Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-04
slsCALlAAEoos ElooEh
Rntaa BIN situntlon.

Rates BIZ Situation.
Not for many years has the United
States Senate had before il a measure that
presented more interesting situation
than does the Hepburn Railroad Rates
bill, which IL now receiving the Senatea
most serious consideration. Il is a.
measure Of the utmost Importance, IN the
6rst place, and although il has not aroused
partisan hostilities. 70 has attracted the
pttention Of the country, by the unusual
ability Of the discussion 10 which Il has
been subjected. aud iis manifest tendency
10 create a wide division between tho
Roosevelt administration and many
hitherto firm supporters Of the President
among the Republican members Of the
Senate
The melting cause Of the division has
been the undisguised interference Of
President Roosevelt with the Senate, IN
an effort 70 secure the passage of the
measure IN the form IN which it was
passed hy the House Of Representatives.
u has pleased him 20 make the Hepburn
bin an administration measure and as
such Il was fairly forced through The
House by an the personal and political
pressure that the White House could
command Despite the various incon-
sistencios and insuficiencies Of the mea-
sure. despite the fact that constitutional
defects were plainly visible 70 some Of the
best lawyers IN Congress. it received the
votes oi an the Republican members Of
The House save seven. while every Demo
cratic member voted for q because he
held its enactment 10 be IN accord with
thc policy Of the Democratic party.
But the Senate refused 70 accept this
measure of doubtful constitutionality az
we'll a. doubtful propuefy, and then
hCgan the manipulations Of the admins
tmtion 90 force 10 through by personal
and political pressure. President Roose-
welt declared az the outset that no would
Dc perfectly neutral in the matter, but IL
was impossible for him 70 keep hia hands
off, and up 10 date sixteen conferences
over The bin have been held at the White
House, the last Of which, on last Saturday
evening, only served TO further bofuddle
the situation and to make IL, according
TO a Republican senator, one of "con-
fusion worse ooniounded."
Very soon after the appearance Of the
bill in the Senate the trouble began.
President Roosevelt insisted upon the
bin as Il then stood, without the slightest
change, but leading Republican Senators
objected With the aid of Democratic
votes. the committee on railroads ordered
its report TO the Senate without amend
mont or recommendation, and then
began the first Of the moves which showed
how bitter was the eight between Repub-
lican Senators and the administration
which this measure had ongendercd
Senator Allison, angored at his defeat in
committee, moved that the bin be placed
in charge Of senator Tillman Of South
Carolina, the most bitter personal oppon-
ent Of President Roosevelt on the floor
Of the Senate and the motion prevailed,
while acquicsconce in this decided slap
at the President proved tho intensity Of
the Republican feeling against him on
account OF his interference.
The White House Conference Of last
Saturday night resulted in the President
advising an amendment 20 tho bin in tho
form OF provision for a reviow by the
courts Of such rates as might be ostab-
lished by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. But this apparent concession
by the President has only increased the
opposition as Il has turned against him
some Of those who were formerly ON his
side. Senator Knox, who was standing
by him, although he favored the amend
ment Of the bill so as TO provide for a
proper review by the courts, is alienated
by the Presidents proposed amendment,
which is held 10 be insufficient in its scope
and indefinite in detail altogether, as
some Senators have declared, worse than
no amendment at all
And so il is that the situation is becom-
ing more and more interesting and the
relations between the administration and
the Republican members Of the Senate
more and more strained The Railroad
Rates bill viii probably become a law.
but certainly not in the form in which the
President desires it to be enacted And
the fight between the President and his
party, thus preoipitated. threatens dis
astrous results in the near future.