The Washington herald., 1910-06-11
AGREEMENT INSIGHT
ON RAILROAD BILL
Wickersham Meets with the
Republican COnfereeS.
PHYSICAL VALUATION TO GO
senator AIdrIch Expects Conference
Report by MOndRy-SimmOns Sub
stitute May Take Place OF La Fol-
Iette's Amendment-DemO Will
Be Called on Next Week.

Republican conferees on the railway
bill were in session yesterday, and when
thew adjourned Just after o'clock last
night most of them expressed the hope
that an agreement would be reached
for a report to both Houses early next
week
! Senator Aldrich said be believed an
agreement would be reached as early as
Monday Other members of the con-
ference were not so optimistic.
| Representative Mann. chairman OF the
House eonferees, IS strongly contend
ing for the House amendments.
ATTORNEY, General Wickersham was with
| the conferees at both morning and after
noon sessions.
| No definite agreement has been reached
on any special feature Of the blu. It
appears to be reasonably certain that the
authorization for taking the physical
valuation of the property Of common
carriers-Senator La Follette's pet meas
ure-which the House adopted, viii not
| be permitted 20 remain in the bill Rep
resentative Mann proposed at the morn
| ing session that this physical valuation
| amendment be rewritten and that the
| conferees report q provision along the
lines OF Senator simmons proposal, which
came within two votes Of being adopted
by the Senate.
Physical Valuation In Danger.
Senator Aldrich and Attorney General
Wickersham pointed out that such a
compromise would not mean anything,
I
even TO the advocates OF physical valua-
ton. The prospects are now that the
physical valuation win go out entirely.
| Senator Overman's antl-intunction
| amendment is in higher favor with the
conferees. and that is likely 20 be re-
tanned. as is the long and short haul
clause. The fact that both the Senate
and the House adopted long and short
haul provisions has impressed the con-
feFees with the necessity OF giving some
legislation along this line. A plan Is IN
der consideration for rewriting the pro-
vision blending the features OF both the
| Senate bill and the House bill.
| The conferees show a disposition TO re-
tain Senator cummins' amendment, shift
| ing the burden of proof 10 the carrier 20
| establish the reasonableness OF any in
| creases Of rates filed with the Interstate
| Commerce Commission before the same
can be effective. Representative Clark.
Democratic leader of the House. said yes
| terday that the Democrats would never
permit any conference report to be adopt
/ ed that omitted that provision.
Newlands ON Conference Committee.
Amendments to the House bill embraced
in section :, which include telegraph and
telephone lines, are being strongly con-
| tended for by the House conferees. and
in view Of the fact that both the Senate
and the House acted favOrably on the
subject-matter but in different forms.
there is disposition on the part Of the
| conferees 20 retain this provision in a
modified form.
| The proposed Federal regulation Of
stocks and bonds has been discarded.
There is an impression that the confer
| ence committee win not disturb the fea-
ture OF the Senate bill which permits
| the Interstate Commerce Commission 10
suspend a rate, and such compromise
was proposed in the conference. but not
received with favor.
| Just before the Senate adjourned yes
terday afternoon Senator Money, leader
of the minority. announced the appoint
ment Of Senator Newlands, Of Nevada, as
| Senate conferee on behalf of the minority
| to succeed Senator Foster, who resigned
/ by wire yesterday morning. It Is eX-
| pected that the Democratic conferees
! will be called into the conference early
/ next week.