The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-14

Democrats in the Senate deserted the
Republican regulars yesterday and Gre
ated a situation which resulted in the
adoption of a long and short haul amend
ment to the administration railroad bill
Efforts of the insurgents to incorporate
such an amendment in the bill have been
opposed by Senator Aldrich and his fol-
lowers more stubbornly than any other
proposition advanced by the radicals. and
President Taft also was firmly set against
H.
The amendment is neither an insurgent
nor Democratic proposition. 1t is a
hodge-podge Of ideas advocated by in
surgents, Democrats. and Republican reg
ulars. If anybody gets any political cred
It for it, it viii be the Democrats.
Many insurgents are mad at the out
come of their three weeks fight; the reg
ulars are disgruntled at having been COM
PEELED TO yield and the Democrats. while
protesting TO be happy, are displeased
over many features Of the days develop
mcnts.
As to the effect Of the amendment, reg
ulars declare it re-enacts the present law
in regard TO the long and short haul:
some Of the Democrats profess to see in
It a long step N the right direction. while
several members of the insurgent band
contend that all the force and vitality OF
their original amendment has been elm
mated.
shipper Is benefited
One thing, however. the burden is
shifted from the shipper 10 the railroad I
in the matter Of long and short haul /
rates. The railroad viii have 20 satisfy F.
the Interstate Commerce Commission .
that all rates involved are Just and rea- /
sonable and not unduly discriminatory /
nor unduly preferential o. prejudicial. /
Under the present law It has in .srect /
been up TO the shipper TO attack the long
and short haul rates on the ground OF /
their unreasonableness. It is on this fea- /
ture Of the amendment that the insur- /
gents are claiming a victory.
The insurgents have been obliged 10 4
unite with Senator Aldrich and his fol- 1
lowers In support OF compromise pro-
posed by the Rhode Island Senator him /
self. The stock in trade OF the insurgents /
has been their opposition 10 the Aldrich /
machine. and they fear the effect Of their
having lined up with Aldrich on this i'm
portant proposition.
The general impression is that the
amendment will never be put on the
statute books; that fl is the intention OF
Senator Aldrich and the other Senate
leaders TO drop it overheard in confer
ence.
The long and short haul amendment
was introduced by Senator Dixon. OF
Montana. II made Il unlawful for anv
common carrier to charge more for
short haul than for a long haul when
the short haul is included within the
long haul. There was a proviso how
ever. that upon application TO the Inter
state Commerce Commission any car
rIer might IN special cases, after in
Vesugation. be authorized by the COM
mission TO charge less for a longer than
Tor shorter distances
Debated for Three Weeks. ,
This amendment had been under debate G
IN the Senate for more than three wao1,s !
and Senator Aldrich and the other Re $
publican organization leaders had finally ?
made an alliance with the Democrats %
vote It down. ,
The Republican regulars have boae+o5 :
from the floor Of the Senate thar tboy ?
had the votes TO defeat the Dive, Z
amendment. and have for the last week
Deeh challenging the insurgents to bring (
'he matter to vote. 1t has been said 2
that the Republican organization had q
been assured Of fifteen Democratic votes +
against the insurgent proposition. 7
senator Aldrich and his supporters
thought they had these Democrats ,.o,o.
secured until within an hour or so bofo~a / r
he time set for the vote Then tbo Do y
publican leaders learned that the Den7o- II
'rats had deserted them and had decida9 q
20 vote for an amendment introduced Nv. 4
Senator Overman, Of North Carolina y In
Democrat
The Overman amendment was r,o-, a
'adical even than the Dixon amendment
'erging on the fixing Of rates ON The
Mileage basis This unexpected pct,o,
IN the part Of the Democrats tbre,. +ta
republican organization into coustorro
ion. and there followed an unusual scoDo
N the floor Of the Senate.
Senator Aldrich. realizing that his forces W
TODD no show of defeating the insurrent b.
amendment without the aid OF the Den,o- r,
rats. hurried TO Senator Dixon and nro- d.
osed compromise. Senator Divon r. lh
ever been classed among the real simon
ure insurgents and he accented +ba
'ldrich proposition. They agreed uDo,
n amendment made up partly Of the lis
riginal Dixon amendment. partly OF an B
mendment that had been introduced bv tc
enator Paynter, Of Kentucky. a Demo La
rat, and partly or Ideas presented bv fc
enator Smoot. of Utah al
At o'clock. the hour set for a vote. cr
enator Dixon arose and started to mod al
Continued on Page IL, Column 2.