Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-05
ADMINISTRATION LEADERS IN
CONFERENCE MAKE MOVE TO
TAKE ACTION AFTER TABLlNG
cUMMiNS' AMENDMENT.
ENTIRE SECTION
is STRICKEN OUT
SECTION SEVEN, PART TAKEN
FROM BILL, REFERRED TO LEG
ALIZING OF TRAFFIC AGREE
MENTs BETWEEN ROADS.

MENTs BETWEEN ROADS.
Washington, May 3.--Moves Of radi
cal character in connection with the
administration railroad bill eventuated
rapidly when the measure was taken
up In the senate late this afternoon
Elkins at once announced he would
move to lay on the table the Cum
minis amendment to the traffic agree
ment section. He coupled this state
majority of the committee would then
support an amendment by Senator
Clay to strike out section seven.
Cummins gained recognition and
withdrew his amendment. A motion
was then made by Clay to strike out
the section. Before the vote was TAX
en- several senators stated their dis
pleasure at the program, but said they
were powerless to prevent it.
The Offending Section.
Section seven, which occasioned
all the trouble, never was perfected in
the senate. The Cummins and Elkins
and Crawford provisions were offered
as complete substitutes for the sec
ton. The Cummins provision would
have legalized traffic agreements. but
would have compelled the railroads to
procure the approval of the interstate
commerce commission before making
changes of rates. The Elkins-Craw
ford provision would authorize the
making of traffic agreements, but
would permit the railroads to put in
to force changes of rates without first
obtaining the approval Of the commits
sion
The "insurgents' claimed this pro-
vision would repeal the Sherman anti
trust law so far as it applied to the
railroads and would put an end to
competition as to rates.
Two Sections Stricken Out.
Both factions contended that their
we're in compliance with
the Republican national platform,
which declared the interstate COM
merce laws should be amended so as
to permit the railroads to make agree
ments as to rates, subject to the ap-
prevail of the commission.
The senate adopted the Clay amend
ment to strike out the entire section
seven. Nelson's motion to strike out
section twelve of the railroad bill,
which would permit mergers be-
tween railroads, was also adopted NY
the senate without division.
Conference Held Last Night.
At the close Of prolonged con-
ference of the leading regular" Re-
publican senators last night it was
apparent that the revolt of the senate
had been virtually sue
cessful and that sections of the bill
relative to traffic agreements and
which Cummins and other
insurgents have been figuring to
amend, will be abandoned.
Practically nothing distinctive in
the original bill will remain save the
sections providing for the creation of
a court of commerce. Even that may
not be enacted.
The differences between the senate
and the house are SO great that In
view of the radical action of the lead
ers last night, the entire bill may fail
in conference.
So serious became the situation that
President Taft at Pittsburg was noti-
fed by telephone by Senator AL
1rich.
VIII Cut Out Section Seven.
Despairing Of putting the bill
through the senate in the form re-
ported from the committee leaders
asst night decided to eliminate Sec
ion seven, which the insurgents claim
nfi 1u no
antitrust law by permitting traffic
agreements and section twelve which
would have legalized mergers in cases
where one railroad corporation owning
already SO per cent of another desired
% control outright.
Upon the insurgents the administra-
ion will endeavor to place the respon.
,ibility for the failure of the Taft
abroad legislation.
Taft is Emphatic.
To Senator Aldrich President Taft |
S said to have expressed himself |
to this effect:
That he had initiated the pending |
MEASURE and had advocated it |
the country in the form in |
which it was reported to the senate |
md that If combination of insurgent !
republicans and Democrats rendered
t impossible for the Republican ma
ority to enact the bill then he felt
hat the administration should be re-
ieved of the responsibility for it's de-
eat He rested the entire matter in
he hands of Senator Aldrich and his
Republican associates, who were
hen in conference.
Not Clean Cut Victory.
Although estopped from passing the
i'll in the form which they wished the
senators at once began
he formulation of plans to endeavor
o take away from the insurgents the
nance of d claim of clean cut VIC
cry for themselves. They even wore