New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-03
From The Tribune Bur,au.l
Washington. Nav :

Washington. May 2
IN GRAVE DANGER-The danger
which threaten the success of the chiei
! feature of the Presidents legislative pro-
gramme. the interstate commerce bill seem
to increase rather than decrease. and It's
most earnest supporters are compelled tc
admit that it is in grave. danger of COM
pletA failure The Senate insurgents have
attained such power that they lack only a
few votes of controlling the Senate on al
questions where they can command the
solid support of the Democrats and NTH an
election at hand and the success Of the
Taft administration at stake. 1t is not diff
cult 10 secure the united support OF the
minority. Little by little the Senate lead
ers are yielding those sections Of the inter
state commerce bill regarding which there
is most serious controversy. and while they
have not yet lost hope, there is grave dan
ger Of failure for the entire measure, either
through its being loaded with impracticdble
amendments by the insurgents or through
the elimination by the regulars of its fun
damental provisions, As told In these DIS
patches, it has been practically decided 70
eliminate Sections 13. Il and u, and Sections
and u seem destined to go by the board.
II is feared that the surgent-Democratte
coalition will force the adoption Of the
Cunr1ins admendent TO Section :. which
would compel the Interstate Commerce
Commission 10 approve in advance all IN
creases in rates involved in traff1c agree
ment, and which would. in the opinion OF
the regulars. render the provision impos-
sibIe of enforcement. II the insurgents
achieve q victory in this regard II VIII
doubtless defeat both Section and Section
z which applies TO mergers. the two being
regarded as interre!evant.
LONG AND SHORT HAUL-Another
grave obstacle TO the enactment of the
bill is the determination Of the insurgents
the Democrats and certain regular Repub-
licans from the inter-mountain states to
compel the adoption of long and short
haul clause of so serious and farreaching
character that il is questionable II the
President would feel he could approve it.
At present there is an effort TO reach
COMPROMISE between this extreme and the
views Of the regulars, whereby the Inter
state Commerce Commission would be au-
thorized 70 waive the provision in those
instances where water competition can be
shown actually TO exist. The prospect of
success for this compromise is. however.
far from bright. AS has been told in these
DISPATCHES. the insistence by the House on
either the physical valuation amendment
or the inclusion OF telephone and tele
graph companies would prove sufficient 70
kill the bill in conference, SO that the
gravity OF the situation cannot be eHag-
gerated. The regular leaders appear TO
have lost their nerve, and II they DO not
speedily regain II they will lose control
Of the situation in the Senate as COM
pletely as the House leaders have lost
control at their end Of the Capitol There
is some hope that the situation may i'm
rrove when the President returns. al
though his influence over the Senate in
s1Irgents IS not potent II the bill must
be practically enlasculated, il is question
able IL the President will care to have it
come before him for signature.
THE DEMOCRATIC CUNNING--Quick
~ Seize ,Irou the oruortl,rEtv offered by