The Washington times., 1910-06-09
Senate and House Insurgents
MiStruStful of Intentions
of Leaders.
HOUSE CONFIDENCE
PLACED IN MANN
Threat of PToTacted Session If
Measure Is EmaSculated Ad-
ditional Weapon.

So much talk has been heard OF emas-
culating the railroad bill in conference,
and trying TO put through a measure
weaker than either the House or the
Senate bill. that members are on the
qui vive about the situation. Not since
the tariff bill was passed by House and
Senate and sent TO conference, has so
much attention been focused on a con-
ference committee as on the one which
will deal with the railroad measure. It
consists OF Senator'S EIkins, Aldrich,
and Foster, and Representatives Mann,
Wanger, and Adamson.
What they are skiing at the Capitol
is whether Jim Aiann Is going to put
one over on Sena or Aldrich, or wheth-
er Aldrich is going to play the game
better than Mann. These two men,
along with Senator Elkius. will be the
big factors in the conference.
In the House. among insurgents and
Democrats. there is much talk that
when the bill comes back from confer
ence II is likely TO be stripped Of a
number Of the strong features Of the
Senate bill, and some Of the strong
features Of the House bill. Some Of the
insurgents say they would be willing 10
take either the Senate bill or the House
bin, but they do not want to trust 10
q conference In which Senator Aldrich
is a leading factor
Depending On Mann.
At the same time, there is a dfspo-
sition about the House to feel that
Mann wiz stick out strong for the
House bill Mann is a natural born
scrapper- He * not happy when all
is peace. He is opinionated and takes
pride in his own handiwork and he is
anxious to show the House that he
Is going TO stand up for the House
side Of things. Moreover, there is no
man in either branch of Congress who
knows more Of the ms and outs Of
parliamentary or legislative maneuv-
ering than Mann
In some respects the Senate con-
ferees are at a disadvantage. If thew
prove too Obdurate and do not accent
some Of the strong features Of the
House bill, as for instance, capitalize
ton control, Mann may tell them that
he viii go back TO the House and rec
ommend that the Senate bill be con-
Cured In; II Is possible ander the
Of course. a threat of this sort would
probably compel Mr. Aldrich 10 give
way. for he is known TO be averse 70
some Of the Senate bill provisions which
the Senate leaders agreed TO, in the ex-
pectation of dropping them in confer
ence- such provisions are the one put
ting on the railroads the burden of proof
as to rate increases, amendments de-
signed 10 prevent the railroads from
striking at water competition. the Jones
provision lowing the Interstate Com
G1erce Commission ten months in which
20 suspend and investigate rate increases,
ana others.
Longer Session Threat.
Still another phase OF the situation
threatens trouble for the Senate con-
ferees. They have been warned by the
insurgents in the Senate that, while
Washington is a hot place in summer.
Congress viii have to stay here unless
the railroad bill comes back from con-
ference with some Of the stringent pro-
visions which the insurgents want and
deem essential. Dolliver, RristOw. La
Toilette and some Of the other inSur-
gents have served notice on the Senate
regular leaders that the bill must not
be materially weakened. Otherwise. they
will fight the adoption OF the conference
report and delay adjournment
One of the things the insurgents
have told the leaders they must not
omit is the Cummins amendment put
eng the burden of proof on the car
FierS as to rate increases filed since
January l. Nor do the insurgents
want any OF the parts Of the bill
stricken out the retention of which
would add materially 10 the power Of
the commission over railroad rates.
Under these circumstances, the Sen
ate conferees will be under pressure
70 keep the bill at least as strong as
the Senate measure. Another factor
is that If the conference committee
reports back TO the House a bill that
lOOkes weaker than the House bill.
there will be a desperate effort made
to overturn the conference report, and
send the bill back to conference again.