The Washington herald., 1910-05-04

President Tafts programme Of legisla-
ton is threatened with emasculation. If
not complete defeat. as a result OF the
chaotic conditions in the Senate and the
House.
Republican leaders in Congress have
reached the stage where they are willing
10 admit the Republican party no longer
has a responsible working majority in
either House, and that it is difficult 90
tell from day 10 day in what direction
the weather vane of legislation will point
The spectacle was presented yesterday
IN the Senate OF organization Republi-
cans combining with the Democratic
minority to vote out OF an administration
bin a proposition pledged by the Re
publican national platform and advocated
by a Republican President
Tho section T. Of the Taft railway
bin, which opens the way for the making
Of traffic agreements between railroads.
was the provision thrown overheard. and
this was followed by a further tighten
ing OF ballast I'm the sacrifice OF section
y which would have legalized mergers
between competing roads
House Busy, Too.
While the organization leaders in the
Senate were thus engaged in yielding to
the superior strength of the insurgents
the House was not idle II also dropped
section Z from the bill
Many regular Republicans I'm the House
Joined with the insurgents and Democrats
ia killing this section. Members Of the
House were afraid Of the cry that was
being raised that section if enacted into
law would repeal the Sherman antitrust
law so FAR as il affects railroads They
had visions Of angry constituents asking
them TO explain increased freight rates
The railroad bill was the keystone Of
the Taft legislative programme. and ad-
minisuauon leaders in Congress are fear
ful Of the effect that this routing Of the
Taft forces viii have on other measures
recommended by the President
There is dissension even among Repub-
hcan regulars in the Senate over the sur
render on the trafiC-agreCment provision
More than one OF the so-calIed conserva-
tives declared emphaucally that they
would have preferred TO stand bv their
guns and go down 20 defeat before the
insurgents rather than 10 have turned
their backs and Joined with the Demo-
Gratis in dropping a proposition promised
by the Republican national platform and
advocated by Mr. TAFT
The Indications are that the success
Of the Senate insurgents in killing Sec
tons and l2 Of the railroad bin has
only whetted their appetite. and that
they are preparing to oppose the regu-
lars on other sections of the bill.
Favored by AIdrich.
Senator Aldrich and his supporters are
in favor now. IL is understood. OF drop
ping sections l3, "A. and 10 from the rail-
way bill These are the sections urovid-
ing for the regulation of the capitaliza-
ton Of railroad corporations. and aimed
chiefly at the prevention Of stock water
ing
The argument advanced by admlnistra-
ton Senators is that this is a doubtful
field OF legislation. and that the sections
engratted are unsatisfactory, both to the
friends and the critics of the bin.
Inc insurgents served notice on the
administration Senators that they will
not consent to the elimination of these
sections from the bill, and that they in
tend TO make a fight for the adoption of
amendments that they have offered.
This interesting situation we'll illus
trating the tangled condition of affairs
IN Congress is accordingly presented.
Senators who have assumed the task
of steering the Taft bills through that
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