Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-04
Action of Senate Yesterday Be-
speaks Defeat for Several Of
Presidents Pet Bills.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANK
AND STATEHOOD IN DANGER
Only One Conservation Measure
Offered by Ballinger Has
Passed Lower House.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The action
OF the Senate in eliminating sections
seven and twelve of the railroad bill
late yesterday afternoon is taken to
mean that President Taft's pet meas
ures are all to be defeated at this ses-
SION Conservative statesmen now fig-
ure thus on net results:
l.. The railroad bill. the keystone Of
the legislative program, will go into
conference and pass over to the short
session of Congress next winter The
Senate and House bills are widely de-
vergent in their provisions and corr
promise agreement now seems hopeless.
The postal savings bank bill
doubtless will be made Objectionable
TO the President when action is taken
in the House. The Senate conferrees
will be charged with the task of elimin-
ating the clause that prevents invests
ment IN per cent. bonds. 1t is also
likely to go over in conference.
3. The statehood bill of the Senate
differs materially from that passed by
the House. The indications are that
While the Senate acts ON it's own meas
ure, the House will refuse to accept II.
thereby making completed legislation
impossible.
4. But one Of the nine conservation
bills prepared by Secretary Ballinger
has yet reached the Senate calendar.
1t Is doubtful whether any of the bills
will become law at this session. i'm
less the investigation of the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy is speedily termin-
ated
The defeat of the two important
clauses of the railroad bill will have no
effect in shortening the struggle be-
tween the regulars and insurgents r.
is proposed by the leaders to also strike
out the three sections relating to capt.
talization and the issuance of stocks
and bonds. No conclusion has been
reached on that point, but the insbr-
gents will oppose any motion in that
direction.
Senator Cummins is determined to
have test vote on his latest amend
ment. which provides that all increased
rates must be approved by the Inter
state Commerce Commission before be-
coming operative. He will offer that
amendment to section nine of the bill
/ Il
1 road bill as it will come from Congress
in an emasculated form was suggested
to President Taft here today. The
! President would not discuss the matter
/ in any way, however. saying laughing
| ly he is not as familiar with the bill
as it stands today as he was when 1t
was first presented to Congress.
The President added that he would
go over the bill carefully. and his future
action would depend entirely on the
shape in which the measure finally
passes
Mr. Taft at the conclusion of break
I fast spoke briefly. He said he was
| glad to come to st. Louis because hs
| thought he was always welcome. He
referred to the fact that the Com
merclal Club, of st. Louis. had visited
| Panama some years ago and had
warmly Endorsed the canal project He
! said he hoped the club would lind an
opportunity to go again.
1T needs two trips continued tlls
| President Ito the isthnus to under
| stand what is being done there; -
realize the enormous enterprise thR -
being carried on by the army engineers
| without noise, without advertising, and
| am glad to say without SANDER Or
| scandal.
1T is of inestimable benefit to have
men in charge of a work like this in
| whom the people have absolute faiti-
Slanderers. blackmailers and makers OF
scandal are met by the high confidence
| the people have in the army engineers,
| and their wares are no longer mar
| ketable.
| The long and short haul question ~
receiving close attention from senator's
who hope to have the railroad bill SO
amended as to more carefully regulate
alleged determinations under the pres
ent law. The 'insurgent" Republicans
are taking the lead in this agitafion
and their present effort is to get g
provision that will receive the support
of the Democratic senator's.
| Most of the Democrats favor legisla-'
ton in the direction OF prohibition
| Of a greater charge for short haul
than a long haul, but they do not con-
slider the Hepburn amendment sufit-
cientlv flexible. TIE Hepburn amend
ment is the pending provision and VIII
continue to be the basis of consldera-
ton until something more generally ac-
ceptable can be formulated.
| II is claimed that more than twenty
Republicans will vote for the amend
:nent.