The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-05-05
R. R. BILL DOOMED
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES StruCa
Out in Senate.
MEASURE MAY Be DROPPED
Leaders Are so Disconnected That
Entire Bill May so Over Until
Next Session-Put Blame
on Insurgents.

Washington. May 4-The admins
tration railroad bill is in jeopardy. The
provision to allow trafic agreements
between the roads was struck out Of
the measure in the senate.
Section IL. TO permit mergers be-
tween railroads when one owns so per
cent OF the stock OF the other also was
struck from the bill
The senate leaders are so discon-
certed that there is serious talk OF
abandoning the measure entirely for
this session and throwing the respon-
sibility for its failure upon the insur-
gents.
The fate Of the traric agreement
and merger provisions was reached at
a long conference OF the regular sen
ators
Moves OF a radical character in con-
nection with the bill eventuated ra-
pidly when the measure was taken up
in the senate.
Traffic Agreement Struck Out.
Senator Elkins. chairman of the in
terstste commerce committee. at once
announced that he would move to law
on the table the Cummins amendment
to the traffic agreement section. He
coupled this statement with the an
nouncement that a majority Of the
committee would then support an
amendment by Senator CLAY to strike
out the whole Of section =.
Senator Cummins gained recognition
and withdrew his amendment. A mo
ton was then made by Senator Clay
TO strike out the section. Before a vote
was taken several senators stated
their displeasure at the program. but
the motion OF Mr.. Clay was carried
quickly by a viva voce vote Then the
axe was turned on the merger pro
vision. and on a motion by Senator
Nelson the entire section u Of the
bill was adopted without a division.
Section :. which started all OF the
trouble. never was perfected in the
senate The Cummins and the Elkins-
Crawford provisions were offered as
completed substitutes for the section.
The Cummins provision would have
legalized trafiic agreements but would
have compelled the railroads. to OBJ
tain the approval Of the interstate
commerce commission before making
changes OF rates
The EIkins- Crawford provision
would authorize the making OF traffic
agreements. but would permit the rail.
roads to pgt into force changes OF
rates without first obtaining the ap-
proval Of the commission.
The insurgents asserted that this
provision would repeal the sherman
antitrust Law so far as Il applied 20
railroads and would put an end 10
competition as 10 rates.
Both factions contended that their
amendments were in compliance with
the Republican national platform.
which declared that the Interstate
commerce law should be amended so
as to permit railroads TO make agree
ments as 10 rates. subject TO approval
OF the commission
Now that the senate regulars have
determined on their drastic course the
fur will fly. They contemplate putting
the entire measure over till the short
session beginning in December or
dropping ii entirely
Regulars Will Appeal to Country.
Then the regulars will go before the
country with the charge that the anti
administration Republicans have re-
fused 20 stand with the president for
the fulfllment OF the party's pledges.
This issue the followers OF Senator
Cummins and Senator Lafollette are
willing to accept In fact. they prefer
that there should be no railroad legis.
lation than that the measure as re
ported from the senate committee on
commerce should be enacted
AS a result OF developments when
the senate leaders. in desperation. had
the president at Pittsburg in consul
tation on the telephone. they then
practically reached an agreement to
drop both sections and 10 of the
original bill
II is understood that the regulars
told the president plainly that il was
doubtful whether the organization
could muster the votes to carry these
sections of the bill
The president II is said. told them
that II the recommendations which he
had made were defeated by a combina.
ton Of insurgents and Democrats the
administration no longer could be held
responsible for the form of the meas
ure.