The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-12
President Urges Amendment
to Railroad Bill
NO WATERING OF STOCK
Conference Mt the White House Re-
suits In New Proposition to Take
Up the Imitation of Rail-
road Stocks

Washington, June u.-(Special. )-Presi-
dent Taft put his foot down today and in
sisted that at least some effort be made TO
comply with the republican platform
pledge of legislation against the water
ing of stock
Consequently it was announced at the
White House late this afternoon that the
conferees on the railroad bill had agreed
to substitute in lieu of the clauses pro-
vidng for federal control of capitaiza-
ton of common carriers a provision for
the appointment by the President of a
commission to study the entire question
of stock watering and report at the short
session of Congress in December.
1t is understood that this compromise
will be satisfactory in both houses. and
thet perhaps the most important obstacle
to an early agreement will thus be re-
moved
In the view of the President, as ex-
pressed to callers today, the capitaliza-
ton clauses in the Senate bill. which were
abandoned in the effort to get democratic
votes for the bill. admirably met the
pledges of the party. The House pro-
visions along the same line we're not so
satisfactory 1t had been urged upon
the President that all efforts to get any
legislation on the subject would have
to be abandoned because of the opposition
of the democrats and some of the insur-
gents In the Senate to the plan embodied
who had seen the President and urged po-
litical expediency upon him quoted him
as being willing under the circumstances
to abandon altogether the idea of cover
Ing stock watering In the pending bill.
This morning. however. the President
got ready to act, and he incidentally made
it plain that he would agree to no such
thing. summoning into conference at the
white House Senators Elkins and Al.
drich, the republican senatorial conferees
Representative Mann. chairman OF the
House conferees; Attorney General Wick
ersham and Speaker Cannon. he bluntiy
inform I'd them that he would not consent
to such q complete ignoring of the plat
form pledge as was proposed.
Something must be DONE" said the
President, Ito carry out the party
pledge"
long discussion followed in which
Chairman Mann confessed he did not
know anything about the subject of
stock watering and he believed every
member of Congress was equally ig
norant of the matter. In the circum-
stances 1t was urged that 1t was Idle.
not to say dangerous for Congress.
in the absence of definite knowledge
on the subject, to attempt to legislate.
Out of this confession grew the com
promise which was at length put into
shape and agreed to by those present
at the conference.
1t seemed to be the consensus of
opinion that the compromise would
also be satisfactory to the members
of both branches of Congress. AS one
of them put 1t this afternoon, under
the commission plan 1t will be possi-
BILE to get at the facts and then by
a Sympathetic analysis of them" to
present report on which an intelligent
bill may be framed 1t is believed
that such a commission, after a couple
of weeks study of the question, will
be able to frame a report that will
not only meet the legislative exigency
but will at the same time prove a
fine campaign document for the repub-
lican party in the coming congressional
fight.
1t Is believed that the commission
plan will also meet the objections of
the democrats to the capitalization plan
of the, railroad bill that it is viola.
tion of state rights. Likewise If the
comp promise is acceptab BILE to Congress
1t will hasten along adjournment which
Is the great end toward which all OF
the congressman are now working.