The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-21
lOUTLOOK FOR RAILWAY BILL
SENATE LEADERS CONFIDENT
IT Will Pass NEXT WEEk.
Expect 10 Reach Agreement Monday for
FlRal Interchangeable ConIldent %
Adopting the Gunamlns Amendment
-NOS Understandings WIN Democrats.

FlRal Vste-lnsurgents Coniatent .
Adopting the GWnsmlns Amendmen
Nod ndersiandlng WIN Democrats
WASHINGTON May 20 The Republican
, leaders in the senate are very oOnhden
Of reaching an agreement on Monday 10
, final vote on the railway bill and al
, pending amendments before the end o
next week. They believe that the bil
will pass the Senate Friday or Saturday
a. tho latest. The indications are thai
II will be substantially in the form thai
Il Ia az present except that the Last thre'
sections relating to stocks and bonds vii
probably be eliminated. The Demo
cratic Senators are generally opposed "a
the three sections.
The test Of strength will come on the
Cummina amendment. which proposes
20 give the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the power TO approve increases
Of rates filed with the commission before
such increases shall become elective.
II 10 possible that some sort OF q COM
promise on this feature will be reached.
but the insurEent Republicans feel very
confident Of putting the amendment
through in the form in which Senator
Cummins has introduced it,
The railway ball was not before the
Senate to-day and will not come up again
until Monday. The naval appropriation
bill was considered for nearly five hours
and then laid aside until Monday. The
only reference to railway legislation was
q statement made by senator Johnston
Of Alabama in explanation Of a paper he
circulated on tho Democratic side yester-
day for signatures which was intended
10 state what the Democratic senators
were prepared to accept and support in
the bin.
The Democratic Senators were Appar-
entity much disturbed to-day over a state
ment in the morning newspapers that
they were seeking 70 form an alliance
with senator Aldrich and the regular
Republicans on the railway bill. The
Democrats are not united ~ 10 the action
they should take on the bill. II was with
a view Of reaching an understanding
among themselves that the paper was
prepared and circulated yesterday. Some
Of the Democratic senators declined 90
siRn It and senator Johnston withdrew
It for the time being.
The senator from Alabama read the
paper in the senate to-day. Il appeared
20 be an agreement among the Demo-
Gratis 10 vote in favor of the motion to be
made by senator Hughes of Colorado
to strike out the last three sections reiat-
ing 20 stocks and bonds and 20 support
an amendment by senator simmons
Of North Carolina IN regard 70 water
transportation rates. senator Johnston
explained that thu paper was not drawn
by senator AldriCh. nor a. the result
OF any agreement with him, hut that Il
Vas a little family matter among the
Democrats.
While senator Johnston did not say
who was the author % IL. Il was stated
unofioiAlly that senator Stone Of Mis-
sour drew the agreement. senator john
stOn declared that he had not had a con-
verSAtiOn with senator Aldrich a. any time
yesterday concerning the railway bill,
Il u said unOficiAlly that the oonveraa-
ton in which the two senators engaged
Yesterday afternoon Just after the SEN
atOT from Alabama withdrew the paper
from circulation, when senator Aldrich
crossed over TO the Democratic side and
took a seat next 90 senator Johnston
and er Eaged hum In earnest talk. related
20 the tail 81 the comet.
The senator from Alabama also de-
clared that he had never heard 81 any
implied understanding that Senators were
20 have an opportunity 10 vote on the
statehood bill. hut Il may he asserted
that senator bailey has said that he will
insist on an opportunity being given "a
49, nd TOO 81 h.
Republican senators who are most active
in bringing about an agreement for dis
posing Of the railway bill AZ an early date
saii this afternoon that IL was their under
standing that an opportunity would he
afforded for a vote on the Statehood bill.
senator Johnston declared that tho
newspaper statements this morning as
IN the attitude Of the Democratic senators
were very badly distorted.
senator Hale made a brief CUntribu- !
ton 10 the discussion. He said that the |
senate would bs very much relieved /
by the confession just made The Sen
atOr from Maine declared that IN the !
future absurd reports purpOrting 10 |
come from authoritative sources att he I
White House and from Caucuses will be .
received with proper allowance He /
said that he hoped there would never .
BE- any -dickering between the two sides .
Of the chamber with the object of obtain
ing an agreement to vote.
7 trust. continued the senator from
Maine. that while / am a member 81 the
senate We shall never witness such a
performance a. We saw here the other day
when senators were cOngTegated on that
eide % the chamber referring to
the stampede which led 10 the adOp-
ton Of the long and short haul amend
ment AS the result Of that incident.
the SneatOr from Rhode Island MIR
Aldrichl. and the senator from Georgia
MIR BacOnl bOasted that each had
cheated the other while the senator
from Idaho MIR Heyburnl. alleged that
he had been cheated by both
senator Hale concluded by expressing
the hope that the newspapers would
lot Senators alone and not give the i'm