The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-17
RED-H0T DEBATE ON
THE RAILROAD BILL
Continued from Page One

of the roads, whether under agreement
or not, could 90 into effect without the
approval of the commission.
off that is not made clear in the
bill I am perfectly willing to have 1t
made So said Mr. Aldrich,
Cummins declared the only way to rem
edy the defect was to withdraw the re-
pealing provision. To this suggestion
and others Mr.. Aldrich responded that
he had found himself in such disagree
ment with Mr.. Cummins that it had
been impossible in committee to go
into discussion with him over the pro-
visions of the bill.
Cummins Flatly Denies.
The Iewan replied that he had never
made single suggestion for an amend
ment in committee and that Mr., AL
drich had heard none from him, Con-
sequcnJly he was quite unable to un-
derstand why Mr.. Aidrich had made the
statement
In this connection the president 8
name was brought into the discussion.
Mr. CumminS was still discussing the
terms of the alleged antitrust repeal
and referring to some of the provI"
slons when Mr.. Aldrich stated that
such was the purpose of the. presi-
dent and the attorney generel. -
This statement brought Mr., Nelson
to his feet with strenuous protest.
'fThe senator must not hide behind
the president he SAID eXcitedly,
"that is small business and it won u
do. 1t is not the way to legislate."
Mr.. Aldrich was also somewhat ex,,
cited when he replied He disavowed
any intention of taking refuge behind
any one. ''It is not my habit he
said, "to hide behind the president or
any one else. ] have opposed the presl'
dent when it took good deal Of cour-
age to do so. If the bill does not carry
out the purpose of its authors, let S
make it do it. The measure has been
recommended by the president and by
at least one cx~president, and IL was
} and I presume also the party Of the
senator from Iowa. -
Reiterates Independence.
He declared that he had not said
what the president had wanted, but
only that the bill had been prepared
by the attorney general at the direc
tion, of the president, He reiterated
| his independence, as senator, OF any
outside interference, and asserted that
while it was the habit of the eXecu
tive officials to prepare many measures
for the action of congress: he hoped
no senator would be pre1udlced simply
by executive suggestion.
Mr.. Bailey suggested the real pur
pose Of Mr.. Aldrich in coming int
the discussion today had been to cal
attention to the fact that Mr.. CummlnE
was not in harmony with the admins
tration.
"It didn t need any such effort. >
declared Mr.. Aldrich, while the Iowa
senator assentcd that his attitude wa!
perfectly well known
Here Mr.. Root called attention to The
provision of the constitution requiring
the president TO recommend legislation
and be contended the president S actor
on the pending bill had been in accord
apce with this provision, Mr.. Bacot
took issue with the New York senator
islation to be n different thing from
undertaking to control the action o.
congress.
Pulls Record on Taft.
When Mr.. Cummins resumed he reat
from President Taft IS speech Of ac
ceptance, and from his speech at De
Moines the statement that the inter
!; state commerce laws should be 81
amended ms to permit railroads to max
traffic agreements If approved by TIL
interstate commerce commission. Il
one of these speeches the president sal
in this way, the application Of tn
agreements would be abolished.
fTho senator from Rhode Island.
commented Mr.. Cummins, "to escap
the odium which attaches to reporting
bill for such purpose, denies it i
intended that the bill should reliev
railroad corporations from the applica
tion of the antitrust law
Mr.. Cummins will continue his speec
tomorrow.
1