Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-19
For Four Days He VoIIeyed and
Numbered Against the Adj
miniStratlon Measure.
CONSOLIDATION OF ROADS.
Question of Paternity OF Provision
Raised-Senator Nelson Thought
II Was an Orphan.

Washington. March 1S.-After hold
ing the floor for four days. Senator
Cummins today completed his speech
opposing the administration railroad
bill
The Iowa senator's discussion today
dealt principally with the provision reg
ulating the consolidation Of railroads.
with this he found much fault
Pointing out that the regulation ex-
tends to railroads alone. he declared
that, in the omission OF water lines,
there was possibility Of great abuse.
and said It would be impossible to pre-
vent the transcontinental railroads
from acquiring the water lines through
the Panama canal. thus cutting out all
competition.
lie also pointed out that electric lines
were specifically excluded from the pro
vision and declared II would be possible
for an electric line to gain control Of
an the railroads in the country.
Mr.. Cuinmins criticized the words
directly competitive" as defining the
lines that may not consolidate. He
said such language would AFFORD a wide
margin and IL was doubtful whether
many lines would be found within the
elastic prohibition. Mr. Cummins en-
gagged in a colloquy with Senator Ell
kins, during which he declared. II want
20 prevent competing lines from con-
solidating"
That is what we all want" respond
ed Mr. Elkins. Il am glad TO see that
the senator from Iowa is bringing him
self into substantial accord with his
committee"
You mean that the committee is
being driven gradually to accept my
POSITION" retorted Mr.. Cummins.
Mr.. Aldrich interpreted this state
ment as an ultlmatum and remarked
that II seemed to be one OF several ul-
timatums which Senator Cummius had
undertaken to lay down.
Mr. Cmnnins disavowed any such
purpose.
Senator Nelson suggested the striking
out OF the entire provision on railroad
mergers. leaving the antitrust law in
control OF such cases.
eff we adopt this section Il viii be
folly to carry on the prosecution OF
the Union Pacific merger" he said.
Mr. Cummins took up the provision
placing the approval or disapproval Of
consolidation agreements AT lilo QlhtIt-
ton OF the proposed court OF COM
merce, and declared Il TO be eXtraor-
binary and unconstitutional because
Il delegated legislative authority to the
court. Senator Borah inquired who was
the author OF the provision.
search me-" calculated Senator
Capp.
Mr.. Cunmins suggested the attorney
general might he the author and inti-
mated he believed the president re
sponslble for the original suggestion.
1T Is plain" interjected Senator Mel
son. that the bill IS an orphan"
Senator Elkins thought it's paternity
quite unimportant-
1T is here" he said, "and the ques-
ton Is whether Il Is right and whether
we ought to vote for II, regardless Of
It's origin"
Senator Borah said he did not believe
the president. as n lawyer, would up
hold the constitutionality OF the con-
solidation provision.
Senator Cummins pleaded for an I'M
Partial consideration OF the question,
saving that Il was one Of the most i'm
portant measures with which legisla-
ton could deal.