Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-03-17
e1st CONGRESS.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

schedule of the roads, whether under
agreement or not, could go into eHecl
without the approval of the commis-
sion.
IF that is not made clear in the Dill
/ am perfectly willing to have it made
so" said Aldrich.
Responding to this statement Cum
minis said that the only way to remedy
the defect was to withdraw the repeal
ing provision. To this suggestion AL
drich responded that he had found
himself in such disagreement with
Cummins that it was impossible IN
committee to go into discussion with
him as to the provisions of the bill.
The Iowan replied that he never
made a single suggestion as to an
amendment in committee and that Al
drich heard none from him. Conse-
ouently. he was quite unable to un-
derstand why Aldrich made the state
ment. In this connection the Presi-
dents name was brought into the dis
cussion. Cummins still was discuss
ing the terms of the alleged antitrust
repeal and referring to some of the
provisions when Aldrich said that
such was the purpose of the Presi-
dent and the attorney general
This statement brought Nelson to
his feet with strenuous protest. THE
senator must not hide behind the
President he said excidedly. THAT
is small business and it won't do. That
is not the way to legislate."
Aldrich was also somewhat excited
when he replied that he disavowed any
intention of taking refuge behind any
one.
at is not my habit he said, ito hide
behind the President or anyone else.
have opposed a President when it took
a great deal of courage to do so. If the
bill doesn't carry out the purpose of its
authors let's make it do it. The measure
has been recommended by the President
and by at least one ex-President and it
ty and | presume also the party of the
senator from Iowa"
He declared tht he did not say what
the President wanted, but only that the
bill was prepared by the attorney gen.
eral by the direction Of the President He
reiterated his independence, as a senator.
Of any outside interference and asserted
that while it was the habit of the execu-
tive officials to prepare many measures
for the action of Congress, he hoped no
senator would be prejudiced simply be
cause of executive suggestion.
Here Root called attention to the pro-
vision of the constitution requiring the
President to recommend legislation to
Congress and he contended that the
Presidents action on the pending bill was
in accordance with this provision. Bacon
took issue with the New York senator
When Cummins resumed he read from
Presidents Taft's speech of acceptance
and from his speech at Des Moines, to
the effect that the interstate commerce
laws should be amended so as to permit
railroads to make traffic agreements if
approved by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. In one of these speeches
the President said that in this way thu
operation of tho Sherman antitrust law
to such traffic agreements would be
abolished
The senator from Rhode Island" COM
mented Cnmmins, ito escape the odium
which attaches to reporting bill for
such a purpose, denies that it is intended
that the bill should relieve railroad cor
porations from the application of the
antitrust law" Cummns will continue
his speech tomorrow.