His enemies and his friends alike realize that if the law isn't passed there will be a roar from the public.

So they pass the bill with amendments.

In other words, they kill its usefulness.

I suppose that's why I am always happy to leave convention behind, to be sent to the middle of Africa, to Patagonia, or sign an agreement to go to the North Pole." "The North Pole?
Have you been to the Arctic ?" "No; but I expect to go up in June with an Italian explorer." "Isn't it terribly lonely up there ?" "It can't be worse than the Sahara or our own Death Valley.

One extreme is as bad as the other.