The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-20
TAFT'S RAILROAD
BILL in CROSS FIRE
EXTREMES ON RADICAL AND CON.
SENTATIVE, SIDES PREPARING
TO FIGHT TWILL HAVE
SUPPORT

:: 70 FIGHT TWILL HAVE
/ SUPPORT.
washington. Jan 20.-President Taft
now is fully aware or the plans made
by Senator La Toilette and C1Inmins
20 attack his measures for railroad leg
lslatlon and the federal licensing OF In
corporations. These attacks viii be met
on the floor Of the senate by champions
: Or Mr.. Taft's recommendations, and
the senators who will bear the burden
OF defense will not be men whom the
country has known as reactionists.
When the president was comforting
with representatives Of the different
schools of thought on railroad legisla-
tion' ne did NOT bar Senator Cummins
from the conference chamber. The
rowan studied the bill, which now has
oeen introduced. stamped with the
presidents sanction, and he commend
ed It as q long step In advance. Mr..
Cummins said that the bill did not 90
as far as he thought 1t ought to GO.
Out ne gave approval of Ii as a real
| measure of progression, and the presi-
dent today would like to have the coun-
/ try know that, after admitting that the
administration measure was progress
slve the Iowa senator now is prepar-
ing TO attack it.
Mr., Taft knows that from the omar
ters of some of the extereme radicals
In The senate there have come whispers
that his interstate commerce measure
IS Just what the railroads want" He |
knows that while no senator would |
Dare make such charge openly there |
Is an APPARENT intention to insinuate TO |
the country that the president Of the
united states is in an actual conspiracy
to betray the people by means of legis-
lation intended to benefit the great car
rler corporations by forcing the coun-
try TO pay them unjust tribute.
Taft Trusts Peoples Faith.
There is no indication that the pres
ident believes for moment that the
people will put any faith in a charge
that he is wiling to undo the good that
Roosevelt did, to go back on his pledges
and to allow the ground work to be laid
In an act of congress for ultimate proof
Q this perfidy. The operations of a bad
law would uncover in short order an
attempted betrayal of trust
When La Toilette and Cummins move
20 their attack in the senate they win
be met by men who have perfect faith
In the presidents honesty of purpose
and who know just what the president
is trying to do in legislation Senator
Cummins has introduced rival rail-
road measure. There are progressive
senators who say that the Iowan's bill
should be presented from a seat in the
grandstand. Mr.. Cummins apparently
is of che opinion that the interstate
commerce commission should fix all
rallorad rates. From one who has been
given information by those who drew J
the administration measure, 1T is learn /
ed that If the Cummins contention were !
given legislative form" it would take !
the interstate commerce commission 7
100000 years to fix rates for the en-
tire country" 1t seems that there are
some 100000 classifications and some-
thing like 100000 individual rates in {
force.
The president is alive to the com /
ment which his undertaking il slow pol r
icy has provoked, and he is fully aware I
that the country, with hesitancy that @
has in 1t a considerable element Of dis
trust, is "suspending judgment" on the t
works OF his administration. Mr.. Taft lC
however, has confidence that eventually lv
the fair mindedness of the people will \
dominate and that they will insist upon "a
knowing the truth, and that once know g
Ing 1t they will come to his support IN
and stay there. Mr.. Taft has told his
friends, and some persons who are as '
near TO the point of ennity as RADICAL il
ism can bring them, that his admihis-
tration can be judged fairly only by La
the measures he recommends and the S
legislation which congress enacts. f
Too Early 20 Judge.
The only bill OF Importance that has
passed congress at this session is an :
bill, and so it would
seem that Mr.. Taft has some right on
his side when he contends that the 9
countr vas yet has had very little upon =
which to pass Judgment on his admin =
stration. 1t may be said here that the :
president occasionally wonders, with I
something of a smile, why 1t is that Z
people cannot take the word of a pres
dent just as they would take the word :
If any other man whose life had shown ?
him to be honest in his dealings kith
ais fellows 1
1t Is understood that the extremely !
'adical element OF the senate will try :
o make it appear that when the pres !.
dent was framing his Interstate COM 3
nerce recommendations he called to his
lid persons whose known affiliationsA :.
we're with the corporations and whose !.
Whole habit of thought was stamped
With extreme conservatism. If such !.
harge as this Is made directly 1t will 4
,e met by the plain statement by one p
4 the administrations Spokesman un- ],
Ter authorization Of the White House
On the committee which the presi =,
lent appointed to consider the inter- !,
tate commerce amendments were at !,
east two radical railroad reformers. :.
'hese men have given sanction to every q
Inc of the presidents recommendation i
nd they say that the measure which
las been introduced is just what is u,
eeded to strengthen the railroad laws i;
nd to increase the efficiency of thu =
Interstate commerce commission The 81
resident today wants the country to ~
now chat he told the committee to
repare the best bill that their knowl- =,
dye could produce bill to meet con- Sd
itions which he outlined. Is
Mr.. Taft's advisers had the benefit of a.
he practical experience OF themem- III
ers Of the interstate commerce com hi
lission, Of the legal knowledge and Isl
dvice OF the department of justice and
he suggestions of the authors Of the Sc
rst railroad bill approved by presi- w
ent Roosevelt and which four years in
20 passed the lower house OF con-
ress Ia
n is q curious commentary on the ar