The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-06-10
SENATE MEMBERS SAID TO RE.
SENT HIS Debating
LEGISLATION.
UNDERWOOD AND PAYNE CLASH
ciapp Says strengthen the Provisions
Of Sherman Antitrust LAW
Transportation Companies to
Be Probed.

washington, June ST believe that
the time is close at hand, in view of
the present tendencies of industrial
and transportation corporations, and
the decisions OF the United States
supreme court in the Standard Oil
and Tobacco cases, when it will be
found necessary to make important
changes calculated to strengthen the
provisions of the Sherman antitrust
law"
The foregoing expression was given
by Senator Clapp of Minnesota, chair.
man of the interstate commerce com.
nittee of the United States senate, in
connection with some comments he
made upon the plans of his committee
In preparing for hearings which will
be held for the purpose Of bringing
out the facts in connection with the
operations Of the industrial and trans
portation companies In the country.
Hearings Possible at Near Date.
Senator Clapp said that the plans
of the committee have not yet been
formulated. nor has the scope of the
inquiry been determined upon. But 1t
is the understanding among commit
tee members that the hearings are to
begin as soon as the members of the
senate can find a. little relief from
the pressure of tariff and reciprocity
matters.
The progressive members Of the
senate are making it plain that they
resent the action of the president in
promoting legislation. as they say he
has attempted to do, in railway mat.
tiers in the last congress and In the
pending Canadian trade agreement at
the present session
No Compromise on Root Amendment,
Following four hours discussion of
the Canadian reciprocity bill by the
senate finance committee in executive
session, Chairman Penrose expressed
the opinion that any amendment which
might be adopted by the committee
would be killed on the floor of the
senate. It was thought at first that
some compromise might. be reached
on the Root amendment to the paper
and wood pulp clause, which amend.
ment has been objected to as fatal to
the agreement, but such compromise
was found impossible. 1t is not be.
lieved that any amendment other than
that offered by Senator Root will have
even a chance of adoption in commit.
tee, although Senator Nelson, who has
prepared several. placing duties on
grains, cattle and horses, which I'm.
der the agreement would come In free,
will he heard by the committee.
Bitterness of political debate such
as has not characterized any of the
opening tariff skirmishes of the pres
ent session Of congress cropped out
in the beginning of the wool tariff dis
cussion in the house. Democratic
Leader Underwood, chairman of the
ways and means committee, devoted
the afternoon to an explanation of the
proposed revision of the wool tariff
and to an attack upon the Payne tariff
law and the Republican party.
He was met at almost every stage
of his argument by replies from for
mer Chairman Payne, now the rank.
ing Republican on tho ways and means
committee, and by other Republicans
who questioned HIS statements and his
arguments.
Mr.. Payne denied vigorously the
Democratic charge that the Payne law
had not fulfilled Republican promises
of tariff revision, and he criticised in
detail Mr.. Underwood's statements
that the country's revenue was de.
clining and the treasury approaching
deficit.