New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-18
FRIENDS TO AMEND
LEADERS CONFER ON
RAILROAD BILL.
.fffOrncy General TO Draft
ChaRgcs-Cummins Con-
finucs attack.


~ having she administration railroad oii
pu,ensea hv SIS friends rather than hy
Senators who have assafed Sc provisions.
Srnute leaders and Attorney General Wick
ersham conferred FOR Two hours after fhe
: ps'ournrenf ~ the senate to-day. Thst
number ~ changes win he urged as a re-
SUR ~ this conference vas said to-niEht.
Tho u,eetin.. was attended by Mr.. Wick
rrshayn and senators Aidrich. Hale Garter.
Sutherland. Flint. TlSins Koan. crane ana
Root. Tho Senators present secuted the
suggestion fhat the session was tho result
~ an artack on tho hin 10y senator cum
Minis. and said Il had been the purpose ~
fhe majority 81 tho Interstate Commerce
Committee an along 20 draw the fire az
she opponents ~ tho bin before proceeding
90 make amendments.
TIE Senators IN the conference Ell de-
cllned 20 say what amendments had been
REneed upon. The general understanding
Is. however. that q decision vas reached 10
amend the bin In AZ least three particulars
end that the draft Of the changes Win be
made by she Attorney General
Probably the not important 81 the
Fno6ihostions considered is shat along the
tines indicated yesterday by Senator Al
erich. which would give the Interstate
Commerce Commission undisputed control
- s5sfie agreements between railroad com-
rSnies n n IL found that this Is not already
covered IN the hin.
Other suggestions look 10 amendments
permitting shippers 20 be represented BY
counsel before tho proposed court Of COM
merce and 50 changing the provision IN
. relation 20 water carriers as 20 make Il
conform 90 tie present law.
cuFnrlins Continues Speech.
debate on the interstate commerce Mn
nas continued IN the Senate to-day. Sena-
tor Cummins spoke for nearly two hours
his efoFf being tho thi-d instalmeut OF tie
speech begun by him on Tuesday. When
adjournment was taken the Iowa Senator
had reached Section u. relating 10 railroad
mergers. u 20 expected that ne VIII devote
most % tomorrow 20 a critical analysis OF
this section, which is held by some OF the
opponents az the bin 20 be lis principal de-
fe0t- Mr. Cumnins may not be able 20
conolude before Saturday.
y was not until late in the afternoon thar
the Senate manifested interest IN the speech
~ tho Iowa Senator. Earlier in she dav
.aew senators were on the floor senator
DIXON suggested tho absence ~ a quorum.
hut senators left the chamber soon after
answering The rollcsn A short colloquy
late IN fhe afternoon. IN which Senators
Alorlch, Bailey and Elkins joined. added in
q ierett and merTment 20 tho DAYS proceed.
mss. As result Of This collOquy Mr. Cum
minis enumerated various features ~ the
BIN which met has approval BE approved
provision authorizing shippers 70 indicate
routes ~ shipment. rhe section authorizing
no Interstate Commerce Commission 10
initiate complsints. tho provision giving the
p commission jurisdiction over through rates
suc clsssiicstions and that giving tho COM
mission increased power over the kind and
character ~ reports % be flied by inter
state csrrisrs
Sefs'or Aldrich reiterated his position
"i'h reference 70 the power 20 be- given tc
the Interstate Commerce Commission over
agreements between railroads Senator
'ummins REQUIRED 10 this question. savlnc
b. underwood that the Rhode Island sen
s'or he'd Indicated yesterday that lie VA
D. prsc'ical concurrence with him
in reply M. AldIich ssid he uas - III,
opinion mat fle rates and classification,
hNed ~ fhs railroads should be subject .,
Zoo approval 81 the commission. and no re
poatel tho statement That n they we're no
clearly So uador tie pending bin he desired
20 have them mado So. Ito did not desir.
thsi there should b. any question on tina
point, he SAD
Assuming that Mr. Aldrich meant "a A.
"ss preparing 10 pass 10 another poiDt
when NJ AlaricE said that Dc HAD bcer
nisunderetood
I'oes not tho senator from Iowa under
ttEno that there is an inpassable elllf he
,"een himself and the senator from Rhode
isiande' asked Mr. Nelson. who pointed
out THAI ar. Aidrich thought tho pending
nih sufficient, while Mr. Cuinmins denapded
change ~ the language
Mr. Dumnlins admitted the existence ~
such q gulf snd expressed the fear iha, :,
never would be br.dsei. lie later expressed
hope that Nj Aldrich would consent a.
preserve what II good and reject what is
oad IN the bill
Vain hope calculated Mr. BAILEY
while M Cummins vas discussing "a.
changes MADE in the original draft Of IA,
oiih 80 prepared In New York last August
renetoF Al6rieh said AIr Cumnafns hirnsel,
hsa been among the persons who had heer
cslle6 INTO consultation by the PRECEDENT
Mr.. crmmirs replied that hc would not
undertake 10 enter into an explanation a
the conference lie recalled however fha,
senator Elkins had developed = discussion
a. 70 whether IL would be possible 10 com
psl trunk lines 20 furnish equipment L
coal roads.
in vain did Nr. Rancy urge The interes,
net would attach 10 a fun revelation q,
"haf had occurred He knew. he said. thai
MI Elkns and Mr.. Cummins had beer
here, and Dc was anxious 20 know whethel
Mr. Aldricl also was present
Mr. Alorich replied that he had not beer
nsmner a. the conference
I must 10 silent as 10 the meeting. D
Faid Mr Cummins Il do not like 20 re-
-ail painful memories"
Mr.. Cunlmins contendod thai II the pres.
fir provision regarding traffic agreements
Vas acceptod, there would be anywhere
from one million 10 five million such agree
mcnfs, rendering il absolutely impossible
Tor tho commission 10 investigate any ap-
procisblc portion a them The inevitabl,
result, De- couteuded would le The de
stuctiou ~ competition. with . consequent
increase oI rates