The Washington times., 1910-03-15
President Says He Will Not
Insist Railroad Bill Go
Through Unamended.
ULTRA-RADICAL
MOVE OPPOSED
Senator Jones, After White House
Call, Intimates Criticism
Has Little Effect.

That President Taft has taken the
wind out OF the sails OF thc Insurgents
In the Senate by annouucins. that he
viii not insist that the Administration s
railroad bIll be passed without amend
ment, is the opinion expressed today by
leaders Of the regular wing OF the
party.
Although he is said 70 believe that
the act. as framed 6y Attorney General
Wickersham. with he cooperation and
advice Of Secretary NageI and the mem
bers Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, contains all the provisions
necessary for the bolstering up Of the
admittedly deficient Hepburn law. he
would welcome. from the nsiurrent
Senators or anybody else In Congress.
amendments that would make fl better
OF more suitable 10 the demands of the
country.
Mr. Taft's declaration OF his attitude
In the matter was made to Senator
Jones OF Washington today.
may say said Senator Jones. as
ne left the White House after his talk
with the President. that Mr.. Tart
wants II plainly understood that he is
not maintaining and viii not maintain a
oictatorial position In regard TO the in-
JerStdte commerce law.
Opposes Ultra-Radicalism.
What he wants is a good law. a law
that will make up for what is lacking
IN the Hepburn law. He does not in
sist that the bill 20 through unamended.
but he Will not stand for any ultra
radical amendments that would make
the bill the laughing stock Of the
courts"
senator Jones also intlmated that the
action OF the Cummins-Ia Toilette i'm
surEent COterie In the Senate IN Oppos-
ing everything the Adm inistration did
and IN trying 10 make it appear that
AR. Iatt had sent TO Congress, In his
interstate commerce bill. an iuStr1-
ment framed for the protection OF the
the President
The President is said 10 be beginning
70 realize that much Of the opposition on
the part OF certain Of the Insurgents
is tor political effect. SOL. 0r the Ide-
pendent SenatOrs-men who early ln the
session were inclined 20 cast in their lot
with the insurgents-are described as
holding a similar opinion
The continued criticism OF the Ad-
T1lhlstratlCn BY such men as Cummins,
La Toilette, DOlliver CLAMP and BrIe-
tow has gone so far. according 10 SEN
alor Jones, that other Western Sena-
tors are standing from under.
Says He Wishes to Be Fair.
The Presidents action I'm announcing
his willingness 20 have his interstate
commerce act amended was not done
for political purposes. II is simply die
TO his desire 10 be fair, said Senator
Jones this morning. And vet. IN effect.
r. IS regarded as a good political move.
since the insurgents viii now have 70
come Out IN the open with any amend
EleuJs they want 10 suggest and Dear
the tuil responsibility for them
What the President ,,ilI insist Upon
I'm mis- bill Is that the major features OF
II be kept intact The provisions he is
unwilling 10 have changed are those
creating the commerce court and pro-
yldlng for Federal supervision Of stock
Issues the handling Of prosecutions i'm
violation OF the act by the Department
Of Justice instead Of by the Interstate
Commerce Commission. and the main
tenauce Of the legislative powers OF the
interstate Commerce Commission so az
10 enable that body 20 fix rates.
With these features firmly incorpOr-
ated IN the bill the President is described
as willing TO have il changed az other
points. He is quoted as expressing "a
desire for a fair. honest, and effective
law without regard to who helps in the
framing Of IL.