The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-09
ASKED THATPLEDG
OF PARTY BE KEPT.
Taft Insists on Change
in Railroad
Bill.
SURE TO MEET
OPP OSITI ON
President Wants House Provi-
sion for Supervision of Issu.
ance of Stocks and Bonds
incorporated Into Meas
ure-Railroads Will
Fight 1t to the Last.


Washing gton. D. c., June s.--Severa1
exchanges of views between Senators
Elkins and Aldrich and Representative
Mann, OF Illinois, preparatory to for
NAL conference on the administration
bill. were had to-day. 1t was generally
understood that the conferees woulo
meet tomorrow. although no call for
such a meeting was issued.
Senators Aldrich and Crane visited
the White House tonight and talked
with the President concerning changes
which he might desire in the Senate
bin. which practically was approved
by him in his message to Congress
yesterday.
The President indicated that there
were two changes he would like to see
made in the bill in addition TO the
elimination of the sixty-day clause in
the paragraph giving the Interstate
Commerce Commission the right TO In
vestigate and suspend new rates.
Mr.. Taft is anxious that the House
provision Tor supervision OF the is
suance OF stocks and bonds by the rail-
road companies should be accepted by
the Senate. He regards this feature OF
the bill as one OF the pledges of the
party and he does not agree with the
| position of many OF the Senator'S that
| such a provision could be be construed
as interfering with States rights.
The President believes that the tel
| months allowed the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission In which TO inves
tigate rates before acting on them |!
entirely too long period. The Presi
| dents experience with the law ha
| been that where specified length o
| time is allowed tribunal, 1t general
| ly IS availed of. The House bill al
| lows 100 days.
Railroads VIII Fight II.
President Taft thinks six months
would be a better period Whateve
| Influence the railroads have Will b.
used to secure the shorter period. a.
to the supervision of the issuance o.
stocks and bonds, however, the rail
roads will vigorously oppose the put
ting of any such provision. in the bill
| President Taft told both Senator.
| Elkins and Aldrich to-day that he wal
4 anxious that the conference should
! proceed as rapidly as possible, ant
+ that there should be a satisfactor,
| bill.
/ The general understanding is tina
| the Senate and House leaders will ge
together on the subject matter to h
taken from the two bills before actor
is taken formally by the conferees. l
this course Is pursued, 1t Is likely tina
the only question which would b,
voted upon in the two houses woul,
be for the adoption or the rejection o
the conference report.
1nsurgent members of both tho Sen.
ate and House fear to have the sub.
ject come before them In that man.
ner as they think it would give toe
great an opportunity for the elin1ina.
tion of progressive features incor.
porated in the Senate bill through ar
1 alliance between Democrats and In.
surgents. At an informal conference
OF Insurgent Senator'S to-day, they
pledged themselves to fight against the
addition OF a conference report which
took away any of the advantage.
which they claimed to have forced int
the bill in the interests OF the ship
/ perS. &