Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-18
Two Spectacular Fights in
Congress During Week.
LOOMS DENIES WANTING
THE MINISTRY TO JAPAN
Presidents Victory in Rate Control
Fight Will Only Be Entering
Wedge Of Reform
Correspondence Morning Journal.

Morning journal.
Washington Dec. 14.-There have
been two interesting fights in con-
gress this past week. One of them
has attracted good deal of attention.
1t was the clash between John Sharp
the minority leader, and
Mr., Lamar, of Florida, also of the
minority The other was the fight be-
tween the colts" in the senate and
the old line republican leaders. In
both cases the leaders had rather the
best of It, The trouble between Mr..
Lamar and Mr. Shackelford on one
side and Mr. Williams on the other
was truly what Mr.. Williams called 1t,
a washing of democratic linen in pub
lie for the amusement of the republi-
can side of the chamber. Mr.. Will
liams felt impelled TO remove both
Mr.. Lamar and Mr. Shackelford from
the minority side of the committee on
Interstate and foreign commerce. as
he said In the interests of harmony.
This both gentlemen took as a per-
Sonal atfront and there have been two
sharp verbal encounters on the floor
between Mr. Williams and Mr.. Lamar
In both of which Mr. Lamar was rhet-
orically worsted at any rate and in
which Mr.. Williams seemed to have
the sympathy of his democratic fol-
lowers
Republican Colts" Routed.
The other fight was less spectacular,
but It was quite as interesting as
showing that the youngsters on the
republican side of the senate cannot
yet crack the whip over the heads of
the old and seasoned leaders 1t was
merely On tltr question OF whether the
Panama canal bill should go to the
appropriations or the canal committee
and Il caused a fierce fight for the best
part of an afternoon. But the colts"
were routed and run to cover. The old
senate steeple chasers may be carry
ing weight for age" but there are
not many things that they need to be
taught In the matter OF legislative
craft
Loomls Vigorously Denies II.
The announcement that was made
in New York to the effect that Mr..
Loomis, the former assistant secretary
of state was trying to force himself to
the front as a candidate to the posi-
tlon of minister to Japan has been
denied by him most emphatically, and
there Is every reason to believe that
the denial is In perfect good faith. 1t
is true that Mr.. Loomis is busy with
the state department these days. but
he explains that he is merely interest
ed I'm the proposed reform of the con-
sular service and has no ambition to
return Ia the diplomatic service him
self Secretary Root is deeply inter-
ested In this matter himself and
spent the most of Wednesday morning
tee OF the senate outlining the propos-
cd changes IN the service, part of
which the president has already made
public In his executive order.
Rate Bnl Paramount.
Next to the rate bill. the reform of
the consular service is one OF the most
urgent matters i'm the view of the
White House But Of course the rate
bill comes first as touching a greater
number Of people at home. Now
whatever rate legislation is passed at
the present session IL sure to meet
with a whole lot of criticism. As mat
lcrs stand now with rate legislation
forced upon congress against the will
of many influential leaders, compro-
mise bill will In all probability be the
outcome 1t will be noticed by those
who have taken the trouble To follow
The case carefully. that the president
has not committed himself to n meas
ure but Ia a principle. He has not set
the seal Of his approval on any partic-
ular bill, but he has In his speeches
laid down the broad proposition that
the railways are the highways of this
country that they are not aud cannot
he considered as private property
They are too essential to the well be-
lt4Hs - l.s. l.
ernment not to have them under
strict control This Is the view that
the railways have steadily combatted.
To once concede the point would ulti-
matcly lay them open to real control.
And this Is the thing they will avoid
at any price Now " the president
succeeds IN the present struggle I'm es-
tablishing this one point and that
point is upheld by the supreme court.
TO which II undoubtedly Will be car
rled, he will have put In the wedge
for real federal supervision. II Is a
matter OF comparatively small mo-
ment whether rate legislation at this
session is Of q sort that Will cure ex-
lsting evils Probably Il will not be.
/ But II Il establishes the point that the
government has the right of control
over the railways as something vital
to the well being Of the nation. then
/ II will have done all that can be rea-
souably expected Of a. Extreme meas
ures cannot be taken ut q leap with
out causing alarm. But with the prin-
ciple of governmental control once
established. II will be but step tow
ard workln~ that principle out Into ef-
fectlve legislation
-
CHIEF of Philippine ConstabuIary.