Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-05
Especial Correspondence

ate pass the railroad rate bill in sub
the form in which it passes
the house? That it will is the claim
which the administration forces are
making today. The forces opposed to
federal regulation Of railroad rates
are silent, but they are not manifest
ing any particular evidences of alarm.
/, It is only within the past few days
that this alleged change of heart on
the part of the senate has been
claimed. 1t is true that a policy of
non-committal silence has taken place
of the OPEN swapping and snarling in
which railroad senators indulged a
week ago, but this does not necessari-
ly mean that the senate opposition has
given way before the aggression Of
the president and the house. 1t may
mean that a surprise is being hatchedl
or that a trap is being laid. When
the senate has a game to play it plays
it to the limit, and makes use of all
the arts and subterfuges.
Just row the administration and
house forces are pluming themselves
in the belief that they have driven
the senate into a corner, and that it
will have to meet squarely the issue
of acceptance or rejection of the presi-
dents railroad rate program. AS
there has been no marked political
division in the house on the subject
of railroad rates, there would seem to
be some substance for this assump-
ton of advantage in the contest. The
senate, however, has a surprising
way Of turning the tables on the other
fellow, and in its present attitude of
chastened humility it may be merely
playing 'possum."
: One thing is certain, the senate is
getting itself in splendid condition to
talk to death any measure (which it
DOESN'T want to pass and doesn't care
to openly reject. There is a promise
that the Philippine tariff bill may
take up a full month of the sessions
time. An unlocked for opposition has
developed In the senate against this
pet administration measure, and just
now it is the vehicle through which
the senate is evidencing its hostility
to the administration. 1t is going to
have rough shedding, and the fathers
Of the measure are not likely to recog-
nize it when it gets back to the house.
Before any Philippine tariff legislation
passes the senate at all there will be
a prolonged general tariff debate,
democratic senators having announced
a determination to open up the entire
subject.
One of the things upon which. the
claim of a railroad rate victory is
based is the statement this week by
a republican member of the senate
committee on Interstate commerce
that no bill would be reported to the
senate from that committee until after
the committee had received and con-
sidered the house measure. It had
been expected that a modification of
the Elkins and Foraker bills would be
reported as an Independent senate
and that the senate and
house bills would never have a chance
to get acquainted until they meet in
conference.
Granting that this is the program
which the senate committee will fol-
low, it may mean a great deal, or it
may mean very little. The fact must
not be lost sight Of that the strongest
senate opposition to railroad rate
legislation Is not to be found within
the committee on interstate COM
merce. No matter what measure that
reports, it will be fought in
the senate by those senators who are
opposed to any railroad rate legisla-
ton of whatsoever character. s,S .5
: 80 o.
y The house has announced a de-
termination TO fight the railroad rate
bill to a finish. It Is given out fatty
by men close to both President
and Speaker Cannon that
the house will accept no material
notification OF its rate bill at the.
Il q I,dss ~ fhc senate ami that ShoIlId
the senate insist upon amendments.
calculated to weaken the bill the.
house will hold congress in session
or until the senate Yields,
whether the Statehood bill as re-
ported BY Mr. Beveridga's committee
will get through the senate without
material modification Is q matter Of
individual opinion. Maay Of the re-.
publican Leaders believe Il win, while
some Of them, notably Mr.. Foraker,