The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-10
.NOEMASCULAT|0N
OF RAILROAD BILL
Taft Is Satisfied With
Present Status of
Measure.
NOT DAMAGED
IN VITAL w AY
Tells Passaic Audience That He
Believes Bill Will Be Passed
and Prove Long Step For
ward in Power Of Regula-
tion-High Hopes for
Legislation.

Passaic, -. j., May e.-ln speech
before the Passalc Board of Trade here
tonight in which he discussed the
legislative situation at Washington.
President Taft declared with a great
deal Of emphasis, and amid an out
burst of applause, that the railroad
bill has not been emasculated in any
vital way and predicted that salts
factory law would be passed.
THE bill" said the President. still
retains its important features. and l
am hopeful that within the next two
weeks we shall see the passage OF the
bin in both houses, the adjustment of
the difficulties between the two houses,
and its final enactment. IT means
great step forward in power of resula-
tion intrusted To the Interstate Com
merce Commission subject TO court re-
view. II does not transfer-and should
be loath TO do this--from the board of
directors to the Interstate Commerce
Commission the power OF running and
operating the railroad. 1t still leaves
wide discretion in the owners OF the
property: but the powers exercised by
the commission. feel confident, can
be exercised for good and will not re-
move inc tAIsllls Nt5 VI 'ai4S ~
ened seIhshness for the improvement
by the owners of railroads IN the
methods and cost of transportation"
Exaggerated Reports.
The President declared that the
newspaper reports OF the Gripping OF
the railroad bill had been greatly eS-
aggerated. and he set out in detail the
provisions OF the measure as II now
stands He said he hoped the provi-
sion which permits road owning so
per cent. os the stock Of competing
road 10 acquire the remaining stock
would be restored, and told Ehy.
In his review of pending legislation,
Mr. Taft EXPRESSED the belief that the
following measures will be eni.cted
into law:
Statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico, postal savings banks. anti-in-
junction, the so-called validating bill
OF the conservation measure. the pub
licity of campaign expenditures, the
railroad bill.
In his comment on the delay In pass
ing the Statehood bill, the President
acknowledged that there was ''hesi-
tation' on the part Of the Republicans
in the Senate to pass bill which is
80 likely to add four Democrats to
the Senate
OR. If not Democrats he added. in
taking what was regarded as q little
passing reference to some Insurgents.
Republicans of that radical type that
are entirely out Of sympathy with the
more conservative notions of the East.
In spite of all this, the President
said that he was very anxious that the
party should carry out its statehood
pledge, and he did not think he would
| be disappointed.
The President came to Passaic this
afternoon from New York, where, in
| the afternoon. he had attended the
| actors fund fair.
! Pns.nIc Turns Out Ennnssc.
/ Passaic turned out It's entire popula-
| ton TO honor him. Tho streets were
crowded and school children waving
| flags lined many of the ttoroughfares
In the evening. the Presidents way
| from the home of Victor L.. Mason
| where he stopped, to the banquet inr
| Turnvereen Hall. led through the bust
ness section, where a splendid court
of honor had been constructed. and
where dense crowds were congregated
Mr.. Mason. who, as president of the
4 Passaic Board of Trade. presided at
i the banquet, was assistant secretary OF
the Republican National Committee
! during the recent campaign.
Governor Fort, of New Jersey
aroused a great deal of enthusiasm
/ with speech in which he denounced
/ the criticism of an executive on the
ground that he should be held re
sponsible for legislation and every
\ thing else
i The President was decidedly hoarst
i 10 ght He left Washington This
morning with a severe cold, Wh1cH
4 threatened bronchial complications
His physician, DR. ]. j. Richardson. OF
j Washington, accompanied hlm
!. In addition to President TAFT ane
i Governor Fort, the speakers tonight
included John w. Grlggs. former Gov.
ernor Franklin Murphy and dob y
Hedges, of New York.
4 President Taft returned to Wash
: ington tonight.
OPENS Actors Fair.
New York, May president Tat
dared disaster this afternoon. whel
he climed upon chair, the better +
|. make himself heard and seen at tn
;. Actors Fund Fair, which he formal,
{ opened at the Secenty-first Regimen
4 Amor. But the chair held. Th'
President, brief response to the ad
dress of welcome was loudly cheere
], by the player folk, The President sal!
I In part:
: II should bc wanting In persona
5 gratitude if I did not seize this oppor
; tunity to come here and give my thank
. to profession to which personally
9 owe so much. do not like to com
! pare YOU with lawyers or politicians
; but there is one respect, at least, !
!, which we are all alike-the mono
! we make seems to come easy and
{ easy
"You are different from lawyers an
!. politicians in that out Of the seneros
II ity OF your hearts, you take care q
} those who have played their parts !
your profession and have reached tl'
: 49,. a :, 81 ~, 7TTrhir1 pa s.e b2