The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-28
Chairman Mann Will Lead
the Forces In Debate
/ Upon the Measure
lTAFT EXPECTS SENATE
! TO SAVE BILL FINALLY
Many Amendments Have Been Drafted
and Some Tackled ON But the
Senate VIII Also Offer
Several Amendments

Washington. March N.-The ambition
z of Representative Townsend of Michigan
e TO assume charge of the administration
railroad bill on the floor of the House
will not be gratihed. the honor going to
& chairman Mann of the committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce. This fact
) developed today, and supporters of the
bill, in the form in which it was origi-
nally introduced by Representative Town
send and as it now is pending in the
Senate, are greatly disappointed.
1t had been thought the intense opposi-
tion of Mr.. Mann to certain features OF
the bill, as drafted by Attorney General
Wickersham, would make him disin-
clined to champion it. His success in in
? cooperating many of his own ideas into
the measure, however, made Mr.. Mann
willing to assume the sponsorship. AS
amended by the committee all republican
members voted for it end there was no
way in which the Airman could be
denied the MANAGE ent of the measure
on the floor.
Mr.. Mann was particularly opposed to
the provision for the creation OF court
of commerce and this was retained only
by the personal efforts of the President
Whether Mr.. Mann will seek to elimi-
nate this provision on the floor is not
known. He is said to be as strongly op-
= posed to it as ever, but his objections are
confined to his belief that the establish
ment of the new court involves unneces-
Tn via Of ia IA of
President Taft is SO firmly In favor of
The court 1t is not thought Mr.. Mann
will make any move for its elimination
from the bill.
Senate IL Life Saver
The administration is looking to the
Senate to save the principal features of
the original bill. Supporting the Pres
ident in this matter are Senators Elkins,
Aldrich, Kean, Crane, Cullom and Nixon
of the committee on Interstate COM
merce, as well as many other republican
leaders. Vigorous assaults upon the
measure have been made by Senators
Cummins and Clapp. and 1t is known
they will have the support of many
others of the insurgent republicans, as
well as large number of the democrats
That the coalition of insurgent repub-
licans and democrats is formidable is ad-
mitted by friends of the bill and they
are now giving their attention to the
formulation of amendments which they
hope will harmonlze some of the differ
ences. Mr.. Wickersham has met with
the friends of the bill on several occa-
sions and has given them his assistance
in framing amendments.
At one time it was planned to have
these amendments drafted and then pre-
scented by Chairman Elkins. That plan
has been abandoned and 1t Is now ex-
droa q will
out among other senators, so that a num-
Der may share the credit of making the
i new law This scheme even includes the
acceptance of one or two of the amend
ments favored by the insurgents
Views Far Apart
Not the slightest consideration is being
given by the Senate to the attitude OF the
House on the bill The chances are that
when a conference is held the two meas
ures as passed will resemble each other
very little. That being the case the act
will have to be made in conference. In
view of the fact that the Senate has
kept in touch with the desires of the ad-
ministration it is clear that the senate
eonferees will be strengthened by the In
tluence of the White House.
More force Is being exerted by Senate
leaders to carry out President TART
views on the railroad bill than on any
would surprise no one IL the conservation
measures should go over until another
session, 1t is also certain that there Is
n hard road ahead of the statehood bill,
although the democratic senators nave
given some indications of demanding an
agreement that vote be had on the state
hood bill, as the price OF giving an open
read to the railroad measure.
Appropriation bills are being passed by
the Senate about as rapidly as they are
received from the House. The spirit or
4 retrenchment which has firm hold In
Senate committee precludes the enlarge
|tnent of the bills to any extent, and there
8cre there have been no contests what-
ver over the measures.
Naval Bill Discussed
The naval appropriation bill is before
the House now, and there Is in prospect
sharp contest over the question whether
there shall be constructed two big bat
tieships or only one as the minority of
the committee favors. A similar fight
Will be made in the Senate. where many
favor cutting down the appropriations for
the navy and army.
The postal savings bank bill is expected
to come out of the HOUSE committee with
in a few weeks. .~iere Is considerable
| sentiment In favor of amending 1t so as to
insure the keeping of funds in banks in
the vicinity where collected. This sub
5eot created great deal Of dissention in
Ethe Senate.
& II the row between the regular and in
fourgent republicans is at an end as
leaders of both factions profess to be-
lieve. It would appear that adjournment
| ~ the present session may be expected
Ahout June Is. There are indications, how
10Hei that the fires of the recent contest
hich brought about the elimination Of
beaker Cannon from the committee on
(fies, are still smouldering and may break
ut at any moment. -
Elimination of Cannon
Considerable talk is heard about elimi-
mating Cannon from the speakership as
well as the rules committee. and on Sat-
,hrday the idea was advanced that Asher
i. Hinds the parliamentartan Of the
sfouse might be favored for that place.
EpThe democrats of the House are vehe.
I.ant in their declarations that they will
j Xv the next House. and 1t is not known
~ Hthey would feel about the selection OF
RI hon-msmbsf for the speaksyshir.