The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-01
RAILROAD BILL
PASSES HOUSE:
NOT AMENDED
Rate and Duration Prob
lens Only Questions Con
fcrees Must Decide.
LAST HOUR Is EXCITING
Committee of Whole Votes in
Important Changes. but
Both Are Killed.
sprcioi Despn,ch 70 TIE Sr>.

NPrCiof DSspT'rb 70 lHE StN'
NAsHrSeroH. Feb. cS.--With only six
votes TO the contrary. the House this
evening passed the Administration rail-
road bill. designed to enlarge the powers
Of. pirec,or-Gyneral Of Railroads dur
ing tho Government operation and TO
provide for the compensation OF the
roads pending their return to private
ownership. The vote for passage Of the
measure was 337. with two Representa-
tAes voting present"
The last hours OF the fight in framing
tile bill developed surprises. the House.
while in committee OF the whole, adopt
ing an amendment offered by Represen-
.a'iv, Esol twis.. Republican,. provid-
Ing that Government control should
terminate one year after peace is pro-
claimed. When a roll call was taken on
this amendment in the House proper.
however. Il was defeated by a comfort
able majority. leaving the duration OF
Government control at two years after
the war. The Esch amendment was
beaten "06 to 166.
Another amendment which had been
adopted In committee Of tine whole was
\ stricken from the bill when a roll call
J vote on It was taken in the House---the
sweet amendment to take from the
President the right to fix rates while
Government control continues. One
member vefed present" OH this amend
ment it being beaten. o06 to 1855. This
amendment hA( been carried rather
easily in commNeee Of the whole, and
the reversal by tha. House. which came
as. surprise. is REGARDED as a distinct
Administration victOrySg
Two Points Of Dinerenee.
Only two real points of difference
exist now between the bill as 1t passed
the Senate and as 1t passed the House
to-day. These points are on the ques-
lions Of rates and the continuation OF
FEDERAL control after the war. The Sem
ate wrote into the bill the provision that
the President could initiate rates but
nat the Interstate Commerce Commits
son should pass on them finally II OBJ.
lection was made by any OF the rail-
roads
The other main difference in the two
hNs Is that the Senate bill provides
for return OF tho roads eighteen months
,fter 'he close Of the war. while the
House voted emphatically to-day not to
reduce the limit OF two years set In the
bill On these two points and questions
of phraseology only will the Senate and
Houee conferees have to adjust differ
snces The report gained credence to-
night that the railroads as we'll as the
ADMINISTRATION are desirous OF having
he President empowered to fx rates
''d the Senate, as consequence, Is
expected 20 retract from the position II
took in this respect while the House
vi stand pat.
Both bills made practically the same
provision for tho short lines. the Senate
amending the bill only little more
d'as,icaliy than did tho House. The
House left !oophole for the Admins
'-aion II providing that the short lines
should he taken over. but only thoes
necessary 20 winning the war" The
II Senate amendment included all OF tho
81 sho-, lines and Il is expected TO pu
II " a fght for the Inclusion OF this pro
vision IN the measure IN It's final form
The hll is expected to be sent Il
conference tomorrow.
Tic s.X nenners who voted aeains
's Hnsl passage were Representative:
'ha-dle- 'Okla.). Depnison Ull.). Ram
teyhr 1a,l. Haughen Ta.). Republi
ans and Gordon tOhio) and Thona
KY. Democrats. Representative
Knltsnn Mimi and Rose tPa.). botl
eepublioans, voted present when thei
names we're called.
Expect Speed. Agreement.
no'n Senate and House leaders be
lev. re confsrees VIII be able 70 reac
sr~'Gy agreement on the dispute
'e.hp!$ Administration officials nav
l7ged ,iompt action On this and tn
var 'Hauce corporation bill so the wa
may pe cleared for the third Libert