The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-14
BAD OUTLOOK FOR
 RAILROAD BILL Ta'pS Nelsufe Will Be lh D.
 ped Almost to Pieces OBJECTIONS ARE SER GUS
Republicans Are Solid Against the BflI in Its Present Form and
 VIII Fight It
By PATTERSON sTEALEY

Washington, March 13.-(Special.)- )--it is ocrats of the Senate that their side will stand as practically unit in insisting that the administration railroad bill shall be materially modified and made more drastic
 A good deal of question has existed as to just what the attitude of the senate democrats would be.
 Much talk has been heard that d part Of the democratic senators had concluded to lineup with Senator Aldrich and put tho bill through about as it came from the committee
 This talk arose in part from the fact that in the Senate interstate commerce committee no effort was made by two of the democratic senators--Foster Of Lou isiana and Taylor of Tennessee-to pre- vent the bill being reported out
 These two senators were absent from the meeting at which it was voted to report the bill.
 Their absence, together with the sick ness of Senator Tillman. made 1t pos- sble for six of the republican members of the committee to get the bill out with a favorable report.
 But now that storm has been stirred up over the bill and the need of amend ments to strike out jolSers has been strongly pointed out in the minority re- port, and since the House interstate commerce committee is showing signs of strengthening the bill the indications are the democrats in the Senate will take a stand against number of its features. They will object to those parts of the bill that would make mergers possible and to permitting traffic agreements with out effective supervision by the inter- state commerce commission. The interstate commerce court will be opposed by the democrats and perhaps tho capitalization i'es.Lssress
 Between the opposition of the democrats and part of the Senate republicans to some parts of the bill the signs are stronger than ever that 1t will have to be greatly changed before passage. Whether Speaker Cannon will follow custom in such cases and appoint as a. successor to the late Representative Perkins as chairman of the committee on foreign affairs Representative Foster If Vermont. ranking member and a near insnrgent,' or name a regular" Is a question many members of the House are discussing.
 Representative Foster for some time has been showing restive signs and indica- tions of leaving the party reservation
 Recently in a speech in the House he declared that New England was opposed to ''Cannonigm."
 The custom In the House is that merl- bers of committees succeed to the chair manships in order of their seniority of service. and hythis rule Mr. Foster would be entitled to the place.
 Few predict, however, that the speaker will name MT. Foster.
 It is generally believed the choice will fall upon some regular and in this connection Representative Denby of Michigan Is frequently mentioned He Is a member of the Ballinger committee.
 The public buildings bill will not be all lowed to pass the House until the legis- lative programme of the House organiza- ton Is acted upon. How long 1t will be before this is accomplished that is, be- fore the time for adjournment Is reached, no one knows. As one of the republican leaders put it tonight: Tt depends upon how many of the recommendations of the President can be agreed upon"
 In the meantime the public buildings committee, under Chairman Bartholdt, is going to block out a bill which will be sub 1ect to changes as votes are needed.
 In the final sessions of Congress 1t will be presented to the House and those who have voted right will get their re- ward.