New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-05
Senate Leaders Still See Hope
for His Legislative
Programme.
TO URGE HEROIC MEASURES
Mr.. Aldrich Believes a Partially
Satisfactory Railroad Bill May
Yet Be Passed-Some In
surgents Yielding.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau.I


ate leaders. less pessimistfc than those
who advise the abandonment OF the Taft
legislative programme and the immedi-
ate adjournment of Congress. will lay
before the President on his return to
Washington a proposition that the time
has come when it is necessary for him TO
take the big stick from it's hiding place
and wave ii in the faces of Republican
Senators and Representatives who are
standing in the way Of his legislative
plans. They take the position that to
abandon the railroad bill. the postal
savings bank bill. the statehood bill and
legislation would be con-
fessiOn of weakness entirely out Of har-
mony with the history and record OF the
Republican party, and would mean the
certain turning over of the next House
of Representatives to the Democrats
This was a day of conferences by both
the insurgents and the regulars Sem
ator AIdrich's room was visited In the
forenoon and early afternoon by many
Republicans who are anxious that the
present session shall not adjourn with
out further attempt being made to put
through legislation which is close 70 the
heart of the President. Conferences
were also held by the insurgent Senators.
who desire long and-short haul pro-
vision in the railroad bill. Various COM
promise propositions were discussed by
the advocates of this amendment but no
decision was reached, and further con-
ferences will be held tomorrow.
A Truce Until Monday.
BY common consent a truce was de-
clared between the regulars and the in
surgents on the railroad bill. and it was
agreed that no vote should be taken
until Monday on any amendment to the
bill This will give the President an OPP
portunity to analyze the situation before
the next move is made Senator Aldrich
went to New York this afternoon and
will not return to Washington until Sun
day night The Rhode Island Senator Is
one of those who believe that the present
situation can yet be smOOthed out to the
credit of the dominant party As a re-
suit of the conferences held In his room
to-day President Taft will be informed
that If heroic measures are adopted it is
possible to put through a railroad bill
which will be a forward step in the reg
ulation of interstate carriers. although it
does not measure up to his expectations
of the present duty of the Republican
party.
If the President is willing 20 accept
railroad bill which contains no pro-
visions relating to traffic agreements.
mergers or regulation of capitalization.
the leaders will take off their coats and
cooperate with him to line up enough
Republican votes in both branches OF
Congress TO pass such a measure They
will then introduce as a separate meas
ure the provisions in Sections O. l., Is,
IA and 10 of the administration measure
and have It favorably reported from the
Committee on Interstate Commerce
They believe this will afford evidence Of
the good faith of great majority Of the
Republicans in their desire to enact this
| legislation. but the enactment OF which
at the present session has been pre-
vented by a coalition of a small minor
inv of the dominant party with the DEM
ocrats.
ali DEFENDS on the President.
IF President Taft is correctly reported
as saving that he will veto any railroad
bill which does not contain the tnpor-
| tant sections on which it Is apparent
that no agreement can be reached. 1t is
/ certain that the entire railroad bill will
he abandoned The leaders in the SEN
ate and the House do not intend TO forco
on Mr. Taft any measure which he Is In
| disposed TO accept. They are seeking 10
do the very best thing possible under the
! circumstances, and if the President Is
disposed to regard a half loaf as better
than nothing they stand ready 70 neip
him get this small portion.
| Some of the moderate insurgents m
both branches of Congress are gradually
coming TO a realization of the dilemma
in which their party has been placed oy
their willingness TO cooperate with the
..black flag insurgents. who have no IN
| terest in the party's success and seem
anxious TO accomplish nothing but their
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT and the humilla-
ton of the President. It is apparent
+ba+ there are half a dozen Senators and
eight or ten Representatives elected as
/ Republicans on whom pressure from the
white House would be wasted On the
o+ber hand. there are certain Republi-
/ can Senators and Representatives who
! are constantly processing loyalty 10 the
President. but by their votes and affilia-
t;ons are giving aid and comfort 70 those
,ybo are seeking 20 undermine the adj
uinistration Plain words 20 these men
may prove efficaciOus. and the advisable
t+v Of adopting this line OF action Will De
,Iaced before President Taft by Repub-
Iicans who feel that IL would be political
s,,icide for the party to admit its failure
., enforce discipline among it's own
r,sr,bers. many of whom are about To-
arraa1 TO the country for reelection as
Republicans
4 a Pessirnistic Senator's Views
pronlinent Republican Senator who
a. nessimistic regarding the chances M
nassing a railroad bin Of any kind SAID
tonight:
What can we do? In the House the
,rs,,reents and the Democrats are load
,rs down the bill with radical amend
r,ents. while the Senate insurgents are
insisting on striking from the bill It's