The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-08
RATE BILL PASSES.
TAFT'S MUCH MALTREATED PIE.
NOW GOES TO CONFERENCE.
Insurgents After Opposing Many Fca-
lures of Measure SO-Callcd Inde-
pcndentS Vote For 1t.

|
been under consideration for more
than II weeks and practically no 9TH
er business except appropriation bills
was considered in that long period
Only II votes, all of those by Dem
ocrats, were recorded against the bill
The practical unanimity with which
the measure was passed was due 70
the radical changes made in the
measure from the form in which it
was drafted by Attorney General
Wickersham, following numerous
the subject of amending interstate
commerce laws.
| All Of the insurgents" who oppos-
ed many features of the original bill
voted for it tonight
Through the elimination of pooling
and merger sections and by reason of
the adoption of many amendments in
the interest of shippers the progress
sive Republicans claimed to have won
signal victory and most of the Dem
ocrats expressed themselves as fav-
orable to the large portion of the
measure
Had it not been for the retention of
the sections to create a court of COM
merce, it is likely that tho vote for
the bill would have been Unanimous.
| Debate ceased at 9:5o. " zen Sena-
tor Elkins, chairman g. ne interstate
commerce committee, moved to take
up the bill which was ',1s7od by the
house, after striking out he body
OF the measure, to substitute the mat
ter agreed upon by the senate. In
that form the bill was voted upon
with the result that it was passed by
vote of SO to r.
| No Republican voted against the
bill and six Democrats voted for it.
They were Messrs. Chamberlain, Clay,
Gore, Paynter. Simmons and Stone.
The Democrats voting against it were
Messrs. Bacon, Fletcher, Frazier,
Hughes, Money, Newlands, Percy,
Purcell. Rayner, Shively, Smith, of
Maryland, and Smith, of South Caro-
lima.
Just before the voting began. Sem
ator LaFollette, one of the "insur-
gent" Republican leaders, served no
tice upon the senate that unless the
| Ia LOTT
retention of amendments procured
by progressives and Democrats, it
could not hope to approve the con-
ference report.
Speeches in explanation of votes
were made by Senators Bacon. LaFoI-
lette Dolliver, Paynter, Clay, Sim
mons and Gore, and brief remarks
were made by others. The new law is
to take effect in 60 days after appro-
val by the president
| Senator LaFollette presented
| large num-; or Of amendments TO the
bill during the day, the most inpor-
tant of which provided that no per-
son interested in a railroad company
| shall be appointed to membership on
| the proposed court of commerce, and
substituting the Supreme Court as a
| body for the chief justice in perform
| ing the duty of designating Circuit
Court judges for service on the bench
Of the commerce court. Both amend
ments were lost, the former by a vote
of 30 to 80 and the latter by vote
of IS to 80.
Both amendments aroused sharp
criticism. Speaking to the provision
supplanting the chief justice. Mr.. Car
| ter declared that the reflection on that
office was such that John Jcv and
John Marshall might we'll turn in
their graves" if they could be rlade
aware Of the suggestion
Mr. Hale made an impassioned pro-
test against the amendment. He in
terproted it as reflection upon the
present chief justice.
The amendment was defended by
Senators Bacon, Bailey and Gore, ali
of whom declared that it dealt with
the Office and not with any man.
Mr.. LaFollette also presented an
amendment providing for the fuller
equipment of the interstate commerce
commission with the end in view OF
providing the means for the transac-
ton Of the increased business which
VIII result from the proposed law. His
amendment contemplated The creation
of four districts, each to he presided
over by a commission of three men.
with salaries of $4,000 each. The
amendment was voted down without
a roll call.