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Show CUMMINS OFEERS AN AMENDMENT WASHINGTON. May 17 After gl? ins tbe greater part of tho day to the n"?s"on whether Ibe government or the Interstate commerce commission commis-sion 6hall appear as defendant In cases growing out of ordeis of the commission under the terms of the railroad Mil, the senate today postponed post-poned action on the subject until tomorrow. to-morrow. The postponement was ordered or-dered upon an objection made by Senator Sen-ator Cummins to the presentation of the subject In a new form on the eve cf voting. Tho discussion had leen upou an amendment offered by Mr. CumminK. As the bill was reported the United States was made the defendant In all ' h? provision giving 11,0 J"1103 of th0 Proposed court or commerce 3.nn a year each, additional, for expenses in Washington. Numerous amendments to the bill were referred. Democrats Control. Mr. Cummins formally presented bis provision suspending all Increases of railroad rates until passed upon by the interstate commerce commission. Mr. Dixon presented an amendment extending ex-tending the Interstate commerce law to telegraph and telephone lines In accordance with the terms of tbe house bill, and Mr I-aFolIette suggested sug-gested a large number of additions, one of which provides for tho physical valuation of railroads by the government. govern-ment. The attitude of the .Democrat Is expected largely to control tho future course of the senate in return to many of the amendments offered by Insurgent Insur-gent Republican, and also In disposing dispos-ing of sections 1. " nn' - w,lich iclate.to capitalization oi rauromi?. Conferences Are Held. Several confeieuces were held today to-day by the Republican regulars. It was reported to them that the Insurgents Insur-gents were angry because of reflec lions upon them, alleged to hao been made in conferences at tho White House, to which they were not Invited. In-vited. These reports creuted a good deal of ill feeling, and as a result It was announced that It would be useless use-less to attempt any sort of a comprc mlse. After the senate adjourned the insurgents in-surgents held a meeting, but It was stated no agreement was reached beyond be-yond a decision to muster all the votes possible against tho Smith amendment, and if this were defeated to press the Cummins provision. No action was taken In relation to the stock and bonds provision. cases growing out of the proceedings liefore the commission. Mr. Cummins' amendment proposed to substitute the committee Itself as defendant. Toward the close of the session Senator Smith of Michigan Introduced a- senate sub stitute for the Cuintntna ;amendment, the house provision bearing upon the Fame subject, which provides that tho commission shall bo permitted to intervene in-tervene in casos arising from the proceedings pro-ceedings before that body. '. Withdraws Amendment. For the purpose of avoiding a parliamentary par-liamentary tangle, Mr. Cummins temporarily tem-porarily withdrew his amendment, so as to permit the first vote to be taken on the suggestion made by Mr STiith At the same time the Iowa senator made vigorous protest against the Smith amendment and the method of Its introduction Mr. Cummins insisted in-sisted that the house provision was materially defective, and his plea against speedy action prevailed. Before adjourning the senate adopted adopt-ed an amendment proposed by Senators Sena-tors Clapp and Heybnm striking out |