Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-12
RAILROAD BILL s
CHANGES BEFORE
NEW YEAR SLIM
Underwood Urges PASSAGE Of
CumminS Measure; Believes
President Will Return Lines
to Owners.
10y MORNING ,ovprAl s-so,A. .l.sEo w,.s,

tsY MORNING JOURNAL s-GctAl IIAsEo wlsul
Washington, Dec, ll.-Hope of en-
acting railroad legislation by January
/, the date on which President Wilson
has announced the roads would be
turned back to private control. virtu-
ally was abandoned today by senate
leaders.
Strong and unexpected opposition
developed during consideration of the
Cummins bill designed to meet condi-
tions with the end of government con-
troll and it was by slim and narrow
margin that its advocates defeated a
motion to set it aside and take up the
sugar control measure.
In view of the short remaining time
before the Christmas recess and the
fact that the Cummins bill, if passed,
must be sent to conference with the
Esch bill recently passed by the house,
republicans and democratic senators
predicted that II would not be humans
" possible to frame a law by the end
of the month, even if congress Kept
steadily and continuously at work
AAN hfl9 . AHNhA - was hGCLltN ulodD-
pointing to friends OF the Cummins
bill which would have been passed
Monday, with less than score of sem
ators voting, except for demand by
Senator La Toilette, republican, OF
Wisconsin, for a quorum. on an aye
and nay vote the bill was passed and
Vice President Marshall was ready to
announce the result when the obvious
absence of quorum upset the whole
proceeding and reopened discussion.
During an address, today, in which
he made a sharp demand for immedi-
ate action, Senator Underwood, dem
ocrat, of Alabama, took notice of
widely circulated rumors that the
president would not return the roads
TO their owners January /, Senator
Underwood frankly announced that he
did not know what President Wilson
intended to do.
But he added, "the president has
said that he would turn them back
the first of the year and il has been
my observation that when he said he
would do thing he did it,
Taking up for the time being the
minority leadership, Senator Under
wood fought off attempts TO sidetrack
the railroad bill, and defended it |
against attacks by members OF his
own party.
While he did not approve all of its
he declared it protected |
he financial interests of the roads |
md did rot unduly hurG~ the lublic. |
The principal attack on the bill |
was made by Senator LaFollette, who |
/. ready had spoken two full days and |
Who has not yet approached the end |
If his long address. After he had |
,een steadily opposing the measure |
or two hours, Senator LaFollette |
yielded the floor to SEN
ltor Mcclellan democrat, Tennessee,
Who was proceeding to demand elm
nation of certain provisions, charac-
erized as "Bolshevistic," when he
lalted suddenly and announced that
le did not intend to speak to empty
'enches.
In the long snarl which the senate
ound itself while trying to decide
whether to continue with the railroad
ill or take up the sugar bill, the lack
4 interest in pending railroad legis-
alton was bitterly attacked from both
ldes of the chamber Almost an
our was lost today in quorum calls
yhich Senator Smoot, republican,
Jtah. denounced as inexcusable, with
vitality important question before
ongress But in the two-hour
on the sugar bill itself,
ut the question of taking it up---re-
ublicans and democrats had on their
Ighting clothes, with the discussion
unning far afield.
In his argument against the bill,
enator LaFollette declared its enact
lent would add to the cost of living
ecause an increase in freight rates
'ould come with the end of govern
lent control, which he insisted, had /
cen eminently successful.
There was suggestion from a
umber of senators after adjournment ;
might, that it might be necessary to
efer the Christmas recess. 1t also !
as suggested that the senate en- {
eavor to obtain from the president
statement as to his plans for the /
lrning back of the roads, in view of |
is silence on this question since his
lassage to the extraordinary session !
congress last May.