Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-28
MANN TO DIRECT
ADMINISTRATION
RAILROAD BILL
REPRESENTATIVE TOWNSEND
DEPRIVED OF HONOR
COURT FEATURE FAVORED BY
TAFT MAY BE RETAINED
President Looks to Senate to Save
Principal Sections of Original
Acknowledgement Prepare
Amendments
Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Marcn zr-1ne am
hilton of Representative townsend or
Miehiwan to assume charge of the adj
minisfration railroad bill on the floor
of the house will not be gratified, the
honor going to Chairman Mann of the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce.
This fact developed today and sup
sporters of the bill in the form in which
II was originally introduced by Repre-
sentative Townsend, as it now is pend
ing in the senate, arc greatly dlsap-
pointed.
II has been thought the intense OPP
nosition of Mr.. Mann to certain fea-
tnres of the bill as drafted by Attorney
General Wickersham would make MN
disfnclined to champion 1t. His sue
cess in incorporating many of his own
ideas into the measure, however, made
Mr. Mann willing to assume the spon-
sorship.
AS amended by the committee, all
Republican members voted for it, and
there was no way in which the chair
man could be denied the management
of the measure on the floor.
Mr. Mann was particularly opposed
to the provision for the creation of
court of commerce, and this was re-
tanned only through the personal ef-
forts of the president.
Whether Mr.. Mann will seek to elm
mate this provision on the floor is not
known. He is said TO be as strongly
opposed to It as ever, but his objec-
fions are confined to the belief that
tie establishment Of the new court in
wolves unnecessary expense
In view of the fact that President
Taft is so firmly in favor of the court
it is not thought Mr.. Mann will make
any move for its elimination from the
bill.
Looks to Senate for Help
Tho administration is looking to the
senate to save the principal features
of the original bill Supporting the
president in this matter arc Senator'S
Elkins, Aldrich. .Kean, Crane, Cullom
and Nixon of the committee on inter
state comm cree, as well as many
other Republican leaders. Vigorous
assaults upon the measure have been
made by Senators Cummins and Clapp,
and it is known they will have the
support of many other insurgent Re
publicans, as well as of many Demo-
Gratis
That the coalition of insurgent Re-
publicans and Democrats is formidable
is admitted by frienos of the bill, and
they are now giving their attention to
the formulation of amendments which
they hope will harmonic some of the
differences.
Mr.. Wickersham has met with the
friends of the bill on several occasions
and has given them his assistance in
framing amendments.
At one time IT was planned to have
these amendments drafted and present
ed to Chairman Elkins. That plan has
been abandoned and it is now expect
ed the amendments will be parCeled out
among other senator's, so number
may share the credit of making the
new law. This scheme even includes
the acceptance of one or two of the
amendments favored by insurgents.
Not the slightest consideration Is be-
ing given by the senate TO the atti-
tude of the house on the bill. The
chances arc when a conference is held,
the two measures as passed will re-
semble each other very little. That
being the case, the act will have to
be made in conference. 1t is clear the
senate conferees win he strengthened
by the influence Of the White House.
Taft's Views Supported
More effort is being exerted by sen
ate leaders to carry ont President
Tafts views on tho railroad bill than
on any other administration measure.
1t would surprise no one if the CON
Servation measures should go over I'M
til another session. II is also certain
there is "A hard road ahead of the state
no00 nlll dllDbUSB Ailt A'tIllbNi 7tiNs
senators have given some indications
nf demanding an agreement that vote
he had on the statehood bill, AS the
price of giving an open road to the
railroad measure.
Anpropriation bills arc being passed
hv the senate about as rapidly as they
arc received from the house. The
spirit Of retrenchment, which has a
firm hold in the senate committee, pre-
rludes the engagements Of the bills to
any extent.
The naval appropriation bill is before
tho house now and there is in prospect
"A sharp contest over the question
whether there shall be constructed two
big battleships or only one, as the
minority of the committee faYOrs. 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 eX-
pected to come out OF the house com
mittce within a few weeks There is
considerable sentiment in favor Of
amending it so as to insure the keep
ing of funds il banks in the vicinity
where collected.
Factions May War Again
If tho row between the regulars and
insurgent Republicans is at an end,
as leaders of both factions profess to
believe, il would appear mat congress
may be expected to adjourn about
Juno Il. There are indications. how
ever. that the fires or the recent con-
test arc smolderng and may breack
out at any moment.
Considerable talk is heard about
eliminating Cannon from the speaker
ship. and one idea was advanced that
Asher c. Kinds. the parliamentarian
of the house. might be favored for
that place.
The Democrats are vehement in
their declarations they will carry the
next house, and it is not known how
they will feel about the selection of a
non-member for the speakerShip.
Neither is it known how Mr., Kinds
would feel about giving up his position
of a seat in the house FOR an honor
that might be comparatively short.
In view of tho fate Of the Burleson
resolution, which was designed &c
create a vacancy, members might hest
tate to renew such motion. The
whole subject, nevertheless is attract
ing attention
Defines Interstate Traffic