The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-06
RAILROAD PEOPLE
SHIFT IN NIGHT
Sudden Drift Toward President
on the Part of Former
Foes.
REFORM MEASURE IS
SAID TO BE, CHOSEN
Interstate Commerce Commission
Bill Declared to Be Favored
by Both Houses.
BY w. w. Jermane,

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington Dec. Cover night
there seems to have been a more or less
complete surrender of the forces in the
senate which have been opposing the
president s railroad policy-if not a
surrender, such modification of posi-
tion as to suggest ultimately the presi-
since the rate agitation was begun has
the situation been so promising to
those Who stand with the president.
Thus far the chief outward sign of
this surrender is found in the interview
given out by Senator Elkins, in which
he appears to come over to the presi
dents position. But under the sur
face there are signs of equal signif-
cance that all point in. the one general
dlrectlon-the enactment of legislation
such as the. public is demanding and the
president is urging.
These signs may all be misleading.
The fight may yet come on in the senate
with all the tremendous force which it
has been accommodating for year past,
and the enactment of desired legislation
may be secured, if at all, with exceeding
difficulty.
Battle Nearly Won.
But the fact still remains that with
In the past twenty-four hours the presi-
dent has made a decided advance in
position, and now feels, as do all his
friends, that the battle is a good deal
more than half won, and that ultimate
victory, possibly without serious oppo-
slt1On, is certain.
1t is entirely possible that the senate
committee, or a large majority of it,
including Elkins, chairman, may report
The interstate commerce commission 3
bill. This bill embodies the president Is
plan, and in many respects is the best
bill that has been presented.
-. ~.r- What Clapp Says.
:, The general drift toward the presi-
dent is today SO noticeable as to cause
widespread comment. Said Senator
Clapp Of Minnesota today: ~
The legislation recommended by the
president is certain to be enacted and
without serious difficulty or loss of
time. do not want to .prophesy as
to a date, but I will say that the bill
will go to the president for his approval
st sesson regar5 ssy PsE9 as b ben the
already won, and am very sure that our
go by" c.
The house committee on interstate
and foreign commerce will probably
support the interstate commerce com
as not being equal to it in simplicity
and directness.
Presidents Preferences.
The president, while he has not said
that any particular bill is the admin.
istration- bill, is entirely willing that
this be done, for he regards the inter,
state commerce commission bill as pre-
sentlng satisfactory statement of his
position. If this bill is reported from
thu, house committee, it will pass that
body and go to the senate. The house
having thus selected that bill as the
one best calculated to accomplish the
desired results, it will be taken up by
the senate committee and reported to
the senate by majority vote.
:, 1t is said today that it is doubtful
II more than about three senators on
that committee oppose it-Aldrich
Kean and Foraker-and they will. be
in such a small minority as to give
their position relatively small weight.
Three Against Many.
With great majority of the senate
in favor. of the legislation, as is now
said to be the case, it will be quite
out OF the question for these three sen
ators. even when Joined by their fol
lowers on the floor, to flibuster to the
She R Hd pleySn s E1s SS tds
in the house and his friends in the sen
ate. now believe that the battle is going
their way, and that the desired 1egis
lation is as good as secured.
1t may be that the senate commit
tee, if it should turn out that the presi
dent has won his fight, will anticipate
action in the house and itself report
the interstate commerce commission
bill, placing it on the senate calendar
in advance Of action in the house. This
might be good strategy.
President Stands Pat.
There has been no change in the pres
ident s position. He is standing pat
and Is not considering any compromise
He is standing for a definite principle
and comprise is not possible, for tc
compromise would be to surrender. Al
come from the other side, and whe1
analysed, it, too, takes the form of sur
render.
Senator Cha pp said today: stIn de
handing that rate fixed by the com
mission go into effect at once. we arr
demanding the recognition of a univer
sal principle of common law. The de
cision Of any tribunal is, in common
law, prima. facie evidence of the cor
rectness of that decision. It SO hap
pens that most of the actions brought
before our courts involve pecuniary
considerations, and so the practice ha;
grown, up OF permitting appeals, The
interests of the litigants meanwhile. be
ing protected by bonds. Bonds coult
not be given on an appeal from rate
decision because of the complication
the operation involves, and besides
bonds are only given to insure the pay
ment of the disputed claims, if in thu
end the courts say payment is neces
sary. Nobody ever had disputed til,
ability of the railroads to pay thes,
claims, hence the bond proposition doe
not apply with full force. We are thu
brought back to the common law prop
osition that the decision of any tri
bunal is prima facie evidence Of til,
soundness Of that decision. We wan
the Interstate commerce commission t
have the power to name rate and pu
it into effect at once, and that it VIVA
will get. .