Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-15
RATE CLAUSE IS PUZZLER
Section Remains Only Stumbling
Block in Railroad Bill.
\ CONFEIAEEs IN NIGHT SESSION
Question Of Suspension of Increases
Causes Difference of Opinion
20, Bond Feature 60 BE ELM
limited.


WASHINGTON. June H-with the end
In sight a session of the conferees on the
administration railroad bill was held to-
night at the home Of Senator Elkins. only
one feature of the bill remained as a bar
10 final agreement. That related to the
period Of suspension OF increases in rates
peudins an investigation by the Interstate
Commerce commission to determine the
rcusonableness of the advances.
President Taft showed marked interest
in this provision and although tentative
agreement was reached regarding it, this
suggestion OF the compromise must be
submitted to him before 1t is placed finally
In the conference bill. It is understood
Senators Elkins and Aldrich and Repre-
sentative Mann OF Illinois will take their
tentative draft to the White house tomor-
row.
An unusual situation listed in regard
TO this portion of the bill me bill passed
by the house would provide for a suspen-
sion Of an increased rate for a period not
TO exceed four months.
The senate bill would make the same pro-
vision except that unGer an amendment
by Senator Jones. the commission would
be empowered to make = further suspen-
sion not to exceed six months in the event
that the original period had been insult
ficlent for the commission to ascertain
whether they were reasonable.
Mr.. Mann, the house conferee, It Is said,
favored the retention Of the senate amend
ment and on the other hand the senate
conferees, Messrs Elkins and Aldrich were
willing to accept the provision carried by
the house bill. President Taft was re-
ported to favor a compromise which would
make the total suspension six months. The
presidents idea may prevail. The senate
conferees offered to accept this proposition,
but until tonight at least. failed to con-
vince Mr.. Mann that the handiwork of the
senate was not best
short Haul Clause.
Another important feature settled tenta-
lively, but which may yet be changed is
the provision to prohibit the railroads from
charging a higher rate for a short than for
long haul The western members of the
4 senate expressed a fear that IL the house
\ provision would be accepted it would be
declared unconstitutional and therefore
have urged the senate conferees to insist
upon the amendment adopted by the senate.
The difference is that the house provls-
ion might be construed as delegating legis-
latlve authority to the commission, while
the senate provision prescribed the rule by
which the commission might make ex-
ceptions to the general rule. Mr.. Mann
Stakes his reputation" upon tho effective
ness OF the house provision.
The senate conferees are disposed to take
the house provision and will do 80 II
western senators who have undertaken to
look into the legal phase of the situation,
report tomorrow that they would be salts
flew with It. aft
The stock and bond feature OF the house
bill is to be eliminated and there will be
substituted provision for the appointment
OF a commission to investigate the whole
subject or the proposed regulation of the
securities OF railroads. 1t is understood
that $4,000 VIII be Appropriated 10 defray
the expenses of the commission but that It
viii not be given the power OF subpoena.
AS drafted there is no requirement that
the commission report to the next session
Of congress. This is explained on the
ground that no one was willing to estimate
how long such an investigation would take
Senator Newlands and Representative
Adamson of George. the democratic col
ferees. were called into the conference late
today by their republican associates. This
fact and for the further reason that the
conferees twice visited the White House
today led to the report that final agree
ment had been reached. The minority
members expressed general satisfaction
with the work OF the conferees, although
they gave no assurances that they would
support the conference report. In fact
MI Adamson indicatedw that he would
not.