The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-18
!, ,lduu
mlIICII IIduvernmentIS Made
Defendant In Suits
ACTION IS POSTPONED
AFTER SHARP DEBATE
Insurgents Feel Aggrieved Because
They Were Not Invited to the SAT-
urday Night Conference With
Taft at White House

| Washington Ma, l--afL r giving the
greater part of the day 20 the question
whether the government ar tie interstate
commerce shall appear as defet dant IN
| cases growing out of orders of the later
state commerce commission under the
terms of the railroad bill. the Senate
| today postponed action cn the subject
until tomorrow. The postronemeit was
| made because of the action of SENATOR
Cummins in presenting TIE subject in
new form and insisting upon vote
The discussion had been upon an
amendment offered by Mr.. 'umnins. AS
the bill was reported the United States
was made the defendant in all cases
growing out of proceedings before the
committee Mr.. Cummins' amendment
| proposed to substitute the commission
itself as defendant. Speeches in sup
port of the amendment We're made by
Senators Cummins. Clapp. Bristow and
others, and the debate of the day was
upon this basis.
| Mr.. Cummins arose to speak on his
| amendment. Senator Aldrich and Elkins
hurried about on the floor and there was
n great deal of confusion. Finally Mr..
Clapp complained of the lack of order.
| On his desk and on those of LaFollette.
Dolliyer and Brstow were piled books
and papers indicating that they ex-
pected to speak at length.
"Will you accept the house provision
designating parties to suts?' asked Sem
ator Elkins.
Positively not replied Mr.. Cummins.
Several propositions looking to a COM
promise were made in vain. Most of them
had come from the regulars. led by AL
drich
4 Under the White House dictum deliv-
cred at the midnight conference Satur-
day, the supporters of the administers
tion bill were trying to formulate some
agreement that would command the solid
republican support. The conservatives
expressed willingness to accept the the
progressives' views as to the defense OF
suits if they would consent to the with
drawal of the Cummins amendment to
prohibit the increase of rates by railroads
without the prior approval of the inter-
state commerce commission.
| Toward the close of the session, when
Mr.. Bristow had concluded his remarks,
Senator Smith of Michigan introduced as
a substitute for the Cummins amend
ment the House provision bearing upon
the same subject which provides that the
commission shall be permitted to inter-
| vene in cases arising from the pro-
ceedings before that body.
For the purpose of avoiding parlia-
mcrtary tangle Mr.. Cummins temporarily
withdrew his amendment as to permit
the first vote to be taken on the sug-
bestion made by Mr.. Smith. At the same
time the Iowa senator ede vigorous
protest against the Smith amendment
and the method OF its Introduction.
Mr.. Smith stated, however, that inde-
pendent of any conference with others, he
had been led to the conclusion that the
| language of the House bill went as far
as legislation could be expected to go at
| this time.
Mr.. Cummins insisted that the House
provision was materially defective and
his plea against speedy action was all
lowed to prevail. During the discussion
of the point Mr.. Rayner asserted that the
House provision was less desirable than
| the original Senate provision, in that 1t
| gave more power to the Attorney Gem
eral
Before adjourning the Senate adopted
| an amendment proposed by both Senator
Clapp and Senator Hepburn. striking out
the provision giving the judges of the
proposed court of commerce $4,000 year
each additional for expenses in Washing
| ton.
| Numerous amendments to the bill were
| offered during the day.
| Mr. Cummins formally presented his
provisions suspending all increase of rail-
| road rates until passed upon by the in
| terstate commerce commission. Mr..
| Dixon presented an amendment extending
| the interstate commerce law to telegraph
| and telephone lines, in accordance with
| the terms of the House bill, and Mr.. La
| Toilette suggested large number Of
| changes and additions, one of which pro.
| vides for the physical valuation of rail-
roads by the government
| The attitude of the democrats is ex-
| pected largely to control the future
| course of the senate in relation to many
of the amendments offered by insurgent
republicans and also in disposing of Sec
tons 49, IA and 10, which relate to cap-
talization of railroads and are known gem
orally as the stock and bond sections.
Several conferences were held today in
| Mr.. Aldrich's rooms. 1t was rumored the
insurgents were angry because of alleged
reflections on them passed at the White
| House conference to which they were not
| invited. The reports caused much ill-feel-
ing and as a result il was announced
that It would be useless to attempt any
sort of compromise. After the Senate ads
journed the insurgents held a meeting In
Ser ator Clapp's room, but it was stated
that no agreement was reached beyond .
decision to muster all votes possible
against the Smith amendment and If thia
| was defeated to press the Cummins pro-
vision. No action was taken in relation to
the stock and bond provisions.
| Clara Morris Going Blind