The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-16
Great Struggle Is Anticipated
When Presidents Measure
Is Introduced.
SENATE INSURGENTS
PROMISE ACTIVITY
They Wish More Drastic Law.
Conservatives Are Bitterly
Opposed.
By JOHN SNURE.

Stormy times in Congress are ahead
OF the Administrations railroad bill
which has been introduced in the Senate
and House and which is one Of the
chief pieces Of proposed legislation that
President TAFT IS backing.
Indications now are that the great
est struggle Of the session viii rage
around the question Of additional leEis-
latiOH for the regulation Of railroads
At least it promises to hold a place on
the boards second in importance only
70 the BaIiinger-Pinchot controversy
and 70 the insUTgeut battle In the
House
For a time the prospects were that
the national Incorporation measure
wouId be the principal bone OF con-
tention
But that is no longer the situation
Within he last few days there have
been distinct signs that the national in
corporation measure viii not be pressed
by the Administration this session The
opposition to it in Congress. in both
houses. is great and there Is no rea-
son now 10 believe it can be passed
this session. But the President hopes 10
see his railroad bill enacted into law
II VIII be strongly urged and on the
ONE hand It VIII meet. as 10 a number
vigorous resistance
War On Railroad Bill.
The real war on the railroad bill viii
be waged in the Senate How much
trouble Il viii have IN the House viii
depend on developments as 10 settling
the Republican legislative program in
Republican caucus II that plan falls
through. there VIII be plenty Of House
opposition 10 features Of the. bill. At
any rate the insurgent Senator's viii
be in much stronger position to oppose
de-ails OF the bill than viii the mem
bers Of the House Two Of the inSur-
gent Senator's are on the Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee, Cummins
ard CIapp- They viii no doubt fight
20 make the bin more drastic than II
Is now and they VIII carry the fight
TO the floor If beaten in committee On
the floor, they viii have plenty OF in
sUrgent support
1t may be expected that Senator Cum
Minis as a member Of The Interstate
Commerce Committee viii endeavOr TO
have the Administration bill made
stronger as to a number OF points in
which L differs from the bill he has
introduced. For instance, his bill makes
p uniform classification Of frCIglIs man
datOry- The Administration Dill gives
the commission power over the claSSi-
fcatfon Of freights. but il Is not man
datory- on Il to exercise IT, The Cum
Minis bin presCribes a formula for stat
ing freight rates The Administration
bill Is silent on this point II may De
expected there VIII be contention over
this question. and a strong SHOEL mace
to Get the bill amended so rs 10 pro-
vide for It The same IS true OF Ine
provision in the Cuu1llnS OH Wnicn
would give the commission the riSht 70
fix the relation Of rates between com
r7711nitfes The Administration bill does
not make such provision
Bitterly Oppose Authority
Conservative Senators viii bitterly OP-
pose any effort to confer such authority
on tho commission and it IS likely to
he an interesting matter Of conflict IN
committee and on the -ioor-
Some of the insurgents take me
ground the Administration bill IS De
fective in its provisions as 70 GIVING
SINNERS the right TO route shipments
over Joint routes II provides InaL snip
pers shall have such right only as 20
Joint routes which have been estao-
lished BY the Interstate Commerce COM
mission and on which there are through
rates. II is argued that this does not
20 far enough for the reason InaI DuI
Snal. percentage Of the joint routes
have been established 10y the commits
sion
Then there il the matter of the ap-
prOvaI. Of the commission before an In
Traa So in rates or change IN rates can
be made. The Administration bill viii
be attacked IN that II gives the com
mission the power 10 suspend pro-
posed increase for sixty days. Then, II
The Investigation Of the commission Is
not completed, the Increase viii go into
effect u Is urged as a reason for be
Heving This is not adequate that the
commission would not have the time in
sixty days 10 make the necessary inves-
figHtiOD in some cases especially II the
railroads should des-rud on the com
rnfssionerS at once with q food Of in
cresses- The Cummius bill proposes to
make no such Limitation as to time
Features OF Bill.
Probably ore Of the features Of the
A administration bill. which will be most
G. tensives- debated in the Senate, VIII
relate TO traffic agreements by the
railroads The Administration oil would
allow --dffiC agreements Some Of the
Senator's who have given close study
10 the Administration bill say that un-
der its language the Interstate Com
--er-r Commission would have no aU-