Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-08
RATE BILL WILL
PROBABLY PASS.
President Roosevelt Determined
To Secure Much Needed
Railroad Legislation.
POWERFUL IN BOTH HOUSES.
Why Senators VIII Not Talk Bill To
Death--Fighting President
Losing Game.

bItNltI
Washington, Dec. 5.--Congress has
convened In the most important ses-
sion that has assembled in recent
years. Much is expected, and no
doubt there will be considerable dlsap-
pointment when the session closes
leaving measures stranded upon the
rocks OF division and defeat. At the
same time the prospects now are that
there will be definite legislation on that
oVershadowing subject of railroad
rates Whether that legislation shall
clothe the interstate commerce COM
mission with power over rates or shall
strengthen the law and give more pow
er to courts, II will be long step in
advance of present conditions The de-
termination of President Roosevelt to
have some action taken means bust
ness, and as the country is behind
Roosevelt he will succeed. During the
discussions In the committee the i'm
portance OF harmony and agreement
was suggested. 1T is more important
10 me, remarked Senator Deliver of
Iowa, that | agree with my constitu-
ents rather than with this committee"
that idea prevails among the incoming
congressman, and for that reason the
advocates of legislation which will
give the commission power over rates
believe they will win,
FILIBUsTER UNPOPULAR
II has been asserted! that the railway
rate measure could be talked to death
In the senate. That is true. II the OPP.
position was determined and desired to
resort to flibuster, but such a method
would be unpopular Only when vital
questions are at issue will the people
countenance a filibuster. II there was
sharp and somewhat equal division
Of sentiment throughout the country
then a minority might feel warranted
In talking the bill to death. but such IL
not the case. 1t Is not party measure
and there is no division on party lines,
as was the case with the force bill. It
is not sectional question like the silver
issue1 and opposition such as that which
fought the repeal Of the Sherman law
In 1893 could not stand. II there We're
a strong minority assisted by a large
number of lukewarm senator's who
would vote for the bill If il were
brought TO a vote, but would do all
they could to postpone such vote
there might he II chance to defeat the
legislation. But these conditions do not
exist, Railroad rate legislation has
aggressive support not only in the
White House. but also in the senate.
LOSING GAME.
Any one familiar with political con-
ditions in Washington Is aware that II
Is disastrous for any man or set OF
men to fight a president of their own
political faith. They require unlimited
backing at home and they must have
a course that would carry a large num-
Der OF people with them. Men who
fought the Cleveland administration
went to sacrifice Those who we're
backed by sentiment at home survived,
but the majority fell by the wayside.
That lesson is fresh I'm the minds of
men In Congress, and Republicans will
not fight their president, at least not
on the railroad issue.
THE PANAMA CANAL.
The digging of a canal at Panama is
going to occupy Congress for some
time. Possibly the present session may
determine whether or not the big ditch
shall be sea levei or with locks 1t
looks TO me as II the question was al
ready decided. The president, the sec
rotary of war. the isthmian canal COM
mission and majority of the American
members of the consulting board Of en-
gineers are favorable to a lock canal.
Ii Is not likely that the opinion of five
foreign and three American engineers
will weigh against those who favor
lock canal But even II Congress does
no, decide upon the type of canal ac-
ton Is necessary to make the canal
bonds salable. and money must be APP
propriated to meet the large contracts
that have been made by the commits
sion. Many complaints have been
made, and all of them must be aired in
the halls OF legislation. Probably mis-
takes have been made. 1t would be
strange II there had not been mis-
takes. All must be explained
THEY TRY TO EXPLAIN.
Incoming members of CONGRESS from
states where the elections were sone-
what freakish have been trying to eX-
plain but so far they have not made it
very plain as to Just how 1t happened.
Men from other states who have been
looking at the matter from distance
say that the people are restless and