The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-11
Acrimony Marks Sessions Of
Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee.
Stories of Senator Clapp's
Wrath, However, Are
Without Foundation.
BY w. w. Jermane.

w = ASHINGTON, Feb. 1o.-An-
W. other determined effort is be-
ing made to show that the
president has yielded to the railroad
interests by consenting that there shall
be Incorporated in the administration
railroad-rate measure provision per
uniting q, review by the courts Of the
reasonableness of any rate fixed by
the interstate commerce commission.
1t is around this particular point
that the battle between the president
and the railroads is now raging most
fiercely. The president has been claim
ing, that a review by the courts OF the
reasonableness of a rate named by the
commission would destroy the effective
ness of the proposed legislation. He
has wanted the. judicial review con-
fined to- the legality Of the commits
= sion s order, and has stood on that
ground contending that there could be
no compromises; that compromise would
be surrender. --,..-...'
Basis Of Compromise Story.
Now, however, the railroad interests
are telling him that they can insert
= what they want in the bill without in
terfering with the purpose he has in
view. Just how this will be possible
remains to be demonstrated, but the
\ railroads are saying that it can be done
and they have asked the president to
suspend his Judgment further until they
can bring their proof. This the presi
. dent has consented to do, and that con
sent is all the basis there is for the
claim that he has consented to a com
promise.
The president in taking this posi-
ton of openm1ndedness simply says tc
/ the railroads in effect: 10
"You object to the wording of the
- administration bill and say that the
wording which you ask for will not de
feat the purpose of the bill from my
point of view. I have been of a con
trary opinion, but at the time I an
willing to hear you on that question
and to hold myself ready to yield i
your proof is satisfactory. -
Railroad Senators Differ.
This happened almost week ago
since which time there have been dali,
conferences between the president an,
various groups Of railroad senator's J
has developed at these conferences tina
these same senator's themselves ar
divided as to the probable effect o
the amendment which they propose
Some of them insist that it would no
emasculate the bill, and some are in
clined to think it would. These cor
ferences have been perfectly frank
Both sides have expressed themselve
with the utmost freedom, not mincin
words, but no personal i'll will has bee
sngendered.
The president is rather amused owe
The situation that has develope
among the railroad senator's. Thei
failure to agree as to the probable Ell
tect of the amendment which they as
for has put the president doubly o
ais guard. Obviously they can max
10 further Roadway until they can q
together, and even when that resu]
y1as been brought about the presiden
must be convinced that the propose
amendment will not defeat the pul
pose he has in mind.
Moody as an Umpire.
Attorney General Moody, it is a!
erted, wrote into the, Eseh-Townsen
ill of the last session of congress
curt provision which aimed at a revie
S to the reasonableness of a rate a
- Continued on Page s, Fifth Column.