Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-27
SENATORS SEEK COVER
Opposition to the President Be-
ginning to CrumbIe.
POPULAR SENTIMENT FELT
Pressure From Constituents for the
Hepburn Rate Bill.
CONSERVATIVES WILL GIVE WAY
Republican Leaders Believe That the
Measure Will Pass-Tryine to
Avoid Factional Struggle.
POPULAR SENTIMENT FELT
CONSERVATIVES WILL GIVE WAY

Opposition to the Presidents railway rate
legislation plans is beginning 10 crumble
Republican senator's are seeking cover from
the approaching storm OF popular approval
of the bill passed by tie House and re-
ported by the Senate committee on inter-
state commerce. A characteristic Roosevelt
victory seems to be in prospect.
Republican leaders in the Senate have de-
cided that the rate bill will pass in practi-
cally the form demanded by the President
They are ceasing quibbling over terms;
let them go as they lay. they say The i'm
portant thing now is to head Off IL possible,
democratic capital to be made out of me
situation
Informal talks among the leaders and the
rank and file of republican senators indi-
cate that the opposition is not likely to
stick. Even such a redoubtable "conserva-
tive" as Senator Elkns is believed to be
getting in line to walk up to the captains
desk and hand. in his guns. Others are
expected to follow suit. Ii is said they
cant stand the pressure from back home"
Ihey cannot afford TO be placed in the po-
sition. it is declared, of opposing this great
reform measure, proposed by the peoples
idol and backed by the unanimous vote of
the lower body of Congress voicing directly
the peoples demands.
1t does not follow that they approve the
bill. ii the public utterances of republican
sena tors could be made to gee with their
private exchanges OF commence TIE Hep
burn bill would be shown to have no more
chance than a SNOWFALL III crematory. But
that is neither here nor there. Senators
are confronted by popular condition and
very few of them, 1t is prophesied, will fail
TO bend TO the passing blast.
A Conservatives Prediction.
you will see said a republican con
SENTATIVE to a Star man today, the Sem
ate VIII fret and fume and make a lot Of
fuss and feathers over its .prerogatives'
and alleged executive Interference and in
the end will walk up like little man and
vote for this bill. l can see the signs al
ready The 'ouitters are preparing to fold
their tents. They can not stand out against
the wave that is sweeping the country ard
they will not try to divert it"
This republican went on to say that the
railroads are practically resigned to the in
evitable and are shaping their affairs to
put up with almost any kind of q bill! the
Congress is pleased to pass. There are sttll
courts and constitutional privileges, the
railroad men say, and they think they viii
not be debarred from their day in court.
The railroads, this senator said, are con-
vinced that a wave of popGlistic and So
Ciallstic feeling is sweeping through Con-
gress. pushed on by mighty impulse from
the country at large, and it is wiser not TO
oppose il with any dykes, but rather let 1t
eXpend itself, confident that the reaction
viii come before serious damage is wrought
TO vested interests.
So this senator said, it may be expected
that this feeling Of the railroads will be
reflected in the course Of conservative
senators, who will lay down their resist
ance to pending legislation.
To Avoid a Split.
"Our main anxiety now" continued this
conservative senator, ''is to avoid a split
in the republican party and TO keep the
democrats from claiming the fruits Of
Roosevelt's iabors. Personally, I don't
think it makes much difference what the
democrats do; as soon as the bill is passed
ft viii be proclaimed Roosevelt's vic
tory, and that will be all there is to 1t. He
is the central figure of the whole fight.
THE patient democratic donkey may
help to pull the wagon out of the hog, but
as soon as dry ground is reached the G. ..
P. elephant will loudly trumpet the achieve
ment as his own. But the game must be
watched very closely to see that the demo-
Gratis do not catch us unawares at any
stage and steal the advantage.
1.-The main fear of democratic gains at
our expense lies in the possibility of our
we are trying to avoid AT the same time,
/ have not much confidence in the demo-
Gratis presenting a solid front They
piling in amendments at great rate
ITO sum up the situation, l believe the
Presidents views on rates will prevail and
that it is now the part of wisdom for the
republicans to get together and close up
the parliamentary situation SO that there
will be as few loopholes as possible for the
democrats to take credit unto themselves
for the outcome"