Show CLAPPS SPEECH ON RAILWAY MEASURE Sharp Criticism of Many Fea Features Features Features tures of the Bill by Minnesota Min Minnesota Minnesota Man Washington March Maren 22 Senator Clapp of ot Minnesota made ma e an extended speech In the senate today on the administration administration ad administration ministration railroad bill which he termed revolutionary in many of Its provisions Mr Clapp sharply criticised many many features of the bill He was especially severe severs on the policy polley of specialization in the judiciary saying to select five men to hear all the railroad cases in inevitably Inevitably inevitably would subject them to public censure a censure so intense he did not believe even the Apostle Paul could stand under itHe it IL itHe He contended for tor the right of ship shippers shippers shippers pers to representation in any case ease in tn inthe inthe the courts involving orders of the interstate In Interstate Interstate commerce commission To eliminate the commission place the de defense defense defense in the hands of the department of justice and make the United States the defendant would be to rob the real party at Interest of all right of defense he said He denounced the provision provisions as s absolutely contrary to the spirit of American institutions The Merger Provision Mr Clapp boldly charged the purpose purpose of the merger provision n of ot the bill to tobe tobe tobe be the validation of existing holdings by one railroad company of the th stock of another He ridiculed the provisions permitting the court to pass on the le legality legality legality of combination contracts before their consummation and authorizing It to consider the question of the public interest In taking cognizance of such matters He did not believe any coun country country country try on earth would tolerate such an argument Confidence was expressed that before the vote was taken on the bill It would be amended to provide for notice in connection with injunction proceedings and for appeals from interlocutory decrees de decrees derees crees rees The discussion of this phase of the question elicited from Senator El EI Elkins kins a renewed statement of ot his In Inclination Inclination Inclination towards such a course Pertinent Question Mr fr Sutherland asked the West Vir Virginia Virginia Virginia ginia senator whether there was any an objection to retaining the provision of the existing law on this subject and Mr Elkins replied the matter was un under under under der consideration Is it true asked Mr Cummins the tho majority of ot the committee is holding meetings on these points |