The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-17
Senator Aldrich Is Forced to Admit That the Bill
 Can Be Amended
HOT DEBATE OCCURS
 OVER THE MEASURE
AIdrich and Other Senators Are Accused of Trying to Hide Behind the President in Discussing the
 Proposed Legislation


 previous sessions. bitter criticism of the action of the supporters of the bill in trying to put the measure through with out amendment, elicited from Senatot .Aldrich an admission that the bill could be amended
 This statement was made during :he second day of Senator Cummins speech attacking the bill, but not until after friends of the measure had been &C., cused of trying to hide behind the Pres ident and the fact that it had been drafted at his direction.
 For more than two hours the President figured in the discussion, and for 0 time his title, if not his name, was banded about with a freedom that amounted al- most to reclSlessness. In this portion of the debate, Senators Aldrich Bailey. Cummins. Root, Eikins and Bacon fis- ured conspicuously.
 Senator Cummins corterded that the proposed provision referring to traffic agreements rendered them legal without their submission to the interstate com 1nerce commission. He asserted that there had been conspicuous silence in the committee on this subject and thereunpn
  who is a member of the committee on interstate commerce and questioned him as to his interpretation of tie measure of the provision
 Bailey's Explanation
 srhe whole truth" interposed Mir Bailey before MT. Alcrich could reply, ''is that the intention of the provision for the repeal of the antitrust law is to reverse the supreme court of the United States. The effect and purpose is to take the railroads from under the supreme court
 MT. Aldrich refuted the intimation of the Texas senator and from this colloquy arose 6 general discussion to whether it had been the original intention to in clude the railroads in the original Sher- man antitrust bill during which Mir. Aid rich said that no senator who had voted for it had the slightest idea that the railroads were embraced within it's terms
 "But all the same, you are now try ing to take them cut of it,' reiterated Mir Bailey
 q beg pardon" responded MT Aldri,h ''hut that Is not true. The senator from Texas is mistaken as to the purpose of the proposed law as is the senator from Iowa"
 MT. Cummirs would not admit that he could be mistaken for he declared the purpose of the law was written broadly on it's face. There could be no doubt that 1t repealed the law regulating traf fic agreements, he said Senator Elkins undertook 10 refute this contention by <, reading the provision regarding the agree ments and in so doing broadly asserted that every one must know that the rail- roads violate the laws every day. This as- sertion was challenged by several sen- ators but the West Virginia man held t, his position and asked. now, why em- barrass tho railroads?''
 'sTrue, true,'' retorted MT. Cummins all most inaudibly.
 Contention of ElIxins
 MT Elkins contended that even though agreements were authorized by the pend ing bill the government would still have control of rates and would have more l, comprehensive control than under pre- viov, laws.
 is not the agreement that is power ful,'' said he, but the rates themselves and 50 long as the commission controls the rates it is in command of the situa- ton
 Mr. Aldrich referred to supposed all liance between the insurgent republic ans" and the democrats and then, after a brief protest from MT. Cummins over this method of presenting the matter, the Rhode Island senator declared 1t to be his opinion that no schedule of the-roads whether under agreement or not, could go Into effect without the approval of the commission.
 If that Is not made clear in the bill l am perfectly willing to have 1t made oc.'' said Mir. Aldrich.
 Responding to this statement Mir. Cum uuins declared the only way to remedy the defect was to withdraw the repeating provision To this suggestion and others MT. AIdrich responded that he had found Himself in such disagreement with MT. Cummins that it had been impossible in committee to go into discussion with him e to the provisions of the bill.
 The Iowa legislator replied that he had never made single suggestion for an amendment in committee and added that Mr Aldrich had heard none from him. Consequently, he said, he was quite un- able to understand why MT. Aldrich has made the statement.
 In this connection the Presidents name vas brought into the discussion. Mir. Cum nIns was still discussing the terms of the alleged antitrust repeal and referring ec some of it's provisions when MT. Ald- rich stated that such provisions were brought about by tfle President and Attor- nsy General"
 This statement brought Mir Nelson to nas feet with strenuous protestation. "The senator must not hide behind the Pres ldent," said he in some excitement, that ie mna1f business and it won't do. It is not the way to legislate-"
 Mr. Aldrich was also somewhat excifed when he replied. He disavowed any in- tention of taking refuge behind anyone sTt Is not my habit" said he. ito hide behind the President or anyone else. 1 have opposed President when 1t took great courage. If the bill does not carry out the purpose of it's authors. let us make it do 70. This measure has been recom- mended by the President and by one ex- President, and 1t was so promised by the platform of my party, and I presume also 6y the patVy of the senator from Iowa."
 He declared he had not said what the President had wanted, but only said that the bill prepared by the Attorney General by the direction of the President would oufflce He, reiterated his independence e a senator from outside interference and asserted that while 1t was the habit Sf the executive officials to prepare many Hheasures for the accommodation of Con gfess he hoped no senator would be Suggestion.
 Real Purpose of AIdrich
 Nr Bailey suggested that the real pur- Soise of MT. Aldrich in coming into the 1isd,ussfon today had been to call atten- tloh to the fact that Mir. Cumn1ins was SIq{t in harmony with the administration. lPT did not need any such efforts de- ok)ared Mfr. Aldrich, while the Iowa sem Tor asserted that his attitude was per- \ sst wsii known.