The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-19
RAPS R. R. BILL
AldriCh Accused of HIDING
Behind President.
HE RFFUTfS IAPUTATION
Insurgents Open Fire on Administra-
ton Measure and Force Admis-
sion That the Bill Can
be Amended.


shsrpest debate yet provoked in the
senate on the administration railroad
bhl. or on this subject In previous ses-
sions. bitter criticism OF the action Of
supporters OF the bill in trying to put
the measure through without amend
meut elected from Senator Aldrich
en admission that the bill could be
amended.
This statement was made during
the second day OF Senator Cummins'
speech attacking the bill. but not UNI
III after friends OF the measure had
been accused OF trying to hide behind
the president. and the fact that It had
been drafted at his direction Fer
more than two hours the president
hSured in the discussion. and Tor n
time his title. II not his name. was
banded about with a freedom that
amounted almost to recklessness In
this portion of the debate. Senators
Aldrich. Bailey. Cummins Root e
kins and Bacon figured conspiCIously.
senator Cummins contcnded that
the proposed provision referring 20
| TRAFFIC agreements would render them
~ XII VII AlNN|NN NNN'AN NNNAAANrlWn NNN NNf
commission. He asserted there had
been conspicuous silence in the com
mittee on this subject. and thereupon
NJ. Crawford turned 20 Senator Al
| drich. who is member OF the com
mittce on interstate commerce and
questioned him as ia his interprcta-
tion OF the meaning ~ the provision.
Aidrich Pefutes lnputatiors.
The whole truth" interrupted Sir.
Bailey. before Mr. Aldgich could reply
is that the intention Of the provision
for the repeal Of the antitrust law a.
TO reverse the supreme court OF the
United States The effect and purpose
is TO take the railroads from under TIE
supreme court
Mr. Aldrich Routed the intmation
Of tho Texas senator. and from this
oolloquy arose a general discussion as
10 whether 70 had been the original
intention to include the railroads IN
the original sherman antitrust bill
during which Mr. Aidrich said that no
senator who had votcd for ~ hal the
slightest flee that the railroads werC
emharrcd with its terms.
"But all the same YOU arc now try
Ing to take .t'm or; ~ e." he roitor
atei
u beS pardon. ro~ron iei Mr. Al
drich "hut that is not true. The sena
tor from TeAas is mistaken a. % the
purpose cf f1e proposed law as is Tho
senator from Iowa
Mr C1w-ins would not admit tha-
he coulf he mistaken. for ne decirrcl
tho purpose O. the law was written
broadly on its face There could Dc rs
doubt ttat r. repealed the law regard
ing traffic agreements. he said
Violates law Every DAY.
Senator Elkins undertook to refut,
this contention by reading the provis
ion regarding tho agreements. and In
so doing broadly asserted that every
one must know the railroads violate
the law every DAY. This assertion was
challenged by several senators. but
the West Virginia senator held to his
position. ami asked. now why embar
rass the railioads?"
True true" responded Mr. Cum
Minis. half under his breath.
Mr.. Aldrich referred 10 a supposed
alliance between the "iusurgent" Re
pubiicans and the Democrats. and
then. after a brief protest from Mr.
Cummins over this method OF present
ing the matter. the Rhode Island sen
ator declared Il 10 be his opinion that
no schedule OF the roads. whether un
der agreement or not could go init
effect without the approval Of the
commission
If that IS not made clear in the bin
I am perfectly willing TO have It made
so" said Mr. Aldrich.
Responding to this statement. Mr.
Gun Minis declared the only way Il
remedy the defect was TO withdraw
the repeating provision
In this connection the PRESIDENT
name was brought into the discussion
Mr. Cummlns still was discussing the
terms OF the alleged antitrust repeal
and referring TO some of the provis
ions. when Mr. Aldrich stated that
such was the purpose OF the presi
dent and the attorney general"
This statement brought Mr. Nelson
to his feet with strenuous protest.
The senator must not hide behind
the president" he said eXcitedly /:
that is small business and IT won't
do. That Is not the way TO illustrate"
Mr.. Aldrich was also excited when
he replied. He disavowed any fnten.
ton OF taking refuge behind any one.
1T is not my habit" he said. ito
hide behind the president or any one
else. have opposed a president when
\
so. If the bin doesn't carry out the
purpose OF its authors let's make II
do it. The messke has been recon
mended by the president and by al
least one eX-president. and II was ap
proved by the platform OF my party
and / presume also the party OF this
senator from Iowa"