Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-19
CUMMINS ENDS
4-DAY FIGHT ON
RAILROAD BILL
SAYS CONSOLIDATION PR0VlS-
ION is BAD FEATURE
DECLARES LANGUAGE USED IN
MEASURE TOO ELASTIC
Iowa Senator Argues "Dlrectly Conn.,
petitive" Is Faulty Phrase as
II Offers Too Wide Mar
gin for Companies
IAssociated Pressl

WI ASHINGTON, March 1S.~After
w holding the floor for four days,
Senator A. b. Cummins of Iowa
today completed his speech opposing
the administration railroad bill. The
senator's discussion today dealt princi-
pally with the provision regulating the
consolidation of railroads. With this
he found much fault.
Pointing out that the regulation ex-
tends to railroads alone, he declared
that in the omission of water lines
there was possibility of great abuse,
and said it would be impossible to pre-
vent the transcontinental railroads
from acquiring the water lines through
the Panama canal, thus cutting out all
competition.
He also pointed out that eelctric lines
were specifically excluded from the
provision, and declared 1t would be
possible for an electric line to gain con-
troll of all the railroads in the country.
Words Too Elastic
Mr.. Cummins criticised the words
directly competitive" as defining the
lines that may not consolidate. He
said such language would afford a wide
margin and ii was doubtful whether
many lines would be found within the
elastic prohibition. Mr. Cummins en-
gagged in a coloquy with Senator Ell
kins, during which he declared, Il
want 10 prevent competing lines from
consolidating"
THAT is what we all want" respond
ed Mr. Elkins. II am glad to see that
no ri IN
ing himself into substantial accord
with his committee"
"You mean that the committee is be-
ing driver gradually to accept my po~
sition," retorted Mr.. Cummins
Mr.. A!drich interpreted this state
ment as an ultimatum, and remarked
that it seemed to be one of several ul-
timatums which Senator Cummins had
undertaken to lay down.
Mr.. Cummins disawoved any such
purpose.
Nelson Suggests Change
Senator Nelson suggested the strik-
ing out of the entire provision on rail
road mergers, leaving the antitrust
law in control of the case.
"If we adopt this section 1t will be
folly to carry on the prosecution of the
Union Pacific merger" he said.
Mr. Cummins took up the provision
placing the approval or disapproval or
consolidation agreements at the discre-
tion of the proposed court of commerce,
and declared it to be extraordinary and
unconstitutional because 1t delegated
legislative authority to the court.
Senator Borah inquired who was the
author of the provision.
search u.s. CALCULATED Senator
Clapp.
Calls Bill an "orphan"
Mr.. Cummins suggested the attorney
general as the real author, and init
mated he believed the president respon-
sible for the original suggestion.
ut is plain" interjected Senator Nell
son, that the bill is an orphan"
Senator Ell1ins thought its paternity
quite unimportant.
1T is here" he said. "and the ques-
tion is whether it is right and whether
we ought to vote for it, regardless of
its origin"
Senator Borah said he did not believe
the president, as a lawyer, would up
hold the constitutibnality of the con-
solidation provision.
Senator Cummins pleaded for an inn
partial consideration OF the question,
saving Il was one of the most impor-
tant matters with which legislation
could deal.