Hals likewise thought
it ridiculous to ask The Senate to act al
ones on an amendment! of this sort
without sufficient time for its considers
ton. a motion was made to lsy the
amendment GA the table. This was lost,
81 to %. Again Mr.. Lodge insisted
upon adjou 'nmens, but the Senate de.
cIiued t, adj urn. Mr.. Dixon then said
that, as the objection appeared to be to
the length of the amendment he wcud
accept ss suhst tate one prepared by
Senator La Folleit', stating the case In
few words.
Mr.. La Folle't, presented his substi-
lute, which simply provided that the
telephone and t,legrsph companies be
placed under the jarisdicti ton OF the com.
mission, lie accepted an amendment
from Senator Hepburn, excluding "Wire-
esa," because be said he did not desire
10 argus the question, and without in
tending 10 reflect upon anybody he be-
! ieved it important 10 the country that
the vote on the amendment be taken at
once. He in!imated that II the matter
was allowed to 60 over until tomorrow
the corporations would exert pressure to
defeat it. His prompt acceptance of the
Hayburu amendment left the chair
nc thing to do bu; put the question.
The amendment was adopted without q
roll call.
This Ia the frst amendment to the bill
emanaIiug from Inc in,u'gent republi-
| CANS that has been permitted to go
| thr, ugh ss proposed. Every time Mr..
Aldrch has seen that he could not dc.
feat The insurgeut proposition he las
managed 10 have substitute or modi-
Esd form come from the democratic side,
aud has led cft The roll cali by vo!iug for
| it himself, thus robbing the insurgents
of the fall credit. This time, however,
Aldrich left the Sensta before The
amendment came up. Nor was The
az Crane in The cbamberlt the time,
Hale, Ledge sDd Elkins found them.
selves inadequate 10 cope with the aitua-
tiop, and ii went through.
The Deliver stock and bond and ply
sical valuation amendments were slaugh.
tered. A feature of this debate wss The
division on the democratic side. On
the physical valuation feature, Senator
Stone stated that, while he opposed The
/ ill as whole, he would support The
| amendment, bfcsuss 1t was 10 accord
with the democratic plat torn Seuaior
Newlsuds supported him in this, while
Sanatora Rsyner, Bailey, and Hughes
| took the opp0s't, views
Mr.. Ragner again attacked The stock
and bond proposals upon the ground OF
their uuconst tu.!onality.
Mr. Rsyoer also denied that the demo-
cratic platform contained any sucb
pledge, and Mr. Hughes asseit d that
bere VS., not so mu:h az hitt 10 that
feet in the plst ofm. Mr.. Some re-
piled 10 both Hughes and Riyner. in-
SIT ng toat The provision Was in accord
with The platform, ard that he had 90
doubt of lis c0ustitutionality. The
amendment was defeated By vote OF 46
10 10.
Immediately sitter The tele phone ard
telegraph amendment had been adopted
s 'ustor Brown offered an amendment
Prohibiting any railroad from acquiring
tt'ck In compt ting railroad. A similar
provision wss put into the bill in the
Hoasr, Mr.. Brown argued that this WAS
simple proposition that should not re-
qure argument. The "old guard" how
ever, refused to agree to any further
amendments end Senator Lodge renewed
bis motion to adjlrn, which was carried.
Senator Aldrich left Washington
early iu the afternoon and is not expect
ed back uatil Tuesday. 1t was hoped
tina. the 6usl Yots on tie railroad bill
could be taken today, but Mr.. Lorimer
declined 10 postpone bis speech oi
defense against the bribery charges made
against him. Mr.. Lorimer was scheduled
10 speak, and it is understood that it Is
bis intention to consume the belt,r part
OF the day. II :his is so, 1t will not be
possible ID get through with the bill