The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-03-16
SENATOR FROM IOWA DECLARES
HIS INTENTION OF FIGHTING
THE MEASURE.
MAKES LENGTHY SPEECH
Declares He viii Work Against Ad-
ministration Act Even Though il
Result in an Effort to Read Him
Out OF the Party-Speaks Two
Hours on Measure.

Washington March t5.--'rhat he
would oppose the administration rail-
road bill even though IL might result
in an effort TO read him out Of the
party. Senator cummins of Iowa. In
effect declared Iii the senate today In
the initial speech on the railroad bill
He commented especially upon the
history of the measure which he said
had originated in the executive branch
OF the government rather than in con
gress
After occupying It's place on the
senate calendar for IS days the bin
was taken up at o'clock and thus
was launched the discussion OF what
the members of the senate regard "a
the most important legislation before
congress. The Iowa senator had
spoken for about two hours when he
asked leave to suspend until tomur
row.
The leave was granted but Senator
Hale. chairman OF the republicans
caucus, gave notice that hereafter the
bin would be kept constantly before
tive. Mr.. Bailey declared that tho bin
could not be rushed and declared thar
congress was liable still to be con-
siderng 1t when the dog days" ar-
! rived
! In the main, Mr.. Cummlns speech
was devoted TO a general review OF the
railroad measure. but IL was preceded
by a recital OF the history of the pro-
posed legislation, in which he critl-
| cized the course of the president and
declared his intention of opposing the
bill in its present shape. even at the
cost of the dispeasure Of the chief
executive.
III the uncontrldicted and apparent
ly authorized statements of the news
papers be not In error, every repub-
lican at least is expected to vote for
1t Just as 1t Is. unless he dares to
! Incur. not only the executive dis
| pleasure, but to be banished from the
republican ranks" said Mr.. Cummins.
Il do not speak Of this phase of the
subject In spirit OF anger | am
| conscious of no other sentiment than
profound regret. recognize that II
Is not only the privilege but the duty
OF the president Of the United States
to make such recommendations TO
congress as In his judgment. will pro-
mote the general welfare. He is quite
within his privileges and his duties in
expressing his views upon such sub
Jects as often as he likes and as en-
phatically as he pleases
Is Doubtful.
| Whether he IN within his privilege
or his duty when he undertakes to
prescribe the precise form that legis-
lation shall assume may well be doubt
ed. His great predecessor evidently
thought that executive propriety did
not permit it, for when he was dealing
| with the same subject I'm his message
at the beginning of the first session
Of the 59th congress In 1905. he said:
1t IN not my province to Indicate the
exact terms of the law which should
be. enacted. but | call the attention Of
! congress to certain existing conditions
with which 1t is desirable to deal
Il would not. however. be inclined
to attach much Importance to the
| practice which now seems to be Very
general were It not that its cures, i'm
the very nature of things, must be
| disastrous. Although a senator may
be In full sympathy with the broad
purposes which the executive proposes
to accomplish, the moment he asserts
his independent view Of the best way
To accomplish the purpose, he finds
himself in direct con flict with the
president and he must choose between
losing the presidential favor and do
ing thing in a way his conscience
tells him It ought not be done.
A Mere Form.
Il do not fear that in a single in
stance or during one administration
the independent will Of the members of
congress can be oyercome but, if'upon
subjects like the one before as, the
| practice of having bill prepared In
| the executive offices and presented to
/ congress for passage, accompanied
with an implied message that punishA
ment follows disobedenee Is continued
| from year 70 year in the end congress
will become mere form In organized
society,
with the utmost respect for the ex-
allied office Of president of the United
States and for him who occupies il at
the present time | record my protest
here and now against a practice which
believe to be full of dangers aad
disasters"
Declaring to be extraordinary the
circumstances connected with tho