New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-13
RAILROAD BILL PROGRESS
Senate to Vote To- day on Haul
Clause Amendments.
From The Tribune Bureau.

Washington Nav l2.-Definite steps were
taken to-day toward closing debate on the
interstate commerce bill IN the Senate
Most of the oratory has been expended IN
the many weeks since the bill was made
the unfinished business. and the leaders are
hopeful that final vote on the bill may o"
taken by the end of next week
Their optimism is not shared by some ~
the insurgents. because Senator La Follette's
long, promised general bill is still in cold
storage 1t is intimated also that some or
the insurgents who have spoken at length
may be induced without great effort TO IN
dulge In further eratoricai flights when the
sections relating TO control of railroad cap
italization are reached. Those who look
for q vote in the next ten days base their
hope on the fact that most of the insurgent
Senators have political troubles at home
recurring their personal attention. and on
this account will be disposed to conserve
their vocal productions for home consump-
ton
After some parleying q unanimous con-
sent agreement was reached to-day that
voting should begin at & O'Clock tomorrow
on all amendments relating to the long AMI
short haul clause This question is 70 be
settled before the close OF the legislative
day. Indica tons point 10 the defeat of all
long and short haul amendments.
The friends of such an amendment claim
twenty Republican votes and think they
will have all but six or seven votes on the
sDemocratic side They declare that the
vote will be close and that there 10 a
chance for favorable action on some pro-
vision embodying the principle of the long
and short haul The leaders concede n'ne-
teen Republican votes for the Dixon amend
ment but count on a dozen or fifteen Demo
cratic votes against II. They express cou-
fioence that all amendments OF this charac-
ter Will be defeated by substantial ma
/ jority.
President Taft has not given up hope OF
getting some provision in the bill for the
/ regulation Of the capital stock of interstate
carriers. He and his advisers are seeking
10 work out certain notifications OF gee
lions Is. II and rs In their present form
there is opposition 10 these sections on
the part of the regulars. insurgents and
/ Democrats. and tentative agreement was
reached some time ago 10 drop all three
sections. II is possible this course may be
1 followed. but at present an effort is being
made TO draft amendments which wifi be
satisfactory to the Republican majority and
will not be opposed by the reasonable IN
surgents. who agree with the President that
/ some effort should be made TO establish the
! principle OF the right of the government -
supervise the issue OF stocks and bonds ny
railroad corporations
Beginning next week. the Senate Will
meet at IL o'clock a. m. This order Will
be in force until final vote on the inter
state commerce bill IS taken. The leaders
are anxious to avoid night sessions, but
may resort to them II they see signs of "A
further liibuster against the bill.
Senators Clapp Smoot, Dixon and others
spoke to-day in favor Of g long and short
haul clause