The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-04
RAILROAD BILL ON HHE ROCKS
SENATE REGULARS TURN ON
REPUBLICAN MEASURE.
JOln with the Democrats m Dropplng
Sections and aPrOvIdmE for frame
AEFeemcntS and MergerS-The Houso
Also Knoeks Out section . Quich1E

with smasoulatiOw II not complets Do
feat az a result Of the chaotic Oonditions
In the Senate and the House. Tho Rspub-
lican leaders have reached the stAgo
where they ara willing 10 admit that
the Republican party no longer has q
responsible working majority in either
house. and that IL IL difloult 70 tell from
day 10 day In what direction the weather
vane Of legislation win point
Ths spectacle was presented In ths
senate to-day Of organization RspESu-
cans combining with the Democratic
minority 70 vote out Of an Administration
bill a proposition pledged by the Rs-
publican national platform and advo.
Gated by Republican President. SEQ
ton 2 Of the Taft railway bin. whioA
opens the way for the making Of trafaO
agreements between railroads. was The
provision thrown overheard, and this
was followed by a further lessenlng Of
ballast in the sacrifice Of section y.
which would have legalizsd mergers
between composing roads.
While the organization leaders were
thus engaged in yielding 70 the superior
strength Of the insurgents the Houss
was not Idle Il also dropped sectioa
from the bill. Many regular Rspuhn-
cans in the HOUSE joined with the IN
surgents and Democrats In killing this
section. Members Of the House were
afraid Of the cry that was being raised
that section IL enacted would rspsal
the Sherman antitrust law 20 far as u
Affects railroads. They had visions q
angry constituents asking them 70 en-
plain Increased freight rates
The railroad bill was the keysions %
the Taft legislative programme. and Adj
ministTation leaders in Congress are fear
full Of the effect that this routing Of the
Taft forces will have on other measures
recommended by the President. TIERS
is diasension even among Republican rsgu-
lars In the Senate over the surrender
on the tFafic agreement provision Some
Of the sO-called conservatives declared
emphatically to-day that they would
have preferred 20 stand by their guns and
20 down 20 defeat before the insurgents
rather than 10 have turned their hacks
and Joined with the Democrats In drop
ping a proposition promised BY the Rs-
publican national platform and advocated
By As. Taft
The indications are tonight that Tie
success Of the Senate insurgents in killing
sections and y Of the railroad bill has
only whettSd their appetite and thae
they are preparing 10 oppose the Regulars
on other sections Of the bill.
Some Of the regular Republicans ars
in favor now. IL Is understood. Of Drop
ping sections 10. ~ and IS from the rail-
road bill. These are the sections pro-
viding for the regulation Of the capitah-
Nation Of railroad corporations and aimed
chiefly az the prevention Of stock water
ing. The argument advanced BY Adj
ministration senators IL that thia Il a
doubtful field Of legislation and that the
sections "a drafted are unsatisfactory
20 both the friends and critics OF the bill.
The insurgents served notice on the Adj
Ininistmtion senators this afternoon that
they will not consent 20 tho elimination
Of these sections from the bin and that
they intend 10 make hght for the adop-
on ~ amendments that they have offered
This interesting situation Is thus pre-
seuted. senators who have assumed the
task 81 steering tho Taft bills through
that body find themselves inclined now
80 Il is said. 20 drop sections ~. ifand rs.
while the insurgents are In the attitude
u insisting upon their retention. Tbs
insurgents. however. will not accept thu
sections a. drawn originally. but vii do
mand tho adoption u their own amend.
ments. That 10 where the rub Oomas.
The Republican Administration Senators
will not consent 10 the form Of those go
tons as amended by the insurgents.
The insurgents held a meeting after
adjournment o. tho senate. and at this
meeting it developed that there IL diner-
ence Of opinion among themselves a. 10
what course should b pursued in regard
10 these three sections. some OF the
more radical Insurgents insist that phyai-
cal valuation Of railroads should b
inserted in the section. while others oppo8o
this idea. The suggestion wa mAds at
the meeting that the insurgents might
consent 20 the elimination Of these thraa
sections from the bill Il hey could 90
assurance from Senator AldFich and other
Republican leaders that an indepsndsnt
bill smbOdyinE the provisions Of thsos
sections would bs reported quickly By tbs
Committee on Interstate Commsroe.
This would probably mean the quick
passage BY the Senate Of what remains
OF the railroad bill. but the insurgents
would insist upon q full debate on the
substitute bill Some Of the Republican
leaders were inclined 10 visW this prop
ositiou with favor. but nothing dshnits
will be decided IN regard to seotions -.
u and rs for a day or two.
The leaders OF the insurgents cay
tonight that the debate on these thres
sections Of the bin win take at least three
weeks. II this IL true tho chances ara
that the present session Of Congress win
not be- over before July l. and sons psaai-
mlstic members ara setting the date nearer
August I.
The vote by which the senate eliminated
sections and - vas practically unanl-
nous. The senate Insurgents knew that
the Republican regulars had joined with
the Democrats in a plan 10 vote this
section out Of the bill. The regulars had
adopted this course 70 get sufscisnt
votes 10 insure the defeat Of tho Cimmins
inegnant afnandmant 10 the aautinn.