The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-18
TENDERLY CARING FOR
THE RAILROAD BILL

WASHINGTON, March 11-To have
| the administration railroad bill amend
ed by its friends rather than by SEN
ators who have assailed its provisions,
senate leaders and Attorney General
Wickersham conferred for two hours
after the senate adjourned today. That
a number of changes will be urged as
A result of this conference was add
mitted tonight
The meeting was attended by Attor'
neY-General Wickcrsham and Senators
Aldrich. Hale, Carter, Sutherland, Flint
Elkins. Kcan, Crane and Root.
The senators secuted the suggestion
that the session was the result of the
attack upon thc bill by Senator Cum
! Minis, and said it had been the pur-
pose of the majority of the interstate
! commerce commission all along 10 draw
the fire Of the opponents favorable be-
fore proceeding TO amendments.
Probably the most important moditi-
cation considered would give the inter
state commerce commission undisputed
control of traffic agreements between
railroad companies if it is found this
Is not already covered In the bill.
Other suggestions arc TO permit ship
pers to be represented by counsel be-
fore the proposed court of commerce
and change the provision in relation
to water carriers to make IL conform
TO the present law.
Aldrich Stands Pat
The most interesting portion of TO.
day s proceedings was rciteratlon by
Senator Aldrich Of his position OIL the
power to be given the interstate com
merce commission over agreements be-
tween railroads.
Senator CUmmins REQUIRED TO this
question. saving he understood the
Rhode Island senator had indicated yes
terday that he was IN practical con-
currence with him.
| Assuming that Mr.. Aldrich meant to
accept his view in substance Mr. Cum
Minis was preparing TO pass to another
point, when Mr. Aldrich stated that he
| had been misunderstood.
FDocs not the senator from Iowa un-
| derstaud that there rs an impossible
gulf between himself and the senator
| from Rhode lsland?' asked Mr.. Nell
son. who pointed out that Mr., Aldrich
thought the pending bill sufficient,
while Mr.. Cummins demanded change
of the language
Mr.. Cummins admitted the existence
of such gulf. and expressed the feas
that it never would be bridged. He
later expressed hope that Mr.. Aldrich
would consent 10 preserve what is good
and reject what is bad in the bill.
VAIN hope elaculated Mr.. Bailey.
w hlIc Mr. CumHlns WAS discussing
the changes made in the original draft
of the bill, Mr.. Aldrich said Mr.. Cum
Minis himself had been among the per
sons who had been called into consul
tation by the president. Mr., Cummins
replied that he would not enter INTO
an explanation of the conference He
recalled. however. that Senator Elkins
had developed a discussion as to whcth-
er 1t would be possible TO compel trunk
lines TO furnish equipment TO coal
roads,
In vain did MIR. Bailey urge the in
terest that would attach To a full rev
elation as 10 what had occurred, He
knew, he said, that Mr.. Elkins and Mr.,
Cummins had been there, and he was
anxious to know whether Mr. Aldricb.
also, was present Mr. Aldrich replied
that he had not been a member of the
conference.
81 must be silent as to the meet
ing said Mr.. Cummins; II do not
like TO recall painful memories.
Mr., Cummins contended that If The
present provision regarding traffic
agreements was accepted there would
be from 100000 TO 100000 such
agreements were accepted there would
possible for the commission 10 invcstl-
gate any appreciable portion of them.
The inevitable result. he contended,
would be the destruction of competition
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