The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-11
RAILROAD BILL
IN INFERENCE
Every Effort Made to Keep Re-
suit of the Deliberations
Close Secret.
F.,N " AGREEMENT is
EXPECTED NEXT TUESDAY
Probably Some Vital Changes
in Measure Before Dis
cuSSiOn Ends.

WASHINGTON. June 10.-Conferees on
the administration railroad bill had the
aid OF Attorney General Wickersham to-
day, and 1t was announced tonight that
there Is possibility OF final agreement
on Monday or Tuesday. No member Of
the conference committee would discuss
the details OF todays accomplishments.
II was learned. however. that u tenta-
tive agreement was reached as TO the
long and short haul provision, which will
consist practically OF both the senate and
house amendments on the subject. Tho
stock and bonds provisions are TO be
eliminated, as the senate conferees say
that because of Democratic opposition
they could not obtain the adoption Of
conference report providing for federal
regulation OF securities.
The ascertalDment OF the physical val
uation OF railroads IL is asserted, Will not
be provided FOR in the conference bill.
senator Aldrich told Representative Mann
that the senate had voted four times 10
reject that feature and that II was folly
TO consume time In discussing It. Dur
ing the day Mr.. Mann submitted n sub
stituto for the house amendment on this
subject, but the senate conferces char
acterized II as a make shift" which, IL
adopted, would subject the conference
committee 10 general condemnation by
those who favor an investigation OF the
value OF railroad property.
May Force Changes.
Mr. Mann has not entirely abandoned
hope OF compelling the acceptance of
some provisions on this subject Several
times he referred TO the fact that the
house had adopted the physical valuation
| amendment by vote OF nearly two to
one. President Taft apparently will win
on only one OF the three suggestions that
he made TO the conferecs He desired
that the house amendments concerning
stocks and bonds he retained; that tho
time allotted by the senate bill to- the
N ISG fh.4
invesI sIigation for increases OF rates be
reduced from ten 10 six months, and
that the section regarding rate increases
be made effective at once instead of
after sixty days.
| All the members OF the conference COM
mlttee favor the latter suggestion be-
cause OF It's application TO notices given
by railroads recently OF many proposed
| advances
'rhe senate confcrces hnvc told the
| president they could not consent TO the
| stocks and bonds feature because OF their
agreement with the Democrats The in
sistence upon the suspension of increases
period WIS required by the interstate
commerce commission To pass upon their
reasonableneSs Is a concession 10 "ln-
surgcnt senators.
Points of Difference
Many provisions In the house bill are
not in the senate measure In any form.
| This Is true, particularly in section 7 OF
the house bill. which would provide for
an enlargement OF the power OF the COM
mission over railroads This section pro-
poses TO amend section l OF the existing
interstate commerce act. II was written
by Mr. Mann and he acknowledged pride
OF authorship. large part OF this long
section was accepted by the senate con-
fcrces
These proposed changes in existing law
would require railroads to provide ia
cilltles for operating their through routes
and TO exchange interchange and return
cars used therein. The railroads would
be compelled to establish and observe
reasonable classincationS OF property for
transportation. regulations affecting
rates, tariffs. and the form OF tickets re-
ceipts and bills OF lading as well as many
packing and delivering property and tho
carrying OF personal, sample and excess
baggage.
Insurgents Regarded.
Several amendments adopted by tho
surgents'' Will be retained. These in
cludc the amendment placing upon the
railroads the burden Of proving the rea-
sonablencss OF rate advances
On the other hand. IL Is understood that
the Paynter amendment requiring that
both old and new rates must be shown
by the bills Of lading, and shipper re-
lmbursed for the amount increased in tho
event IL was held 10 be unjust, will be
dropped
Senator Foster, the minority member
OF the senate conference committee, re-
signed today, and Senator Newlands was
appointed to succeed him, The Demo-
not been admitted To any OF the councils
and will not be until complete agree
ment has been reached by the Repub-
licans.