The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-11
Debate Over Railroad Bill
Grows Hot, Reaching Verge
of Personalities.
CLASH COMES BETWEEN
THE EAST AND THE WEST
Men of Mountains and Plains
Resent Intent Imputed by
Senator AIdrich.

WASHINGTON. May 10.-Acrimony and
argument stalked side by side through
the senatc's consideration of the railroad
bill today. Senators Piles, Lodge and
Bristow were the regular speakers but
there were so many Interruptions that at
times at was difficult TO determine who
held the floor
There were many sharp Tits between
the senators and the discussion was In
terestIng throughout.
Mr.. Piles undertook TO show that the
adoption of the long and short haul
amendment by forcing up rates and In
crcaslns water transportation would
cause the transcontlnental railways to
abandon the coast business.
The assertion WAS challenged by Mcssrs.
Dixon and Smoot Coming into the con-
pending amendment tears down and de-
stroys the business of the country.
Then" said Mr. Dixon. you antago-
nize the interstate commerce commits
Views of Aldrich.
Mr.. Aldrich declared the commissions
advocacy OF the amendment was con-
yinctns and could be explained by its
desire to control all the ramifcatlons Of
the federal legislation of railroads.
III you are going to destroy the bust
ness of the country" continued Mr.. Al
drich. Ito make Missoua. Mont. or Sa-
llla, lNan-, (tnc nome towns respectively
of Senators Dixon and BrIstow) the me-
tropollS OF the world. then there should
be some reasonable rule under which the
work OF destruction Is to be carried on"
Mr.. Dixon replied with bitterness. He
found In the Rhode Island senator's re-
marks a repetition of, the recent invita-
ton of Mr. Elkins to the west TO move
OUT
Mr.. Lodge opposed the amendment as
an attempt to fix rates by law which.
he said, was equivalent to an effort TO
place straight jacket on an ever shift
ing scale. He thought the present law
ample protection. The distance rate had
been a failure wherever tried. Mr.. Lodge
asserted. and he declared such legislation
as was under. discussion tended newt
ably In that direction.
After Mr.. Lodge had concluded. Mr.,
Bristow took up Mr.. Elkins's recent In
vitation to the people of the interior
towns of the west ''to move out
Elkins Enters Denial.
II didn't say it, protested the West
Virginia senator. his face redder than
usual Il didn't say It," he repeated. and
then read from the congressional record
TO show he had coupled a condition with
the suggestion.
Il said" he proceeded. that if they
wanted the advantages of the coast cities
they should move out that is what I said,
and said 1t with deer. regret, meant
no offenSc. The senator from Kansas
does not love his state any better than
do"
Mr. Dixon and Mr.. Bailey engaged in
controversy over on expression of the
former I'm which he spoke OF some scna-
tors as Champions Of the railroads.
Does the senator mean to say any
senators aro here as the champions OF
the railroads." asked the Texas senator.
II wish the senator would withdraw
that question or address IL TO some one
else" said Mr.. Dixon,
I;liciting from Mr. Bailey the, fact that
he would not vote for any OF the long
and short haul amendments. Mr. Hey
burn called attention 10 the fact that on
"A previous occasion. the Texas senator
had supported the measure. Mr.. Bailey
admitted he had done so, but said he had
adopted that course to create confusion
on the Republican side of the chamber
up TO the time of the adoption of a
measure / will vote for any provision that
will make mischief for you; but / will
stop short OF doing mischief TO the coun-
try. Does the senator understand 1T
now?" he asked i'll conclusion,
Il regret to say that j do, laconically
responded the Idaho senator Mr., Bris-
tow closed with appeal for Justice
for the prairie states. He said the child
ing of those communities for such Il
pleading came with poor grace from
Those who represent the railroad inter
cSts "
The debate closed FOR the day with an
other effort by Mr.. Elkins 10 explain
away his invitation 10 the people Of the
inland country to move TO other sections,