The Washington herald., 1910-05-25

It looks as if the Senate leaders will
have removed within day or two the
last serious obstacle 10 the passage Of the
administration railroad bill.
The insurgents have been contending
for several days that they had the votes
to put through the Cummins amendment
giving the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion power TO approve all increases OF
rates before the same shall become ef-
fective
The Insurgents on one or two other oc-
casions in the career OF the railroad bill
have held victory almost in the palm Of
their hands. only 10 lose out through con-
cessions made by the Republican regu-
lars 10 their Democratic brethren.
Again the Republican leaders and some
Of the Democratic Senators have reached
tentative understanding which will
yield the necessary votes TO insure the
defeat Of the Cummins insurgent amend
ment.
MIR. Martins Amendment.
The basis Of the present understanding
is an amendment by Senator Martin
time for which the Interstate Com
merce Commission may suspend any in
creased rate from 100 days to six months.
This proposed extension was agreeable
10 some Of the neaT-insuTEents and a
majority Of the Democrats The insur-
gents. however. are satisfied with moth
ing less than the Cummlns amendment
in the form in which IL was offered by
its author.
An understanding also has been reached
between the Democrats and regular Re
publicans by which the last three sec
tions OF the railroad bill providing for
the regulation of stock and bond issues
shall be eliminated.
With the Cummins amendment defeated
and the last three sections of the bill
eliminated. the long drawn-out fight over
the railroad bin will be nearing the end.
CumminS Discusses Rates.
The increase in rates by the railroads
Of the country during the past few months
was discussed by Senator Cummins when
consideration of the administration rail-
way bin was resumed I'm the Senate. The
Iowa Senator said these increased rates,
which are general throughout the coun-
try, are shocking 20 the sense Of every
citizen having the welfare Of the country
at heart. He said he did not mean 20
give the impression that these increases !
are necessarily wrong, but he said they
disclose a new situation IN this country.
Senator Cummins addressed the Senate
IN support Of his amendment which re-
Quires the approval of any change in the !
rates by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission before put into effect by the rail- !
roads. He declared that there is no other |
question In the bill that is so important /
from the public standpoint. Since the
passage Of the rate act Of 1906. the SEN !
atOr said, there had been a demand on /
the part Of shippers and the public gen
orally that this power be lodged in the /
Senator Cummins denied /
that his amendment would do any injury /
to the railroads. and he maintained that |
1t admittedly fayors the shippers
Opposes Law-fxed Rates.
Senator Smith Of Michigan. said he
aid not believe IL wise 20 fix arbitrarily
a rate by law, and he expressed the
amendment OF the Senator from Iowa.
Senator Rayner contended that the exist
ing law gives the commission the power
10 fix a maximum rate, and he said the
Senator from Michigan voted for It.
Senator Cummins said he would rather
rust the government TO fix rates than
my railroad or the face OF the earth.
Senator Smith said he did vote for the
'ailway act Of 1906, and that he had even
made progress since that time. but that
Re was unwilling to suspend permanently
/ change in rate until some government
could pass upon IT, He con-
ended that there should be a definite
line set for the approval Of the rate.
Dhe Senator from Michigan made the
'oint that when the State can regulate
he service OF a railroad. when a legis-
allure can change the basis Of taxation.
With the question Of hours and wages
involved, It Is not right for the govern
nent arbitrarily 20 fix rates. He ex-
ressed the belief that the people Of
lichigan prefer a thousand times PROMPT
ervice and good equipment TO low rates.