The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-12-09
REPUBLICANS STAND SOLID
Talk Of q Split In the Ranks Of the
Party To All Balder-
dash.

1t IL safe to disregard the story from
Washington that the republicans in
congress Will split over the question OF
railway rate regulation. A division OF
opinion exists now among the repub-
lican members Of the senate interstate
commerce committee, but there are ev.
licences that this will practically or &C
tually disappear by the time that con-
gress meets, says the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. Chairman Elkins OF that
committee denies that he Is opposed 10
the principle OF the presidents plan.
He rays he differs with the president
only on details, and the details, OF
course, are something which will have
to be arranged In congress. The presi-
dent has nothing to do with the mi
mute provisions Of the regulation
scheme. In his forthcoming message
ne Will urge the enactment OF law
which will give certain powers in the
regulation OF rates to the Interstate
commerce commission or to some
other board belonging to the general
government. but congress, IL 1t agrees
with the scheme, will frame the meas
ure.
From present indications a majority
OF the republican members OF the SEN
ate interstate commerce committee
will be on the presidents side by tho
opening of congress. Cullom OF iii
nois and Dolliver of Iowa have been
with the president from the beginning.
Mil NJ Nohrooko NH io
as doubtful. is also With the president.
Several times In the past few months
he has made his attitude plain to the
country. There is now a reasonable
chance that Elkins will side with tn
administration by the time the bill
framed which will present the matter
to the senate. Foraker's friends say
there is no irrepressible conflict be-
tween him and the president ION the
rate issue, which means that they be-
lieve Foraker will be over On the presi-
dents side by the time the subject
comes up in congress. Kean of New
Jersey, who Is a new man in the SEN
ate. and who has been placed among
the opponents of the presidents poll
cy, is reported to be swinging over to
the administration. The division
among the republicans of the senate
interstate commerce committee will
not lie serious enough to give the dem
ocrats any aid and comfort.
At least three facts will prevent q
split among the senate republicans on
the rate regulation question. The peo-
pie Of the country, by large majority,
favor that policy. A rate-regulation
bill will pass the house early In the
session. and will receive the votes OF
three-fourths or more OF the repub-
lican members of that chamber. All
the republican leaders of the popular
branch, from Cannon down, are in IA
vor OF measure substantially on the
lines which the president urges. II
the republicans Of the senate fall to
give rate regulation the support which
It needs to carry 1t through that body
the democrats will do the work. These
considerations will prevent any serious
break among the republican senator's
on that policy. A regulation bill In
some shape is sure to be enacted. The
senator's who stand out against that
policy will have hard road to travel
II they appeal for reelection. The coun-
try is resolved to try the experiment
of placing supervision over railway
rates in the hands Oh some govern
ment board, and the people usually
accomplish what they set out to do. On
the rate regulation question as on all
other important issues the republican
line in congress is likely to remain I'M
broken.