OCR Text |
Show IMDLLrVER DEFENDS RATE BILL. Measure Intended Only to Supplement Existing1 Interstate Commerce Law. WASHINGTON. March 2 The discussion discus-sion of the railroad rate question In the Senate was continued today by Mr. Dolll-vr. Dolll-vr. who spoke In support of tho Dolllver-Hcpburn Dolllver-Hcpburn bill. Ho said that the bill was Intended merely to supplement tho existing exist-ing Interstate commerce law and contended contend-ed for Its validity from a constitutional rolnt of vlw. predicting that Government Govern-ment ownership of tho railroads would ba forced upon tho country If Congress did r ot meet the present demand for regulation. regula-tion. Mr. Dolllvcr was not questioned nnd when h concluded the remainder of tho day waa devoted to the bill providing for tho settloment of the affairs of the five civilized tribes of Indians after the termination termi-nation of their tribal relations. The House amendments to the Joint reFolutlon extending the present tribal government In Indian Territory until March, 1907, were non-concurred In by tho Senate, and Messrs. Clapp, McCumber nnd Dubois were appointed to confer with tho House for the adjustment of tho differences. differ-ences. Conslderatl m of th Indian settlement bill was then resumed. Mr. Clark of Montana moved to disagree with the Senato Sen-ato commltteo amendment providing for tho sale of coal lands, leaving In effect tho House provision for the leasing of Mitch lands. , Mr. La Toilette oftered a number of amendments, ono of which wns to strlko out the provision granting to coal-mlno owners Immunity from damages on account ac-count of the subsidence of the surface. He denounced the provision ns "another device for the benellt of the mining corporations." cor-porations." Ho demanded a roll call on the amendment, and It was lost by the vote of S to 35, Mr. La Follette casting the only affirmative Republican vote. Among tho votes cast In tho negatlvo was that of Mr. Culberson, who Immediately Imme-diately moved a reconsideration. He spoke of tho provlelon as extraordinary and called on Mr. Clapp for an explanation. Mr. Clapp said the clause had been Inserted In-serted In the hopo that It would enhance the value of the coal lands. The differences were ultimatoly compromised compro-mised so as to protect existing surface owners, nnd Mr. Culberson withdrew his motion to reconsider. Mr. Stone suggested an amendment extending ex-tending until 1911 the time when coal lands may be sold, and in explanation said he had heard stories Involving persons per-sons of such high standing In official life that ho considered this the wise and safe course to pursue The nmendmonl was r.ccepted. Mr La Follottc's amendment limiting the land that may bo sold to any one purchaser pur-chaser to SO.O acres wan voted down. Mr. La Folletto then formally offered 1:1s amendment prohibiting railroad companies com-panies from acquiring nny of tho Territorial Terri-torial coal lands. Ho said that theso lands were worth In the aggregate $175,000,000. He said that of Ihe IIS leases now In existence, covering 104,000 acres of coal lands, the railroad companies control fifty-two, covering 49,-(00 49,-(00 acres, and tttal ho had been Informed that these combinations would have tho effect of keeping out private operators because be-cause of tho difficulty in securing transportation trans-portation when they come Into competition competi-tion with railroad owners. He added that it was Impossible to conceive con-ceive of free competition with carriers owning any commodity, and had a letter read from VS. D. Johnson of Ardmoro. I. T , dcclnrlng that tho railroads now have a practical monopoly of the coal business In that Terrltor A further consideration of the bill was l hen postponed and Mr. Clark of Wyoming Wyo-ming moved the appointment of a select committee of five Senators to Investigate Ihe affairs of the Indian Territory. Action Ac-tion on the motion also went over. The Senate at 6:30 went Into executive session and at fi:3o adjourned. |