The Washington herald., 1910-05-15

An interesting story is told by the in
surgent Republican Senators of the cir
cumstances attending the preparation Of
the long and short haul amendment Of
the railway bill which was adopted Fri
day through a coalition of conservatives
headed by Senator Aldrich radicals. like
Senator La Toilette. and Democrats of the
type OF Senator Bacon. of Georgia
The insurgents are insisting that they
won great victory particularly as to the
insertion of the following words:
But in no event shall the authority be
granted Ito charge less for the longer
than for the shorter distances) unless the
commission is satisfied that all the rates
involved are just and reasonable and not
unjustly discriminatory nor unduly prefer
entail or prejudicial"
This language It is asserted. is embodied
in an amendment prepared by Senator
Cummins and submitted to a Republican
insurgent Senatorial conference several
days ago.
II was considered with a view Of hav-
ing II presented in the Senate. as reflect
ing the views OF the insurgents. and
finally rejected, because it was in the end
decided by the insurgents that il was
too radical even for them.
Beat Out AIdrIch.
Another interesting story is told by
the insurgents Of how they prevented
the composite amendment which finally
prevailed from being drafted in Senator
Aldrich's committee room.
According to the insurgent story the
Senator from Rhode Island found him
self confronted by the possibility Of a
combination Of Democratic and RepubH-
can Senators strong enough to adopt one
Of the pending radical amendments. IL
looked as il the combination might CEN
ter around the amendment of Senator
Overman. OF North Carolina
ThereupOn. so the story goes. Senator
Aldrich invited the Republicans to go TO
mis- committee room and join him in the
preparation Of a compromise.
Senator Dixon and several other SEN
ators accepted the invitation and repaired
to Senator Aldrich's room, and then sent
out for a number Of insurgent Senator'S
VINO were absent to join them Senators
Cummins and La Toilette had actually
started 10 the scene of the conference,
but when they stopped to inquire where it
was being held, and learned that II was
IN Mr. Aldrich's room, they turned pale,
and declared that they could not attend
Senator Bristow. Of Kansas. decided.
however TO beard the lion in his den,
and he went to the committee room and
broke up the conference by announcing /!
that the insurgents and the Democrats |
would never vote for any amendment !
that was prepared I'm Senator Aldrich's |
room under his personal direction.
Thereupon everybody departed. except |
Mr.. Aldrich, and later he followed to
find that the tendency toward steriliza-
tion had carried the insurgent brethren
away from his committee room and over
TO the Democratic side Of the Senate
chamber, where they took possession of
the seat OF Senator Fletcher, Of Florida.
and the immediate vicinity, and it was
from these Democratic surroundings that
the long and short haul amendment
sprung into being.
Senator Smoot was the scribe. Senator
simmons OF North Carolina brought the
who felt inspired offered "A suggestion.
Even Senator Aldrich stood looking on
with a broad smile, occasionally peering
over the shoulders of some 81 his col |
leagues who were more active in prepar- !
ing the work OF legislation.
There are as many conflicting opinions !
as ever regarding the real significance |
Of the amendment adopted The work |
is not conclusive. because the conference |
committee will have the final response !
hility I'm the matter Of shaping the Ian |
guage that will be embalmed in the stat /
utes Senator Aldrich and his colleagues /
do not apear TO be unhappy over what /
happened.
Quiet ut the Capitol.
No session of the Senate was held yes |
terday. and few Senators went to the |
Capitol.
Interest in the pending railway bill |
seems suspended but II is known that on !
Monday the Senate leaders will take 4
advantage OF the present era of good |
feeling, following the almost universal /
satisfaction over the long and short haul !
amendment. and will ask for an agree /
ment by unanimous consent upon a date |
for final vote on the bin and all pending
amendments.
They believe that some date near June I
/ can be agreed on.
The Senate will meet at II o'clock daily.
commencing Monday. and ii is the pres
ent plan TO table all amendments that
have not been accepted by the Repub
lican leaders as fast as they are pre-
scented. and to expedite the bill to its
final passage. Even with a final vote in
the Senate not later than June ]. it is
believed that the adjournment OF Con-
gross cannot be brought about before
July l.