Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-12
Give UP HOPE OF
ENACT|NC R. ALL
LEGISLATION NOW
Strong and Unexpected 0ppo.
sition Develops to Cum
Minis Bill in U. S.
Senate.

Washington, Dec. 1z.-Hope of
enacting railroad legislation by jan
uary /, the date on which President
Wilson has announced the, roads
would be turned back to private con-
troll, virtually was abandoned today
by senate leaders.
Strong and unexpected opposition
developed during consideration Of
the Cummins bill, designed to meet
conditions with the end of govern
ment control, and it was BY slim
and narrow margin that its advocates
defeated motion to set it aside and
take up the sugar control measure.
In view of the short time remain
ing 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, republican and demo-
cratic senators predicted that it
would not be humanity possible to
frame a law by the end of the
month, even if congress kept stead
lily and continuously at work.
Upturn Disappointing.
The days upturn was keenly dis
appointing to friends of the Cum
Minis bill, which would have been
passed Monday, with less than a
score of senators voting, except for
a demand by Senator La Toilette,
republican of Wisconsin, FOR a
quorum. On an aye and nay vote
the bill was passed and Vice Presi-
dent Marshall was ready to an
nounce the result when the obvious
absence of quorum upset the whole
proceeding and reopened discussion.
During an address today in which
he made sharp demand for imme-
date action. Senator Underwood,
democrat 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 Will
son intended to do.
But" he added. "the president has
said that he would turn them back
the first of the year and it has been
my observation that when he said
he would do thing he did it."
Fights Sidetracking Bills.
Taking up for the time being the
leadership, Senator Under
wood fought off attempts to side
track the railroad bill and defended
it against attacks by members of his
own party. While he did not ap-
prove all of its provisions he de-
clared it protected the financial inter-
ests of the roads and did not un-
duly burden the public.
The principal attack on the bill
was made by Senator La Toilette,
who already had spoken two full
days and who has not yet ap-
preached the end of his long adj
dress. After he had been steadily
opposing the measure for two hours
Senator La Toilette temporarily
yielded the floor to Senator Nc
Kellar, democrat, Tennessee, who
was proceeding to demand elimina-
ton of certain provisions, character
lied as "bolshevistic," when he
halted suddenly and announced that
he did not intend to speak to empty
benches.
In the long snarl which the SEN
ate found itself while trying to de-
eide whether to continue with the
railroad bill or take up the sugar
bill, the lack of interest in pending
railroad legislation was bitterly at
tackled from both sides of the
chamber. Almost an hour was lost
today in quorum calls which Sen
ator Smoot, republican, Utah, de-
nounced as inexcusable, with a vital
ly important question before con-
gress. But in the two-hour wrangle
mot on the sugar bill itself, but
the question of taking it up-re-
publicans and democrats had on
their fighting clothes, with the dis
cussion far aield.
Can Now Show Profit.
In his argument against the bill,
Senator La Toilette declared its en-
actment would add to the cost of
living because an increase in freight
rates would come with the end of
government control, which, he in
sisted, had been eminently success
full. Senator La Toilette said he had
been assured "by competent men in
the Railroad administration" that
the crest of the hill had been
reached and that government oper-
alton would show profit from
this time on, and that there would
be no need for an increase in rates."
Senior McKellar's objection to the
Cummins bill was that it would take
part of the earnings from a rail-
road properly managed and render
ing efficient service and give it to
road poorly managed and of little
benefit to the public. He character
lied the provision as "indefensible."
There was a suggestion from
number of senator's after adjourn
ment tonight that it might be neces-
sary to defer the Christmas recess.
Il also was suggested that the SEN
ate endeavor to obtain rom the,
president statement as to his plans
for the turning back of the roads,
IN view of his silence on .llis ques-
ton since his message to the ex-
.raordinary session of congress last
May