The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-09
McCURDY, THO RETIRED,
WILL DRAW THOUSANDS
SENATORS WOULD
WEARY ROOSEVELT
Delay Is the Weapon the Pro.
Railroad People Will Use
in Fight.

Special to The Journal.
Chicago, Dec. 9.-Walter Wellman, in
a Washington special to the Record
Herald, says:
Senator Clapp of Minnesota was a
very angry man when he came out of
the room of the senate committee on
interstate commerce this afternoon. Mr..
Cilapp is one Of the republican members
OF that committee who favor railroad
rate legislation in accordance with the
recommendations made by President
Roosevelt. The committee has just held
a meeting Of about two hours duration,
but 1T did nohting-nothing except dis
cuss the wages to be paid the committee
employees for their extra work during
the past summer, and then debate in
| solemn fashion whether or not there
ought to be rate legislation and whether
or not there was a popular demand for
| it in the country.
It was this last straw that broke the
broad back Of Mr. Clapp's patience.
''The Ideal" Said Clapp.
"The idea!'' he exclaimed. cit is
too absurd for any use. Our committee
discussed railway rates all last spring.
| We were authorized by the senate to
sit during the recess and investigate the
subject. We were instructed to pre-
pare a bill for presentation to the SEN
ate at the earliest possible moment this
session: We came down here a couple
sion and have held number of meet
lngs: And yet nothing is done. The
whole subject has been threshed out in
the country, in the press, in the COM
mittee. Everyone knows we have got
to pass a bill. The only question is as
to just what sort of bill. Yet we meet
today and spend our time debating
whether or not there ought. to be legis-
lation. It makes me tired.''
Will Be More Weary.
Probably Senator Clapp and others
who agree with him in irving SUP.
port to President Roosevelt will be
still more weary before they reach the
end of the long chapter that is now
opening on the rate question. It is
quite apparent that Chairman Elkins
and the other senators who oppose the
president 8 policy and who appear to be
able to control the committee. intenC
to employ that old and oft used wea
pom, delay. They are making no prog
ress toward reporting bill They arr
not in a hurry. They propose to take
their sweet time to it. - =
Everyone had supposed some sort Of
a bill would be agreed upon and re
4, ported to the senate befnre the holt
days. 1t is now extremely doubtful i
that be done. If it goes over unit
after New Years, heaven only know
how much more time they will manag
to consume, on one pretext or another
} In the senate and all it's precincts ant
proc esses the: art Of procrastination ha
! been brought to & marvellous state O.
, perfection. .e
Cannot Make Him Drink
, Before he gets his rate law thru tina
body, MI. Roosevelt is pretty sure t.
discover the truth Of the maxim whic]
the late James G. Blaine is said to hav
laid down, referring to this same branc
of the government: cit is easy to lea
a horse to water, but you can't Away
The truth is, Of course, that delay i
, part of the game. An effort is to b
made to dilly-dally so long that tn
president 8. courage and patience wi
: ooze away from him. The hope is tina
when he discovers the sort Of game h
< is up against, he will be found NOR
1 willing to compromise than he is at tn
present moment. 1t is a. rather prett
}, play, and we shall sit around and waite
with steady interest and attention til
4 progress Of it. Possibly public opinio
!; may get weary, also, and find the wa
t to put few sharp sticks behind th
r lazy backs of the demonstrating an
:. time-killing senator's.