The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-12
Insists That Republican
Promis es Be
Fulfilled.
LEADERS YIELD
TO HIS WISHES
President Bluntly Tells Aldrich
Elkins, Cannon and the Others
That Provision Covering
Watering Of Stocks Must
Be Placed in Railroad
Bill.
special 10 The Tirles. .pisnatct. l

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1
Washington. June 1l.--President
Taft put his foot down to-day and in
sisted that at least some effort be
made to comply with the Republican
platform pledge of Legislation against
the watering Of stocks.
Consequently. 1t was announced at
the White House late this afternoon
that the conferees on the railroad bill
had agreed to substitute in lieu of the
clauses providing for Federal control
of capitalization OF common carriers
provision for the appointment. by the
President of commission to study
the entire question of stock watering
and report at the short session of
Congress in December.
1t is understood that this cornpro-
mise Will be satisfactory to both
houses and that perhaps the most i'm
portant obstacle to an early agree
ment Will thus be removed.
In the view of the President, as
expressed TO callers to-day, the cap
italization clauses in the Senate bill.
which were abandoned in the effort to
get Democratic votes. admirably met
the pledges of the party. The House
provisions along the same line Were
not so satisfactory II had been urged
upon the President that all efforts to
get any legislation on the subjec,
would have to be abandoned because
OF the opposition of the Democrats
and some of the Insurgents in the
Senate to the plan embodied in the
Senate measure
Several Senators who had seen the
President and urged political expe-
dience upon him. quoted him as being
willing in the circumstances to aban-
don altogether the idea of covering
stock watering In the pending bin.
This morning, however, the Presi.
.ent got ready to act and no quickly
made IL plain that he would agree TO
no such thing. Sunlmoning into con-
ference at the White House Senator'S
Elkins and Aldrich, the Republican
senatorial conferees. Representative
Mann, chairman of the House con-
ferees; Attorney-General W!ckersham
and Speaker Cannon, he bluntly in
formed them he would not consent to
form pledge as was proposed.
Something must be done said the.
President. ito carry out the party
pledge"
A long discussion followed, during
which Chairman Mann confessed that
he did not know anything about the
matter of stock watering and that he
believed the main body of Congress
was equally ignorant on the subject.
In the circumstances, it was urged
that 1t was idle, not to say dangerous.
for Congress. in the absence of definite
knowledge OH the subject. to attempt
to legislate. Out of this confession
grew the compromise which was at
length put into shape, and agreed to
by those present at the conference.
To Act Intclligently.
1t seemed to be the consensus Of
opinion that the compromise would also
be satisfactory to the members of both
branches of Congress. AS one official
put 1t this evening. under the commis-
sion plan it will be possible to get at
the facts and then. by sympathetic
analysis" of them, to present report
on which an intelligent bill may be
framed. It is believed that such a
commission. after couple of weeks
study of the question. will be able to
frame report that will not only meet
the legislative exigency, but will at
the same time prove a fine campaign
document for the Republican party in
the coming congressional fight.
1t is believed that the commission
plan will also meet the objections of
the Democrats to the capitalization
plan of the railroad bill that it is a
violation of States rights. Likewise, if
the compr on1ise is acceptable to Con-
gress. it will hasten along adjourn
ment, which is the great end towards
which all of the congressman are now
working.