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Show Makes Lengthy Speech in Opposition Op-position to Provisions of the Railroad Bill. HAS SEVERAL LIVELY TILTS WITH SUTHERLAND Utahn Annonnces His Strict Ad-herance Ad-herance to Platform Pledges; Dixon After Sraoot. Special to The Tribune. WASHINGTON, T). C, April 23. Senator Borah of Idaho made a speech of nearly two hours' length in tho senate sen-ate this afternoon in opposition to the provisions of the railroad bill 'and the pending amendment b' Senator Crawford Craw-ford of South Dakota. The feature of the bill against which Senator "Borah inveighed was that which permitted agreements between railroads on classifications, rates, etc., without the approval of the interstate commerce. com-merce. Tho senator declared that the spirit of the bill and the Crawford amendment which apparently has the sanction of Senator Aldrich and the other oth-er Republican leaders, was to repeat not only the Sherman anti-trust law prohibiting conspiracies in restraint of trade, but tlie common law as well. Has Tilt With Sutherland. Sonalor Sutherland had several lively colloquies with Mr. Borah in ono of winch tho Utah senator announced his strict adherence to platform pledges and reminded Mr. Borah that tho Chicago platform demanded tho modification of tho Sherman anti-trust law. Senator Baton of Goorgia inquired whothcr Mr. Sutherland would legislate in accordance with political platforms or on his individual judgment as a senator, sen-ator, to which Mr. Sutherland replied. that he would give full weight to a parti' par-ti' platform declaration. Dixon After Smoot. Senator Dixon of Montana has made Senator Smoot and some of the othor followers of Senator Aldrich in the senate sen-ate from tho western states uncomfortable uncomfort-able with his "long and short haul3' amendmcuts. Mr. Dixon, who is a nenr-insurgont, nenr-insurgont, is seeking to break up the practice of trans-continental railroads in charging the full rate to the Pacific coast from the east, plus the local rate back to tho intermediate poiut of destination des-tination on through freight from the east to intermodiato points. Tho amendment amend-ment is desired by all of the commercial intorcsts in tho western and inter-mountain states. This practice of tho roads has been denounced by shippers associations associa-tions in Montana, Utah, Idaho and No-vada. No-vada. Cannot Serve Two Masters. The Dixon amendment brought to Washington a full complement of railroad rail-road lawyers to fight it. Senators El-kins El-kins and Aldrich are trying to line the senato regulars against it. Senator Smoot ami some of his colloagiies among tho regulars find it impossible to follow Aldrich and serve local interests at the same time in this instance. ' Ono Principal Objection. When Mr. Borah asserted that the provision cited also had the ofTect of of exempting the roads from the operation oper-ation of the common law, Mr. Elkins expressed a willingness to amend the bill so as to relieve it from this charge. Tie said that on this point the Cummins Cum-mins amendment went as far as his, both legalizing agreements. Mr. Cummins undertook to point out the difference and was assisted by Mr. Bailey. "The provision of tho senator from West Virginia, permits the contracts," con-tracts," said the senator from Texas. "Tho amendment of the senator from Jowa permits them, but makes it impossible im-possible lo carry them into execution." Mr. Elkins cautioned his Republican colleagues against advice- from the Democratic Dem-ocratic side. "Beware of tho Greeks when they come bearing gifts," he said. Mr. Borah announced his opposition to anv rcpoal of tho anti-trust law, but said if it was to bo superseded at all, ho would profcr tho Cummins' amendment amend-ment to other suggestions. Sutherland Butts In. At this point Mr. Sutherland raised tho point as to compliance with the Republican platform, ana Mr. Bacon asked him whother ho would permit himself to bo controlled by a party platform when contrary to his own conviction. con-viction. The Utah senator replied in the negative, but said he would host-tate host-tate a long time boforo selling up his individual judgment against the combined com-bined declaration of his pnrty. "If I supposed,'-' said Senator Smith of Michigan, who hitherto had expressed ex-pressed a contrary opinion, "that this proposed legislation would harmfully or unwisely chango the anti-trust 'law, I would not vote for it if deelarod for by all tho political parties in Christendom. Christ-endom. Not in Accord. Mr. Borah contended that Hie traffic traf-fic 'provision was not in accord, cither with the Republican platform, with the messages of President Roosevelt, or with those of President Tal't, with the exception of the Inst recommendation recommenda-tion of tho latter. Mr. 13orah argued that with the Hl-kins-Crawford provision enacted, all the "crime clement" in a combination of railroads would bo eliminated. Under the present law, ho said, the combination combina-tion constituted the crime, there could be no offense in tho mere tiling ot .rates, and with tho conspiracy feature removed, the roads could not be prosecuted pros-ecuted under law. There could bo no criminality in accepting ttio invitation of tho government to enter into a compact. Hp assorted that under this provision there would be a gonornl agreement among tho railroads with the result that practically all rates would go into effect without previous examination examina-tion or approval 011 the part of the .aovorumeut. |