Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08
EACH SIDE YIELDS
Better Outlook for Railroad
Bill in the Senate.
TAFT'S INFLUENCE FELT
Republicans Animated by Spirit
of Compromise.
EARLY AGREEMENT EXPECTED
EARLY AGREEMENT EXPECTED
Important Developments May Ma
terialize This Week Is the Be-
lief of Some Senators.

| The legislative outlook for the ad-
ministration's railroad bill in the Senate
| for the coming week seems brighter as
the result of conferences held yesterday
and of President Taft's active participa-
| ton in the situation.
| Some senators were bold enough yes
terday to predict that by the end OF
| the coming week an amicable under
standing will be reached between the
straightout administration leaders and
| the sO-called insurgents which Will
| insure the passage of the railroad bill
through the Senate by gratifying re-
publican majority and with the dissent Of
probably not more than two or three re-
publicans.
OF course, with full understanding OF
the especial application to Senate affairs
of the force of the old saying There's S
many a slip twiXt the cup and the lip
it is realized that efforts may fail, but as
the case stands now the administra-
tlon senators are encouraged to hope.
Such an agreement, if reached, will not
be gained without compromises by both
the insurgents and the administration
senators. The spirit of compromise is in
the air, however: there is distinct disposi-
ton on the part of the administration
senators TO give the other side credit Tor
good intentions. and for their part the
'"insurgents'' are meeting these friendly
advances half way.
The administration men, with the sane
ton of the President. are willing to give
up some of their contentious and not to
insist upon the infallibility Of wisdom on
the part of the trainers Of the original
bill. Altogether. better feeling pre-
walls and the week will at least start off
with lessening of the high tension that
has existed all the past week.
Important developments in the situa
tion will probably not materialize until
late in the week. Senator Cummins left
yesterday for Iowa to look after some
affairs. and Senator Dolliver will follow.
In their absence the efforts at compromise
will proceed. probably without coming to
a head until they get back, along about
Thursday.
The Line of Compromise.
The way negotiations are drifting now,
the compromises are expected to be made
along approximately these lines:
/. That sections and IL will be dropped
from the bill by general agreement. The
President. although he would be gratified
to have them retained. does not consider
them vital to the usefulness Of the pro-
posed law, and it is absolutely essential
to eliminate them in order to get sup
port from far western republicans.
=. The provision for the interstate COM
merce court will probably remain in the
bill, some of the leading insurgents MAX
ing this concession their Offering to the
general spirit of compromise.
3. The power vested in the Attorney
General by the bill will be curtailed and
the interstate commerce commission
authorized to defend its orders in court.
This will be concession to the insur-
gents.
4. The Cummins amendment. providing
that the interstate commerce commission
shall approve increases in rates before
they go into effect, will probably be ac-
cepted by the administration senators.
). The insurgent efforts to modify the
''long and short haul clause" will proba-
bly, fail to command majority Of the
Senate and the defeat of the amendment
will not imperil the bill The fact is
there is weakening toward this amend
ment on the part of some senators who
have been with the insurgents on other
votes. Local western interests are af-
fected and the opponents of the proposed
amendment were very confident yesterday
that they can rally sufficient number of
votes to defeat it.
Development of the oriental trade with
consequent advantage to certain Pacific
coast ports. is said to figure materially in
the arguments against the amendment
If this amendment can be defeated the
men who are backing the original bill say
they will feel inclined to yield upon other
points to the insurgents.
6. The capitalization sections Of the bill
will probably be dropped as a move of
general compromise.
Compromise Insures Passage.
If the compromise thus outlined can be
made effective, it was said yesterday that
the prospect of the early passage of the
bill will be practically assured. Repub-
licans of all shades of opinion in the Sem
ate are thoroughly alive to the perilous
situation confronting their party in the
defeat of the bill on the one hand or on
the other in it's passage by democratic
and insurgent votes and amended in a
radical manner.
The republican leaders desire that the
party shall have credit for the legislation
and realize that no party benefit would
accrue from having the bill go before the
country as the work of the solid demo-
cratic party with "a few republican "as-
sistants."
1t will be seen that the insurgents get
more out of the proposed compromise
| than the administration senators. il 1t
| goes through on the lines indicated, but If
| the bill perfected can command nine
! tenth of the republican support on final
passage the administration senators will
| be gTatified.