Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-04
"INsURGENTs" COME TO SUP.
PORT OF PROVISION AND Ex-
PEcr IT'S PASSAGE.
HOPE TO GAIN SUPPORT - /,
OF DEMOCRATIC SENATOR.
Desire to Enact Law Seeking % Pr.
vent Greater Charge For Short Ths J,
Long Haul-Much Doubt Expresse
Over Final Passage Of BiII-Taf.
Still Discouraged.

Washington. May 4-The long and
attention from senators who hope to
have the railroad bill so amended as to
more carefully regulate alleged dis
elimination under present law. The Gin
surgents" republicans are taking the
lead in this agitation, and their pres
ent effort is to get a provision that will
receive the support Of the democratic
senators. Most of the democrats favor
legislation in the direction of prohib-
ition of greater charge for the short
than the long haul, but they do not
consider the Hepburn amendment suf-
fciently flexible.
The Hepburn amendment is the
pending provision, and will continue to
be basis of consideration until some
thing more generally acceptable can be
formulated. 1t is claimed that more
than twenty republicans will vote for
the amendment.
Blow For the President.
In view of the amazing turn things
nave taken, DOtU SlueS SAP1SsS eie'N
doubt today as to the passage of the
measure in any form at this session.
OF those who venture predictions to-
day probably majority express the
belief that the chances are in favor of
sidetracking of the whole railroad
| question. It's hard blow for the pres
| ident as matters stand right now and
| it looks as If the blow might be still
harder.
| There is a good deal Of disposition in
certain quarters to blame the president
for the collapse of the bill. The smash
| I'D has come with Taft a. thousand
miles away, figuratively if not quite
literally. At this time 1t Is suggested
| he might be summoning members OF
| congress to the White House by twos
and threes. Some say that he ought 70
| let certain leaders understand that II
they didn't stand by the guns they
might go shouting up the raln-spout
for river and liarbor improvements, and
some other things that require the ex-'
ecutive signature.
| But it's recalled that the president
has said it was his duty to recommend
and if congress failed to enact the re-
sponsibility would be on it.
| In the senate Mr.. Hepburn precipi-
tated the debate of the day by pre-
senting an amendment prohibiting a
greater charge for short than for long
hauls. He spoke at length In support
of his amendment. presenting many
| instances Of alleged discrimination.
Many Of his statements were chai-
lenged by Senator Aldrict, and con-
| troversy ensued, in which many sena-
| tors participated
AIdrich Makes Reply.
| Admitting that apparently there
| were some cases Of injustice. Mr.. AL
drich said the trouble was to find
| remedy. Declaring that many cities.
such as st. Paul. Kansas City and
Denver, had been built up by the rail-
roads, he asked Mr. Hepburn whether
he advocated their annihilation in the
interest, for instance, of some un-
known place in Idaho. He declares
that Mr.. Heyburns contentious, car
ried to their legitimate result. would
convert the great central part OF the
country into barren waste
That is the old siren song" respond
ed Mr.. Hepburn. He would not admit
its applicability, and declared that II
the terminal charges of the railroads
were fair and remunerative there
| could be no injustice in charging the
same prices for a shorter haul
| The Hepburn amendment was stlli
under consideration when the senate
adjourned
| Mr. Madden, of Illinois. in the house
offered the amendment to strike out
| the entire traffic agreement sectlofi.
BY a vote of 11o to 81 the amendment
was agreed to, many republicans vot-
| atcs q
insurgents voting against the Madden
proposition.
Wickersham Speaks For TAFT.
| The attacks which Attorney General
wickersham has made on the insur-
gent forces because of their attempts
tn change the bill from the form IN
which the administration presented II
have left no doubt as to the d1spleas-
ure which the administration feels over
the defeat of parts of the bill and the
reconstruction of the remainder
The regular forces have completely
lost control in both houses, in SO far
as their efforts are directed toward
nushing thru the administration legls-
| lation in it's original form. While the
| 6pht in the senate has been led by SEN
ators known as insurgents, there are
fully a score of regular republicans IN
i =
the body who refuse to- support the
.i,ar;cc,,, -n,!!!s!.s Rect program on the
railroad bill.
In the house the fight ceased to be an
Iinsurgent fight shortly after the bill
| went on the floor. Many OF the amend
ments made there were put in with the
aid of large force Of republicans for
merIy identified with the regular ranks
and In several cases the insurgents
have been badly split up.
| The president asked for the legisla-
/ ton legalizing traffic agreements In
the belief that such an amendment, II
properly safe-guarded, would be oi
value to the railroads and the COM
! ..erciaa interests Of the country. THIS
action Of the regular forces In the SEN
ate in throwing overheard this entire
section will make It difficult for them