Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-16
CUMM|NS GOES
On WARPATH
IN SENATE
DETERMINED TO FIGHT
TAFT RAILROAD BILL
Iowan Defies Administration to
Read Him Out of Party For
Opposition to Measure 0rigi-
mating in Executive,


! fBy Morning journal Special Lsnssd wirel
Washington. March 15.-1hat he
would oppose the administration rail-
road bill. even though it might re-
I suit in an effort TO read him out OF
I the party, senator Cummins, of Town,
I IN effect, declared In the senate today
that he was making the initial speech
on the railroad bin and commenting
especially upon the history Of the
measure which he said had originated
in the executive branch OF the gov
eminent rather than in congress.
After occupying its place on the
senate calendar for eighteen days the
hill was taken up at O'Clock and thus
was launched the discussion of what /
the members OF the senate regard as
the most important legislation before /
congress The iowa senator had +
spoken about two hours when he ask I
ed leave 20 suspend until tomorrow.
The leave WAS granted but senator 4
Hale. chairman Of the republican I
caucus gave notice that hereafter the +
bin would be kept constantly before I
the senate. In language Just as posi- /
tive Mr. Bailey declared that the bill .
could not be rushed and declared that I
congress was liable still to be con-
sidering 1t when the dog days ar
rived
III the uncontradicted ana re- /
peated and apparently authorized 4
statements ct the newspapers be not T
in error every republican. at least, is +
expected To vote for it Just as IT is (
unless he dares to incur not only the f
executive displeasure but to be ban 4
ished from the republican ranks.
said Nr Commns.
"a do not speak Of this phase of the
Ntl itJ. ia ~ 80 fl n M
conscious of no other sentiment than
profound regret. / recognize that II
is not only the privilege. but the dutN
of tho president Of the llnited states
to make such recommendations to
congress as IN his Judgment will pro-
mote tho general Nelfgre He Is quite
within his privileges ana his duties
In expressing his views upon such
subjects AS often as he likes and as
cmphatlcallV as he Uleases.
whether he is within his privilege
or his duty when he undertakes to
prescribe the precise form that legis
laton shall assume may well be
doubted His great predecessor evil
IDENTITY thought that executive pro-
priety did not permit 1t for when he ,
was dealing with the same subject in
his message at the beginning of the
first session Of the hfty-ninth congress ,
IN 1905. he said 1 Is not my prov !
ince to indicate the exact terms Of
the law which should he enacted but
call the attention OF congress to cer-
tain existing conditions with which il
Is desirable to deaf
~ 90 not fear that in slight in =
stance or during one administration
the INDEPENDENT viii of the members
lf congress can be overcome; but If
upon subjects like the one before us
he practice Of having the bills pre-
In offices and
'ented to congress for passage, ac-
'ompanicd with an implied message
hat punishment follows disobedience,
5 continued from year TO year. in the
nd congress viii become a mere form
n organized society.
"With the utmost respect for the
,Nalted office of president Of the [
'nted States, and for him who occu-
iies it at the present time ! record
ny protest here and now against a
practice which | believe to be fun of
langer and disaster"
Declaring to be extraordinary, the
circumstances connected with the
'rigin of the bill, the Iowa senator de-
allied the meeting last August Of At n
orney General Wickersham In New
I ork with others. who he said. had
Undertaken TO put Into shape for on ~
ctment the various recommendations G.
" the president on railroad legisla- \
ion. The report as made to the chief ~.
xecutiVe was supposedly confidential d
le said. but as q matter Of fact, long "
'eforc IL reached the president IL had
allen into the hands OF the railroad =,
nen. 1.
Discussing the progress Of the bill -
fter it reached the president Mr.. y,
'ummins declared that II had been ~
astlN changed Indeed, he declared. -
but for the birthmark Of the COM 'i
lcrce court no one would recognize
he measure that WAS born in the y
log days up there in New york.
These changes he attributed 10 the
lhuence of the railroad men that had -
cen brought 60 bear upon the presi-
cnt and attorney general before -
lnuarv II. when the bill was pre- y
'nted to the chairman Of the commit
'r ON interstate commerce He as ~
'rted that from the time the measure tr
ld been turned TO the president un- ~
IL had left him nearly every rail- ="
,ad president IN the country had 0
sited Washington and had been q"
.ard by the president and the attor- a..
ay general. many of them twice -.
lhstantially every change had been ~
ade to suit the railroads M
Ait Cummins inVeiRhed against the ~
-opusrd court of commerce ass un- -
.ecssary and expensive. He asserted h.,
Iut not to exceed seven or eight ~
3D.
'urt and would not be much short Ia,
Slah. 0on per agnum. He also IN.
gucd that any court created for the
i1l at railroad cases alone would De-
lW isV because 81 the influences that r.
ould surround The selection of the ,,.l
cmbers pf the court and because ot H.
hc tremendous power of The rail- In
ads ~
MI Cummins also pointed ont the .n
issihlIity III an enlarge meut uf the ~
risdirtiuu of the proposed court
rr that noN exercised hv tho United An
atrs courts. Ile thought ihc juris- a.
ction should hc made rs specific as sui
.ssibia ua
More serious and disastrous than Sa
N of These objections, he said. ngs -,
q blow Geo shippers in taking the in- NJ.
I~tato commerce commission ont ui f.f
g. iefens' 81 the casos. making The rei
lited states the defendant and plae- di-