New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19
RAILROAD DEBATE
HALE ASKS FOR VOTE.
III Which Insurgents Laugh
CRmmins Finishes Speech.
IFrom he Trlbuno Rareau. !


IFrum Ths IrIhune Rureau.l
Washington, March Ex-senator crmrains
closed his four days speech On the inter
state commerce bin this afternoon. ana as
no oiher critic az the measure was ready
10 proceed. adjournment Was taken until
Monday ID il expected that senator clapP
wall speak GA Monday. ana hat on the sue
ceedinE Gays of next week speeches viii be
made By Senators NeWlands. Bailey.
Hughes and others who are opposed 10 the
bin. The Republican leaders have not
completed their plans Tor the defence Of
she legislation. They are deNOtng most II
their attention 20 the consideration and
formulation % amendments which they
hope viii bring 10 the support Of the bin
ali but four or five Republican Senators.
Wien these amendments are finally drafted
Senators Root. Elkius. Aldrich and sGth-
erland will make short speeches On support
OF the measure and the amendments.
The proceedings On the Senate TODAY at
tractea little attention either ON the floor
or IN the galleries. Many Senators went
over 20 the House 10 watch the fght
against Speaker Cannon. and result
Mr.. CRmmins did not address either a
large or an attentive Senate while the
House Was On recess many senators re-
turned, and when Mr.. Cummins closed
there was n short collOQuy which enter
fsined the galleries for half an hour.
This c0lloQuy occurred when Senator Hale
suggested an adjournment until Monday,
and said he hoped final vote on The inter
STATE commerce bin might be taken next
week The insurgents and Democrats tit
tered audibly at the suggestion that a vote
might be taken within six or seven days.
as some ~ the insurgents believe that fve
or six weeks viii be required 10 close the
debate. Senator Newlands wanted 10 know
what had become ~ the Bailey resolution
% change tho hour If tire daily meeting
al the Senate nom u 20 O'Clock. BE said
De had never before known such a marked
lack ~ interest An a Senate debate or such
partial attendance Of senators. This was
due, he thought 10 the fact that IL was
necessary Cor senators 10 attend committee
meetings while the Senate Was in session.
A change OF the hour of meeting 10 o clock
WouiG enable Senators 10 do their commit
tee work without missing sessions OF the
Senate. senator Bailey replied that has res
oluton was before the Committee ON Rules.
IN considering a., il was necessary also 10
consider certain changes iu the Senate rules
and this had caused delay In reporting H.
To Act on Statehood Bill.
Commenting on Mr. Hale's suggestion OF
an early vote or the Interstate commerce
bin, Mr Bailey said that Nhile he did not
amend 10 nlibuster on aims legislation. NJ
desired a. serve notice of his purpose 10
force action on the statehood hin before
she adjournment 81 the present session. Mr..
Hale said that tho Senate would have 10
deal Nith the statehood bin al this session,
and this VAS why he was anxious 20 hasten
action on The interstate commerce bin. Mr.
Bailey said he MOULD be perfectly willing
n.nHH
for short time with a view 10 disposing
of the statehood tn senator Clapp APP
proved this suggestion. AR Hale replied
that he was without power 10 make this ar
rangement, as he Was not I'm charge of THE
statehood hin or the interstate commerce
bill. Mr.. BAILEY said he had no doubt that
senator Elkins, who was In charge of the
interstate commerce hill would bc glad 70
lay aside that measure and give the state
hood legislation the right OF Way. He was
moved % express this opinion because, for
many years Ar. Elkins had been trying TO
have Congress authorize the admission OF
New Mexico az a state. lAe called atten-
tion 20 the fact that many years ago, when
Mr. Elllins was a Delegate in the House
from New Mexico ne succeeded ia having
a statehood bin for that territory pass the
House. Inasmuch a. Ar. Elkins received
his first political houors IN NeW Mexico.
and WAS more popular there than any Re
publican ought 10 bc. ar. Bailey felt sure
he would consent 10 have the statehood bin
dispace tie interstate commerce legisla-
lion.
The coIloquy CLOSED when Mr. Hale asked
Tor vote ON his motion 10 adjourn uuul
Monday
Cummins on Mergers.
Mr. Cummus devoted most Of his speech
Fn-IaN ID Section 1. az H.. Interstate com
merce hin. which relates 10 railroad mer.
gers lie said that Thile IL was the appar-
ent and laudablc purpose OF this section "a
prevent the consolidation OF competing
lines. its eject would bee 10 make lawful
combinations and mersers now forbidden.
lie did not think a railroad should Ice per-
mitted % own stock in another road. even
II The lines were not competitors.
Senator Nelson asserted that the eject II
Section ~ would be- 20 make the Union Pa
cine merger possible while ther, was a
saving clause which was intended Ia pro
tect the government m the suit now pend
inc Dcaiust this merger, IL would be folly
10 proceed with This suit because II the
government won IN. tho L Mon Pacific inter
ests WOULD oe able 10 taln around and make
q lawful merger
Senator Borah Joined iu the criticism o.
Session - He thought il strange thst any
lawVer 81 standing should fran, a section
OF this kind
Mr. Elkns replied that the section hac
been drafted by the Attorney General AND
was approved by the President
AR sorah said he would not believe that
the President had approved this section un-
al ar. TAFT said SO over his own signature.
LAST or THE POSTAL, SCaNDAT.