The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-03-18

road bill, even though II might result
in an effort TO read him out OF party
Senator Cummins of Iowa, in effect
declared in the senate Tuesday lie
is making the initial speech on the
railroad bill, which after occupying
a place on the senate calendar for
Is days, was taken up today. The
bill is regarded by some senators as
the most important legislation before
congress.
The Iowa senator had proceeded
for only about two hours when he
asked leave to suspend until to.
day The leave was granted but Sen
ator Hale, chairman of the Republl.
can caucus should have notice here.
after that the bill be kept constant
ly before the senate
In language just as positive, Sena.
tor Bailey. declared the bill could not
be rushed and declared congress Is
liable to still be considering It when
dog days" arrive.
Cummins criticised the course Of
the president and declared his inten.
tion Of opposing the bin in its present
shape, even at the expense Of the ae-
we're displeasure of the chief execu-
tive. IF uncontradlcted and report
ed, and apparently authorized, state
ments of the newspapers be not in
error every republican at least will
be expected TO vote for 1t just as It
is unless he dares incur not only
executive displeasure but be banished
from the republican ranks said
Cummins.
Il do not speak of this phase of
the subject in the spirit of anger.
am conscious of no other sentiment
than the profound regret. recog.
nize 1t is not only the privilege, but
the duty of the president of the
United States to make such recon-
mendations to congress as in his
judgment will best promote the gen
eral welfare. Whether he Is within
his privilege or his duty when he un.
dertakes to prescribe this form which
legislation shall assume, may all be
doubted. His great predecessor per
thought that executive pro-
priety did not promote it, for when he
was dealing with the same subject in
his message at the beginning Of the
first session Of the 59th congress in
1905, he said:
1T Is not within my province TO
indicate the exact terms OF the law
which should be enacted, but / call
the attention OF congress to certain
conditions with which It is
desirable to deal.
Although the senator may be in
full sympathy with the broad pur-
pose which the executive proposes to
accomplish In a moment he asserts
his independent view Of the best way
10 accomplish the purpose lie finds
himself In direct conflict with the
president and he must choose between
losing a presidential favor and doing
4 thing as his conscience tells him It I
ought to be done
Declaring these to be extraordl-
nary circumstances in connection
with the origin of the bill. the Iowa
senator detailed a meeting last Aug
ist Of Attorney General Wickersham
n New York, with others, whom he
said. had undertaken to put into
shape the enactment Of various rec.
and the presidents
,earing upon railroad legislation. The
'eport, as made to the chief execu-
i've, was supposedly confidential he
aid, but as a matter of fact long be
ore It reached the president It had
allen into the hands of railroad men.
Discussing the progress OF the bin /
.fter It reached the president, Cum
nins declared It had been vastly
hanged. indeed, he declared
But for the birth mark Of the com
nerce court no one would recognize
he measure but those born in dog /
ays."
up there in New York these
hanges are attributed to the influence
4 railroad men which had been
rought to bear upon the president
nd the attorney general before Jan.
airy IA, when the bin was presented
, the chairman OF the committee on |
iterstate commerce"
He asserted that from the time the
leasure had been turned over to the
resident TO the time 1t left him. near
Z every railroad president IN the I
ountry had visited Washington and