The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-06-13

gressive, and of course this accounts
for their opposition and that OF the
Progressives and Progressive-Repub
licans.
The Democratic majority in the
house was pledged to support the
president under a rule of the caucus
and this of course naturally could be
depended upon TO be effective in hold
ing progressive Democrats in line. IL
already has been made to appear, how
ever, that the support of the progress
sive Democrats in the house was OBJ
tanned by the yielding of the leaders
to the demand that the house should
consider rural credit legislation at this
session, although this course was
against the presidents will in the
matter.
Rural Credit Must Wait.
This does not mean at all that ru-
raj credit legislation will be put
through congress at this session, for
while the house leaders seem to have
yielded in the matter, it is understood
that the senate Democrats will stand
by the administration and put rural
credit legislation over until more
study can be given the subject and
more proof adduced that the present
currency bill in itself will not meet
the special demands of a farmers
credit system.
While it is virtually certain that the
senate will put through the admins
tration's antitrust measures, 1t Is
probable the Democratic senators Will
be compelled 10 hold what they call
conference, but which in reality will
be a caucus, in order to bind all the
party members to the support OF the
majority does not hold a conference
it is known there are several majority
| members who will be much inclined TO
bolt when the voting time comes on
the antitrust bills as at present for
mulated.
| Their Reasons Opposite.
The ressive-Republicans in the
senate are opposed to the present
antitrust bills because they hold they
do not go far enough. The conserva'
tive Republicans are opposed to them
because they think they go too far.
The combination which by a remote
possibility might defeat the legislation
in the senate would be composed
therefore. of elements which would be
seeking to defeat the bills for diamet
rically opposite reasons.
There seems to be real hope among
the elements opposed to antitrust
legislation in its present form that II
can be defeated, but it seems little
curious that this hope exists, because
when things come to the final pass
almost unquestionably all the Demo
Gratis will be found in line With thu
administration. Some of them mal
be a little sullen but no longer def
ant, and for party harmony reasons
they probably will vote as the admin
istration and the leaders wish then
to do. Party harmony sometimes mus
be preserved at the expense Of indi
vidual opinion.
Probing Railway Finances.
For some time the interstate com
J merce commission has been invest
J eating the affairs of the New York
New Haven and Hartford railroad
The discoveries which have com
through inquiry, and in considerabl
, part through confession, have no
, been of kind to inspire the countr
with the belief that cleanliness 9
business dealing was the order of
former day in the financial operation
of some of the officials Of this Me-
England line.
\ The results have been such that IL
b. quiries are to be started into the a
= fairs Of other roads, those in whic
l.. the stockholders are said to have los
J. money and in some cases to hav
o been burdened with debt because I
the manipulations of men whose dali
O work is high finance"
+ Some time ago resolution was 4
n troduced into the house instructor
e the interstate commerce commissiC
l. to look into the matters connecte
i with certain railroad operations sa
r to be shady. Two railroads. the Rot
l. Island and the Pere Marquette. we
;. named. The resolution was not act'
upon by the house, but the committ'
which had it in charge suggested tn
the subject matter simply be referr'
n to the commission with the reque
t. that II act IL the conditions seemed
&C Justify action. The commission b
10 decided to act
n There is said to be no intention
lie the part of the members Of the CO.
IS mission to investigate any railroads
N the country whose financial operatio
Is have not given rise to reasonat
ut belief that they have INDUCED
lie practises similar to those which ha
1t brought the New Ravens doings In
III the limelight.
There seems to be a belief on t
in part of the commission that full p,
ut licity of the manipulations which ha
he brought trouble to innocent sto'
r. holders is the surest way to preve
o. bad conduct by high f1nanciers"
n the future. The commissioners fe
81 ing apparently is that publicity Of Il
On kind will be of much greater serv
le- to the people Of the country than