The Cairo bulletin., 1910-03-17
WAS SHARrER YESTERDAY
THAN AT ANY TImE SINCE
IT BEGAN.
BILL GAN Be AMENDED.
Declares Aidrich, Pushed by Cum.
Minis Criticism of Supplrters'
Action in Trying to Rush
Bill Through.

senate on the administration railroaa
bill. the bitter criticisms OF the ac
ton of the supporters OF the bill il
trying TO put the measure through
without amendement, excited f1tn
Senator Aldrich the admission tina!
the bill could be amended.
This statement was made during
the second day OF Senator Cummins
speech attacking the BILL but not I'm
til after the friends Of tie measure
had been accused of trying 20 hide
behind the president, and the fact
that it had been drafted at his dl.
recton.
President 10 Mentioned.
For more than two hours the presi
dent figured in the discussion and
for a time his title, if not his name
was handled about with freedom that
amounted to almost reckless ness.
In this portion of the debate, Sena-
tors Aldrich, Bailey, Cummins, Root,
Elkins and Bacon figured conspicu-
ously
Cummns contended that the pro.
vision referring to traffic agreements
would render them legal without sub
mission to the commission. He as
serted that there had been a con-
spicuous si'ence in the committee on
this subject and thereup0n Crawford
turned to Aldrich, who is member
Of the committee on interstate COM
nierce, and fqunsrloned hin ais to his
Interpretation Of THE meaning Of the
provision.
The Whole TRUTH Interrupted
Bailey before Aldrich could reply, is
that the intention G. the provision
for the repeal of the antitrust law
is to reverse the supreme court of
the United States, The effect and
purpose is 10 take the railroads from
under the supreme court"
Aldrich Starts debate.
Aldirch refuted the intimation Of
the Texan and from this colloquy
rose a general discussion as to wne:h-
er it had been the original intention
to include the railroads in the origi-
nal Sherman antitrust bill. Aldrich
sair that no senator VINO had voted
for the Sherman law had the slightest
idea thaat the railroads were EN-.
braced with It's terms.
But all the same you are now
4rty IN toll 70 ne
Grated Bailey.
''That is not true" said Aldrich.
"The senator from Texas is mistaken
as to the purpose Of the proposed law,
as is the senator from Iowa
Cummins would not admit that ne
could be mistaken, for he declared
the purpose Of the law was fwitten
broadly on its face. There could be
no doubt that it repealed the law re-
garding traffic agreemtns, he said.
EIkins Refutes Contention.
Elkins undertook to refute this con
tention by reading the provision re-
gardng agreements, and in SO doing
broadly asserted that every one must
know the railroads violate the law
every day. This assertion was chal-
lenged by several senators, but the
West Virginia senator held to his po-
siton, and asked, NOW why embar-
rass the railroads."
True, true,' responded Cummins
under his breath.
Elkins contended that even though
agreements were apthorized by the
pending bill, the commission still
would have control of the rates, and
even more comprehensive control
than under the present law
1T Is not the agreement that is
powerful said he, 'but the rates
themselves, and so long as the COM
mission controls the rates it is in
command of the situation
Aldrich referred to the supposed al
lance between the 'insurgent" Re-
publicans and Democrats, and then
after a brief protest from Cummins
over his method OF presenting the
matter. Aldrch declared his opinion
was that no schedule of roads, wheth-
er under agreement or not, could go
into effect without the approval OF
the commission.
Would Make II Right.
IF that is not clear in the bill,
am willing to have It made so, said
Aldrich.
Responding to this statement, Cum
Minis declared the only way to rem
edy the defect was to withdraw the
repeating provision. To this sugges-
tion Aldrich responded that he had
found himself in such disagreement
with Cummins that 1t had been I'M
possible In the committee to 30 into
q discussion with him as to the pro
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(Concluded { i Second PaEe.)