The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-22
HOT DEBATE IN SENATE
OVER RAILROAD BILL

WASHINGTON, March 2l'-SpeaE-
ing in support Of the administration
railroad bill, Senator Elkins, chairman
of the Interstate commerce commit"
tee, declared today that the shippers
are finding fault with the bill and that,
except In one or two instances, the rall-
roads did not appear before the com
mittee to oppose 1T.
Preliminary TO his explanation Of the
provisions of the bill, Senator Elkins
admitted the truth Of the charge that
amendments proposed were not con
sidered at length in the committee on
interstate commerce. and he defended
this course on the ground that the diff
ferences over amendments were so
great that they would have TO bo
fought out on the floor anyway.
Answering statements by Mr.. Cum
MINIS, he SAID it was given out that the
railroad bill was before the commit
tee for consideration. He said that
shippers and traffic associations had
consulted with the president and the
attorney general, who drafted the bill
and they favored the presidents s rec
ommendation. On the subject OF
whether the railroads themselves arc
for or against the bill, Mr.. Elkins said:
"According TO common report, SIX
or seven presidents of the most I'M
porfant railroads waited on the presl-
dent at the White House and endeav-
ored TO induce him 10 consent 10 GER
tain changes, but he refused to do so.
So far as / know aud can hear, the
railroads oppose the BILL
Mr. Elkins then reviewed the Deli,
section by section. Notwithstanding
request by Mr.. Elkins that he should
not he Interrupted during his speech,
several senators broke in on him to
ask questions or requesting further
elaboration of certain points:
In the course of coIloQuy, Mr.,
Cummins admitted the attorney gem
eral had made a change in the through
rate provision Of his dratI OF th9 olli
at Cummins's suggestion, ana. ne
added. i.it is 4 wise provision.
~ admit it, responded Mr.; Elklns.
"Yes,,, said Mr., Cummins, ''if you
would take all of my suggestions 1t
would be better. -
satcastic Rejoinder
off we should take all OF your sug-
oestions,H retorted Mr.. Elkins, - do
not know what would become of the
country: we would certainly not run
- At the conclusion OF Mr.. ElIlins'' s
speech Senator Bacon of Georgia
! CHARGED tho West Virginia senator win
bavinp neglected to give attention to
|
anv railroad company to acquire inc
Hne of another company IN whleh 1T
NAV own 30 per cent of the stock
lie said that the law would have the
effect of multiplying the antitrust law
as as construed by the supreme, court and
- legaIizo all ownerships of one road
by a competing line, This. he assert
ed. was the real purpose of the meas
ure and. he added, it was hls conVlc-
ron The railroad would he willing TO
surrender much in order to get TINS
lconcessIon. ,,o5, +ha
eo,Indness of Mr.. Bacon S argument.
Uc did not believe the law conIem'
nlated the sanction OF any proceeding
hat might be illegal under existing
""iEither this bin does what the Sen NI
ator from Georgia charges. snid saiIooMr mr.
BAILEY. commenting on the. colloquy,
Tor Tor IL does nothing Mt all
II was true, he said, there was noth'
inc in Inc bill legaIiZing the pure hase
~ the first 30 per cent of stock, but
he argued that TO make laWfnl the
sccond purchase would have the effect
IF validating the first step