The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-24
Must Depend on Democrats for Rate Legislation
PROTESTS THICK AND FAST
Birmingham Men, Including Col. T. G. Bush, Send Petition to Senator Morgan Opposing Any Rail-
 road Rate Bill.

Washington, November 2S.-(Special)- The problem which confronts the Pres- dent in the committee on interstate and foreign commerce is embarrassing in the extreme He is being told daily by sen ators who are opposed to railway legisla- tion that a minority of his party on the committee favors a bill along the lines he Is advocating, while on the other hand the two or three republican senators who are standing with him can only hope to accomplish something through alliance with the democrats.
 bill which is reported embodying the Roosevelt idea, or rather the idea hereto fore embraced in democratic platforms, can only come from the committee with majority report with the Assistance of democratic votes. All the partisan argu- ments that can be used are presented to the President.
 Badly Divided on Question.
 We are badly divided on this question: he is said to have been told in effect by a republican senator today. "As party we will go before the country in very bad state even if we pass bill when it is known that it's being placed on the statute books was made possible by dem- ocratic votes"
 What the President replied the senator did not care to state, but it is evident that the party lash which is being applied to the President is not very agreeable. The President was greatly in hopes that his arguments in favor of railroad legis- lation and those of his spokesman on this question, Secretary Taft, would win over to him big majority of the republican votes of the Senate. Up to this time they have not done so for already it seems to be assured that only through democratic support can the President get majority bill out of thescommittee.
 Embarrassing for President.
 Thus, unless a compromise measure is brought forward--and any compromise measure would be defeat for the Pres ident-he will stand in the attitude of supporting a minority of the republican votes in the Senate. On several occasions, notably in the case of Cuban reciprocity, the President declined to accept demo- cratic support with the result that he had to wait for two years in order to get a clear republican majority for his meas ure.
 It is very clear that if he holds to his determination to get railroad legislation on the lines of his message, he will be forced to depend upon the democrats for the deciding votes. The democrats are, of course, not a unit on the subject. Sev- eral of them are said to entertain views along the lines of those expressed in the Age-Herald by Senator Morgan of Ala bama, whose opposition is based largely <.v,t oft "a tit of ha ia ta1 to control this matter as against the gov ernment However, a very large majority of the democrats favor the enactment of legislation on the lines of the Presidents plan and will so vote.
 Senator Morgan is receiving many let ters from Alabama manufacturers, miners and others protesting against the passage of a railroad rate bill. One received to- day from Birmingham mas about twenty five signatures, T. G. Bush and others be- ing among the number.
 Senate Committee Meets.
 The Senate committee on interstate commerce today continued the discussion of measures relative to amending the rail- road laws. There were many ideas ex- changed, but no developments of import ance.
 Senator Elxins chief commissioner oc- cupied much of the session in making suggestions and discussing propositions which he thought ought to be incorporated in any bill that may be reported There suggestions were numerous and would mean quite a lengthy measure providing revised rate regulations.
 Senator Elkns did not bring forward the pooling proposition, but intends to present 1t later in some modified form, so that there may be freer traffic between railroads. One particular poInt made by Senator Ellxns looked to compelling trunk lines to afford better facilities to lateral lines and small roads which are com pelled to use big roads to reach mar ket. The better management of the pri- vate car lines so as to meet the demand of the shippers and amendment of the laws bearing on terminal companies and terminal charges also were suggested.
 There was a great deal of talk by other members of the committee, and during the afternoon the Esch-Townsend bill was up for comment. It did not seem likely that this measure would be made the basis of action by the committee, as several mem- bers have made drafts of measures which they will present for consideration. The committee will meet again tomorrow morning at il o'clock.