The Washington times., 1910-03-15
Iowan Opens Railroad Bill
Debate With Rehec-
tionS on Taft.
CLAIMS INVASION
OF SENATE RIGHTS
Methods Adopted In Preparing Ad-
ministration Measure
Denounced.
By JOHN SNURE.

Declaring that Senator must choose
between .'Iosing the Presidential favor
and doing the things his. conscience tells
him ought to be done" and that a Sen
ator must either surrender his inde-
pendence or be In constant and most
disagreeabie conflict with the Chief Exc
cutive," Senator Cummins, Of Iowa, at
tackled the Administration railroad bill
at various points In the Senate this
afternoon.
Senator Cummins' speech was the be-
ginning Of the Senate debate on the
railroad measure which Is expected 10
last for FIVE or six weeks and will
doubtless be heated.
Before proceeding TO an argument on
the bill itself, Senator Cummins told OF
its origin and reflected sharply on the
President He alluded TO the efforts OF
the President 10 get the bill passed in
the form in which Il was sent 10 Con-
gress from the hands Of the Attorney
General He said it might well be
doubted whether the President was
within his privilege or his duty when
he undertakes to prescribe the preci-e
form which legislation shall assume d"
Senator Cummins pointed out that
Roosevelt. in dealing with the railroad
bill al the beginning Of the first session
OF the Flfty-ninth Congress, recognized
that Executive propriety did not permit
him TO prescribe The exact form lezisIa-
tion should take and contented himself
with calling attention to certain exist
ing conditions.
Challenging the President.
Those who listened 20 Senator Cum
Minis address recognized that he was
challenging the course Of the President
in threatening the men who ventured
70 insist on demanding changes in the
! LHI.
senator Cumuins declared the bill
was not the product Of any Sena, or or
/ Of any member Of the House of Rep
/ reSentatfves.
1T has never been considered by the
/ Interstate Commerce Committee OF the
/ Senate" he said, in the sense in whicn
/ II Is the obligation Of every committee
! OF the Senate TO consider a bill before
1 IT IS reported"
/ According 10 the unchallenged re
: ports OF the public press he proceed
] ed. certain gentlemen, namely, the At
/ torney General. the Solicitor General.
J the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor,
two members Of the Interstate Com
u merce Commission and a Representa-
\ tive IN Congress, met IN New York on
! the thirtieth day OF last August 10 con-
! slider and put n, the form OF a bill the
| views which the President had express
I ed with regard tO ernendments Of the
| interstate commerce law The result
/ of It's Iabors, while bearing date Sep
! tember 2, did not in fact come into the
/ hands Of the President. as 1 have been
| informed, until about November 10.
/ Il have seen the report Of these pio-
4 neers. Ineed, have copy Of II on
my desk at the present moment. II was
/ printed for the confidential use OF the
| President
Reached Railroads FIRST
But It quickly became public prop
erty, and was IN the hands of the raIi-
4 roads even before it reached the Presi-
dent" declared Senator CJrmmins.
Then Senator CI1rnmlns reoounted
how, between November 10 and Janu-
ary IL. when ths Attorney General hand
ed the bill to the chairman OF the Inter
! state Commerce Committee, for intro
duction into the Senate. 'noarIy every
! United States visited Washington, and
/ was heard by the President and tho
/ Attorney General in opposition to GER
tain features OF the proposed bill"
]
plain Of railroad presidents appearing
! 70 object 70 the passage OF any law that
| would affect their property. but h;
thought Il significant fact that In the
| hearings before the Senate Interstate
! Commerce Committee no railroad mar
save one had a word for OF against the
measure. although they filed the com
mittee room everyday given to the hear
| inEs.'
! Imputfng no improper motive to th'
! President OF the Attorney General, Sen
I ator Cumnfns deplored a practice tina
led those desiring to influence legIsle'
ton to the White House rather than x
/ the committees Of Congress
The bin has been nodded m the mos
important respects on the demand o.
the railroads." said Senator Cummins
and the Senate did not know their rea
sons for insisting upon their demand
Amendments Considered.
After telling OF the hearings before th'
Senate Interstate Commerce COMMITTEES
Of Attorney General Wickersham and
various parties. Of the various changes
proposed BIZ the Attorney General, anc
Of the meeting Of the committee on th'
Hast day the bill was before tbs
committee, with VARIOUS amendment
pending, Senator Cummins told how th'
| aDVVHMEVvTC AMI F00n