Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-16
Senator Cummins Attacks Cor
poration Measure as Born
in New York.
SAYS PRESIDENT HAS
CHANGES MADE TO SUIT
Iowa Statesman Criticiscs the Pro-
posed Legislation and the Chief
Executive. Though He Declares
Such Action Might Mean An e.
fort to Read Him Out Of the Party.


tI;y Associated press)
WASHINGTON. ID. C.. March To-
That he would oppose the administra-
ton railroad bill, even though II
might result in an effort to read him
out Of the party Senator Cummins, oil
| Iowa. in effect declared In the senate
today He was making the initial
srecch on the railroad bill and com
menting especially upon the history
CT the measure. which he said had
originated in the executive branch OF
| the government ana not In congress.
After occupying its place on the
senate calendar for eighteen days. The
bill was taken up at two O'Clock and
thus was launched the discussion or
what the members of the senate re-
gard as the most important legislation
| before congress. The Iowa senator
had proceeded for only about TWO
| hours, when he asked leave to
suspend until tomorrow.
Cannot ae Rushed.
The leave was granted, but Sena-
| tor Hale. gave notice that hereafter
| the bill would be kept constantly be-
fore the senate. In language Just as
positive. Mr.. Bailey declared that
the bill could not be rushed and de-
clared that congress was liable still
10 be considering ii when the dog
days" arrived.
II Mr.. Cummsns- criticized the course
of the President and declared his in
tenticn OF opposing the bill In its
present shape even at the expense OF
the severe displeasure of the chief
executive.
If the uncontradicted and repeated
and apparently absurd statements Of
the newspapers be not in error. every
Republican. at least is expected TO
| vote for il lust as il is unless he dares
to incur not only the executive dis
pleasure. but TO be banished from the
| Republican ranks" said Mr.. Cummins.
Consequences Disastrous.
whether he is within his privilege
or his duty when he undertakes to
prescribe the precise form which leg
islation shall assume. may well be
doubted.
Il would not. however. be inclin-
ed to attach much importance to the
practice which now seems TO be very
general were il not that IT'S conse-
quences. in the very nature OF things,
must be disastrous.
Il do not fear that in slight in
stance. or during one administration,
the independent wIIl Of the members
OF congress can be overcome; but "
upon subjects like the one before us,
the practice Of having bills prepared
in the executive Cfhces and presented
to congress for passage. accompan-
led with an implied message that pun
ishment follows disobcdicnce. is con
tiuued from year TO year. in the emo
congress will become mere form in
organized society.
with the utmost respect for the
exalted Office of President of the
United States and for him who occu-
pics IL at the present time. ] record
my protest here and now against the
measure. which I believe TO be full 81
danger and disaster"
Declaring TO be extraordinary. the
committee connected with the origin
Of the bill. tac iowa senator detailed
! the meeting last August Of Attorney
Of the bill. the Iowa senator detailed
General Wickersham in New YorS.
with others who. he said. had under
taken to put into shape. for enact
ment the various recommendations Of
the President bearing upon railroad
: legislation. The report as made TO
the chief executive was supposedly
confidential. he said. but as matter
Of fact. long before IL reached the
President. IL had fallen into the hands
OF the railroad men.
Changes in Bill.
Discussing the progress 81 the bill
after II reached the President Ar.
Cummins declared that IL had been
vastly changed
Indeed be declared. but Tor the
birthmsrk Of the commerce court no
ono would recognize the measure
that was born IN the dog days up
there IN New York"
These changes. he attributed 10 the
influence Of the reiirr1e men which
rad been brought TO bear upon the
President and the attorney general
before January n. when the BIZ va
presented 10 the chairman n the
.commiticc on Interstate commerce.
tic asserted that from the time tho
I measure had bccn turned over 70 the
President 10 tho time u had len him.
= nearly every railroad president IN The
. country had visited Washinrfru and
I had been heard BY the President and
attorney ccneral-many ~ ikcm
fwicc. Substantially every chance