Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-03
Outlook Discouraging to
Friends of Administration.
POWER OF THE INSURGENTS
Coalition With the Democrats Con.
trolls the Situation.
PRESIDENT PLACES THE BLAME
Declares the Country Shall Be In.
formed of the Responsibility
for Failure.

The friends OF the administration in
Congress are very much worried over the
present and prospective status OF legisIa-
tion advocated by the President and
deemed necessary for the welfare OF the
republican party. The emasculation In
the Senate of the railroad bill through
the coalition of democrats and insurgent
republicans and the radical amendment OF
the bill In the House by the same means
is the cause Of the apprehension, taken In
connection with the unsatisfactory condi-
tiOn of other measures of legislation
pending.
Sinister inferences are being drawn by
the Presidents friends from the persistent
attitude of hostility maintained by the
fnsurgent republicans. In the face of re-
peated fair promises, the insurgents are
found doggedly aligned with the demo-
Gratis on important votes
They don't vote as they talk is the
verdict of the administration men against
the President heartily and for all his
policies. yet never lose an opportunity
to hamstring one of the policies when It
comes to vote
Conspiracy Is Feared.
some OF the frlends or the administro-
ton are beginning to fear that there is
well defined conspiracy to embarrass
President Taft and the regular republi-
can organization in the House. carried
on by the insurgents for their own fac
tional ends.
Old fashioned ideas of party regularity
cannot reconcile the spectacle of repub-
licans persistently voting with the oppo-
sition party and at the same time claim
ing to be with the administration.
The inevitable effect of such a course
It IS contended, will be to discredit the
administration and the organization be-
fore the country to disparage the work
or this Congress and to send the party
before the people in the coming campaign
ton.
President Taft, talking over the long,
distance phone yesterday with the sena-
tors engaged in the conference that de-
cioed to emasculate the railroad bni,
made it very plain that the responsibility
for the mutilation of that measure will
rest upon the insurgents. and that the
country must be told plainly where the
blame rests.
Other Measures Doomed.
Other administration measures pending
in House or Senate are likely to undergo
the same course of treatment, it is feared.
A prolonged session of Congress will in
evttably result, and today senator's and
representatives were talking about the
middle of July for adjournment instead
OF June 10. with the possibility that Au-
gust may find the solons still in WASH
ington.
Discoura cement as to the enactment
of comprehensive railroad rate law
weighed upon the minds of the admin
istrations friends in the House and
Senate today. AS the bills stand they
would be satisfactory to no one group
Of men engaged in their formulation.
Furthermore the attitude of the two
houses and of the factions in each
house discourages hope of adjustment
through conference committees. Stub
bornness of a degree very disheartening
seems to actuate the contending fao-
tons, especially the insurgents.
But far more significant fact in the
mind of some of the observers is the
apparent weakening of control by the
party leaders inthe Senate. Whether the
coming retirement of the old-time leaders
casts its shadow before, weakening the
power that once was supreme and en-
couraging the insurgents. or what
not, the fact was demonstrated yester-
day. il is seid. tnat the leaders cannot
lead.
Insurgents Jubilation.
'Ichabod, Their glory has departed"
lantly.
1t was not so during the pendency OF
the tariff bill. The organization was su-
preme and ruled the Senate with an iron
hand The insurgents with their demo-
cratic allies dashed time and time
again against q solid majority of nine ON
the other side and fell back disconnected.
In Senator Aidrich's room yesterday
afternoon the same insurgents who fought
the losing fight last summer sat calm and
stubborn. debating their own terms to
their former Bismarck, and hearing them
accepted with President Taft's acuuies-
cence uttered over the long-distance
phone.
Acceptance was necessary because II
was shown plainly to the leaders that
the led had the votes to put across
their amendments
Better not rile them, they would
put over some more of the same kind
only more so.''
Doffs Hat to Combine.
There is no dominant faction in the Son-
ate today so far as the pending bill is con-
cerned, and probably not for other admin
istration measures. There is a dominant
coalition of supposed antagonistic fac
tions and parties. and the titular head
Of the republican party last evening
doffed his hat to IL.
The House bill is q hodgepodge OF
amendments put on in desperation, and
with the hope that they could be adj
justed in conference. But the situation
in the Senate does not warrant such hope.
Every radical amendment the House has
put on is likely to stay on In conference.
In this connection ii is said the House
will elect the conferees, instead OF having
them appointed by the Speaker, and that
Of a surety the radical element will DOM
mate the conference.
Regulars Hope to Table
the CumminS Amendment