Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-23
THERAlW AYPRODL EN-
Senate Committee Waiting
for the President,
HIS POLICY Underlined
SENATOR cULLoM PUTS THE CASE
BRIEFLY.
The Esch-Townsend Bill Cannot Again
Pass Conferences Tint Have Been
and Will Be Held.
HIS POLICY Underlined

The debate over the proposed railroad
legislation has been carried on on the sup
position that there Is some well-defned diff
ference of opinion as to the form of bill
that is to be recommended to Congress- by
the President The debate has gone along
on that basis both within Congress and
without. Senators vino compose the Senate
committee on interstate commerce are be-
coming painfully aware of this uncertain
condition that confronts. them. because
there Is really no one on whom they can
depend to state exactly what kind Of leg
islation the President desires.
When the President sends his annual
message to Congress-" said Senator Cullom,
the father OF the interstate commerce CONF
mission In the Senate and now regarded as
the Senate leader OF that portion OF the re-
publican party that is most nearly in har-
mony with the President on the rate guess
ton. I'VE will know his ideas In respect to
rate legislation, and We will not know un,
til them"
This whole discussion that Is being car
red on In the newspapers Is simply paving
In the air. There Is no bill before the
bin will be until, through discussion, It has
taken some dsfinite shape"
4 The Presidents Policy.
mittee confess that they cannot tell with
extent they will either agree or disagree
with the President until they know what
the President stands for. Senators say that
the Presidents words and the expressions
Of members Of his cabinet and others who
are supposed to reflect his Views lack uni
formity to such an extent that they cannot
definitely secure clear view OF the deid
If
the President has declared himself In such
a way as to leave no doubt as to what 1t
Is that he proposes for the further regula-
ton OF the railroads.
So far as the Esch-Townseud bill Of the
last Congress Is concerned, there is gen
eral concurrence OF opinion that such a
measure will not again go through even the
should reach the senate It is very we'll I'M
derstood that 1t could not be passed through
the committee or the Senate. There are
many changes that are advocated in that
bill even BY its friends, but what the
changes are that will be necessary 10 order
to make the bill conform with the views
to be expressed by the President In his
forthcoming annual message are matters OF
speculation on the part OF large number
of senators.
There are many senators who have been
opposed to the Esch-Townsend bill who de-
clare that they hope that when the Presi-
dent speaks 1t will be possible to frame a
measure that win be such modification
of the Esch-Townsend bill as to conform to
his views and at the same time to meet the
views of large number of senators who
have declared their purpose to hold out
against the bill of the last Congress TO the
bitter end. This feeling of hope for such an
outcome Is not universally shared IN by any
means. - Try-S .g-SS ~ - y
Members Of. the COMMITTEES.
All the members of the committee on
interstate commerce declare that they, arc
in favor of legislation that will effectualiy
prevent railroad discrimination in the fu-
ture. They all say the difference OF view
that may exist among them simply relates
to the manner in which such result can
be attained. The private conferences that
have taken place among senators who are
in the city show that there Is weii-defined
intention on the part of the majority to see
that whatever bill they bring into the Sem
ate will meet the approval of that body.
For that reason there will from now on be
frequent conferences between senators who
are not on the committee and members OF
the committee, Republicans are taking a
conservative view of the, situation, and
there are now practically no senators who
declare that there Is no need for any addi-
tional legislation, as there were at the close
OF the last session of Congress.
The committee met again this afternoon,
coming together at 2 O'clock. At the be-
ginning of the session 1t was expected that
there would be very free exchange of
views OF senators In respect to legislation.
In this way the committee hopes to make
some progress In getting together" The
greatest drawback to arriving at an agree
ment Is the absence Of some definite un-
derstanding as to what the President will
recommend.
Senator Clapp has been expected in the
city daily, but 1t was learned today that
he 10 not likely to be here until about the
time for the meeting OF Congress. He IL
said to be IN thorough accord with the Pres
ident and II he were here 1t 10 thought the
COMMITTEES might get additional light as to
the views OF the President SO that they
might possibly agree upon some measure to
recommend to the Senate.