The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-12
Reported Railroads are to
Try to Eliminate Ger
tain Clauses
COMMERCE COURT
CAUSE OF WORRY
Congress May Secure Abol-
ishment OF Tribunal by
Refusing to Make
Appropriation

WASHINGTON. August 1.-THE
report that the railroads are about to
make a final effort to eliminate clauses
in the Panama canal btu inimical 10
them has invested the prospective ac-
ton of the president on the legisla-
tion with more interest than any other
Of the important bills OF the session,
for the reason that his attitude on the
tariff bills could have been antci-
pated.
Senator Lodge and a few OF the old
guard In the senate have taken the
ground on the Panama bill that /; lis
n direct and unnecessary onslaught
on the railroads. II Mr., Root had
succeeded In ifAa British argu-
meuts the railroad fight would have
been won.
Mr.. Lodge puts his argument IN a
nutshell by holding that There is q
disposition 20 assume that the fact OF
having accumulated money is strong
circumsta ntial proof that il was OBJ
tanned dishonesty.
So far as can be- aScertained no
railway magnate Ia now at the capt. oil
to lobby personally. Most Of the rail
road influence was exerted when the
bill was in the house The Know
land bill, it Will be recalled, sought
directly to do what the senate did
The railroads promised attack seems
10 be q forlorn hope as far as con-
gress In concerned
Aims Mt Commerce Court.
Another bill which the country at
large is Interested In is the legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation
bill, because II carries the provisionr
for the abolition of the Commerce
court and a seven-year maximum tea
ure of Office for federal employees
Win a view to an early adjourn
nnenf house Democratic leaders are
preuarlng to Weld to President TAFT
and "a raceae from the legislation on
this.
II is understood from close friends
of the president that he will veto
.his appropriation bill. because 1t car
ries, these provisions. Unless the
house recedes from its position IN
support OF this legislation there would
come about a deadlock between th@
president and the house, with the re-
sulr that the present session OF con-
vress. would be prolonged indefinitely.
chairman Fitzgerald, Of the house
committee on appropriations, is urging
tha house leaders 10 resist the presi-
dent and to hold out Tor fAe fss 1'A
tion carried in the bill, lie Is not
meeting with much support, MOST OF
the members Of the house are desifoas
NJ getting back into their 1lstfleH
for election week.
To Refuse Appropriation.
Democratic leaders assert thaN thcy
can bring about the aheIlsh4nehi Oh
the Commerce court by REFUSING 70
apnropriate for its continuance TINS
nhyfates the necessity for direct leels-
lation repeating the law establishing
the court, and will give the president
20 excuse for vetoing any approria-
ton bill.
The sevcn-year tenure civil service
provision will he permitted to take
it's place IA a general revision of the
civil service Lave now being framed
by the house committee on the civil
service and which Ia to he cons!d
cred at the next session of congress.
:. With these two provisions removed
from the legislative appropriation bill
fl will meet with the approval of tho
president and his signing OF II will
remove barrier against an adjourn
ment within ten days, which Is now
the aim OF the leaders.