Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-12

ing before the Christmas recess and the 1act that the Cummins bill. if passed, must be sent to conferenca with the Esch bill, recently passed by the mouse, republican and democratic senators predicted that 1t would not ne humanly possible to frame a law, by the end of the month, even if con stess Kept steadily and continuously at work.
 The days upturn was keenly disap- pointing to friends of the Cummins b1H, which would have been passed Monday with less than score of sem ators voting. except for a demand by senator Lafollette, republican of Wis consin, for quorum.
 During the course of an address to- day in which he made sharp demand for immediate action, Senator Under wood, democrat, of Alabama, took no t1ce of widely circulated rumors that the president would not return the. roads to their owners on Janpary Senator Underwood frankly an- nounced 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 hrSt Of the year. and it has been my observation that when he said he'd do thing he did it."
 Taking up for the time being the minority leadership, Senator Under-s wood fought off attempts to sidetracki [ the railroad bill. and defended against attacks by members of his l own party. While he did not approve all of it's provisions, the Alabama sen l ator declared it protected the financial i interests of the roads and did not un | duly burden the public.
 | The OTiOcipaI tfapIz oY, f11o hill
 made by Senator Lafollette who aIz ready had spoken two full days and twho has not yet approached the end of his long address. After he had 1 been steadily assailing the measure 1 for two hours, Senator Lafollette tenn porarily yielded tho floor to Senator, l McKellar, democrat. of Tennesssec who was proceeding to demand elinli nation of certain provisions, charae-, | terized as "Bolshevistic," when sbe halted suddenly and announced that.
 he did not intend to speak to empty | benches. 1 In the long snarl in which the sefi-, ate found itself while trying to decide in the course of a two hour fight whether to continue with the railroad or take up the sugar bill, the lack a- interest in pending railroad legislation. was bitterly attacked from both sides of the chamber Almost an hour was
 lost today in quorum calls. is l.. In his argument against the bill lSenator La. Toilette declared it's enact lment would add to the cost Of living because an increase in freight rates would come with the end of govern ment control, which he insisted had
 been eminently successful. 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 gov
 ernment operation would show a profit from this time on and that thers
 would be no need for an increase iiI
 rates"
 Senator McKeiar's particular ob- jection to the Cumming hill was tha
 it would take a part of the earnings
 from a road propertly managed and
 rendering efficient service. and give if
 to road poorly managed and of lit.
 tie benefit to the public. -
 There was suggestion from a mum.
 Der of senators after adjournment to-
 night that it might be necessary to de --
 fer the Christmas recess. It also was
 suggested that the senate endeavor to
 obtain from the president a statement : as to his plans for the turning back / of the roads.