The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-02
Complaint Entered Against the Ding
ley Bill by the Japanese and Ar
gentine Ministers. IL
THE RETROACTIVE FEATURE
DISCUSSED AND UPHELD BY REPRE-
SENTATIVE DALZELL.
Authorities Quoted i'm support of the
Houses Action-Public Debt Re-
duced over Ss.OOo.0o0 I'm March.
,ecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. April IA meeting of
the Senate interstate-commerce COMMITTEES
has been called for next Wednesday at
which a general policy to pooling leg
islation will be determined on. majority
of the committee favor enactments which
they believe wiz conserve both the in
terests of the railroads and the public.
But there is hardy minority headed by
Senator Chandler. which will bring an op-
position report and conduct the fight on the
floor OF the Senate against any legislation
looking TO the protection of oombinations
of capital. In other words. the Senate COM
mittee will, in all probability, report pool
ing BILL That much may be taken for
granted, but that does not mean favorable
results in the Senate. On the contrary, the
outlook for pooling legislation in the Senate
is distinctly black. Senator Chandler, who
will probably be looked upon as the leader
of the anti-pooling forces. represents no.
body but himself On the Republican side.
but he will give direction TO the antis and
will be backed up by unaniomus Populist
vote and practically every Bryan Demo-
cratic senator. The Democrats are feeling
malignant towards the railroads and cor
porations in general. believing that their
defeat last fall was largely attributable 90
the money and influence of these combina-
tions. They are therefore. out for revenge.
and the railroads will receive no assistance
from that quarter. The anti-corporation
sentiment may also influence Republican
senators from several Western States 10
join the anti-pooling organization. The fight
before Congress will he prccipitated very
much earlier than the time named in the
original programme on account Of the de-
eiSan n no SnpTona nD anti
trust law. The obtrusion of this matter
into the Senate's business during this spe-
cial session will be one of the things to
help prolong the session. The interstate
commerce committee will probably report
the Foraker pooling. bill of its own
within a month or six weeks. Chairman
Cullom said this evening that the commits
tee believed in not allowing business to
accumulate on its hands. but 10 get through
with whatever might be before il and
port back to the Senate. leaving the re-
sponsibility of action or nonaction with
that body.
The many recent gratuitous expressions
of opinion by Ex-senator Edmunds on pub
lie questions before legislative bodies and
legal controversies In the courts have
ELECTED from senators and others high In
the public service the severest condemna-
ton. Attention mas already been called in
the public press to the obvious inconsistent
cy of his views in the case OF Ex-senator
Corbett, of Oregon, whose seating Mr.. Ed
munds advocates. and his opinion in the
case Of the Northwestern senators some
years ago whose seating he opposed. IL in
pointed out that in essential respects the
cases are on all on fours. I'D senators ara
loath to believe that Mr.. Edmunds's judg-
ment on legal question has been strengths
ened since his voluntary retirement from
that body For some years SIr. Edmunds has
been employed on large fees as the counsel
of the Interstate-commerce Commission In
its legal contests with the railroads. He IL
even now so retained. IL is said. and yet,
in an authorized interview. using the recent
Supreme Court decision i'm the traffic as
sociation case as an excuse on which 10
issue the pronunciamento. he attempts TO
give the governments case against the
Joint Traffic Association a black eye by
giving ii his opinion that the pooling
agreement is legal. Ii is alleged by sena-
tors In so doing he has violated the ethics
OF the profession. while harsher comment
is INDUCED in on the question of propriety
of his action. IL is not likely that effort
will be made TO stop the practice OF hiring
outside counsel in the governments behalf
I'm addition TO the provision inserted In the
appropriation bill to limit the fee in any
one case TO 5000.