The Washington herald., 1910-06-04

Continued from Page one.


mating many OF the most harmful pro-
visions OF the bill"
The bill. in Mr.. La Follettes opinion.
was pretty good measure.
The vote came Immediately after Sem
ator La Follettes speech.
The bill as il passed the Senate con-
tains only three OF four propositions in
substantially the same form as they ap-
pear IN the administration original bill.
The commerce court feature is retained
with a slight modification, and also the
proposition authorizing shippers to Sc
lect their own routes, the provision I'M
posing penalties for Incorrect statements
Of rates by railroad companies and that
authorizing the commission TO begin IN
Vestigations upon Its own initiative, and
TO control classifications.
Only Parts OF Original.
These are practically the only elements
OF the original bin left.
To these have been added, chiefly
through insurgent and Democratic votes.
a long and short haul amendment. and
an injunction amendment. a provision Civ
ing the Interstate Commerce Commission
power to suspend increases In rates for
eleven months, a provision allowing the
interstate
come a party 10 the litigation IN regard
TO its orders before the new Commerce
Court, an amendment shifting the burden
Of proof in regard to the reasOnableness
of increases in rates from the shipper to
the railroad itself, an amendment includ-
ing telephone and telegraph companies as
common carrier under the interstate com
merce law, and several other amendments
of minor Importance.
what Insurgents Claim.
In addition TO this, the insurgents, act
nag In concert with the Democrats. forced
out of the administration bill the section
legalzipg traffic agreements and the four
sections providing for government reg
uIation OF stock and bond Issues by rail-
roads.
The insurgents lay claim to all the
credit for the important amendments to
the bill. but the Senate regulars are far
from concedlng this. The fact remains,
however, that the bill comes out OF the
Senate lacking several Of the most i'm
portant features that 1t contained when
ii entered and having appended to 1t
many features that were not contained
IN the original draft OF the bill.
It is seldom that so important a piece
OF legislation comes out of the Senate
with as many Democratic amendments
as are contained in the administration
railroad bill" This OF course, is ac-
counted for in the fact that the Republic
can regulars were obliged to treat on
several occasions with the Democrats to
gather strength enough TO defeat some
OF the radical insurgent propositions.
The Senate bill differs in many respects
from the railway bill that has been
passed by the House, and it is expected
that several Of the more progressive
propositions contained in the bill will be
thrown overheard in conference.
Regarded as an ARront.
The introduction of an amendment by
Senator La Toilette providing the major
ity OF members of the United States SUI
preme Court instead OF the Chief Justice
alone shah have the power Of designating
the members Of the Court Of Commerce
caused a stir in the Senate early In the
days proceedings. Some Senators re-
garded It as an affront to the present
Chief Justice.
The attack on the La Toilette amend
ment was led by Senator Carter, who de-
eiared that John Marshall, John Jay,
and the great line Of chief Justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States may
well turn over in their graves as the re-
suit OF this, the first reflection in legisla-
tive halls on a Chief Justice of the Su-
prems Court judges"
Later Senator Carter referred TO the
amendment as one proposing 10 make "a
town meeting Of the United States Su-
ptsme rourt judges"
Senator La Toilette protested that the
language of his amendment was taken
from the House bill, and that ii Is on the
statutes of many States.
characterized as "Infamous."
senater Hepburn characterized the sug-
gestion conveyed in the amendment as
Infamous" and Senator La Toilette pro-
tested that the language Of the amend
ment had been adopted by him from the
House bill.
Senator Bailey bobbed up and said he
failed to see wherein there was a reaec-
ton in the Amendment II merely sought,
he said. 70 repose authority with eli the