The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Regulations and the Rate Bill.


In all probability the railroad rate
bill will pass the Senate today, and
be ready to go back to the House
for further consideration. This child
viii scarcely be recognized by its
parent, but there is hardly ground
for the fear of some people that il
viii be disowred. The Senate has
made it a far better measure than
ii was when it left the House. The
credit for this improvement will
be in demand among a great many
statesmen, and doubtless the wrong
ones viii get much of it.
This long and remarkable con-
test has not greatly enhanced
many regulations for statesman
ship. Bailey of Texas comes out
of it with increased reputation. He
has earned for himself position
among the recognized first lawyers
of the Senate. He has not claimed
to be an expert in the great subject
of transportation and its multiplied
problems. and on that subject La
Toilette has proved himself as
thoroughly master of the field as
Bailey has in the realm of consti-
tutional law.
Most of reputation and recogni-
tion out of the winters contest will
go to those two men. Ia Toilette.
il is true, has been snubbed and
slapped and insuited at every op-
portunity, from the waIk-out of
Senators at the beginning of his
speech to a harassing and unfair
enforcement against him of the
strict rules of debate. But that was
what he came here for; It was what
he expected. He made his record;
he set the stakes for the future
course of this contest, and he viii
be a leader in that contest.
Senator Tillman has not made the
most of his opportunity as manager
of the bill. He has not demonstrate
ed any genius for parliamentary
leadership; and the proof he has
given that he is an earnest, honest
man, with a keen tongue and a blunt
way, is nothing new. AIdrich is
credited by some observers with a
great tactical victory in the Allison
amendment, but il must be realized
that he has been beaten every time
the Senate inserted a strengthening
clause in the bill On the whole.
there is room for much discussion
as to the effect this experience viii
have on the future status of the
Rhode Islander in the Senate.
The group of thicll-and-thin advo-
Gates of the unamended House bill
have scarcely improved their repu-
tations as practical legislators. AS
suming TO be the only simon-pure
friends the legislation had in the
Senate, they were in favor Of pass
ing the watery-eyed House bill. and
if they could have had their wav
would have done it, freezing out the
numerous amendments for its i'm
provement that the Senate succeed
ed in inserting. The Democratic
minority has been robbed of its
political opportunity, for it was not
allowed to furnish the votes neces-
Sarv TO mass the hill
But it is early to summarize
these results. The record will have
to be viewed in the light of exper-
fence with the working of the bill
before conclusions can be reached.
The Senate, indeed, is likely to get
a deal of credit for improving the
bill that it doesn't entirely deserve.
1t was pushed along by the force
of public sentiment. It realized that
it was under suspicion and needed
TO do something. What it has done
proves that when the public gets
sufficiently in earnest it can make
the Senate move. That is the great
est thing that has beer demon
strated.