The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-11-28
Washington, Novembere5 100

opposed to the ship subsidy bill, fearing
that 1t would tempt others to engage in
building and operating rival lines. Wheth-
er this explanation be accurate or not, IL
Is at least certain that the great transcon-
tinental lines have desisted from active
opposition to the canal and now seem to
be favoring it, that the big railway men
are engaging largely in the ship building
and operating business, and that none Of
them are pressing with any vigor for the
passage Of the shipping bill-a fact other
wise almost inexplicable. AS practically
exclusive owners Of all shipping lines be-
tween Atlantic and Pacific United States
ports-a traffic which, like all other do
mestic shipping, Is reserved by the con-
stitution to American citizens exclusively
they can divide freights as may seem
most profitable, assigning those which re-
quire speedy movement and pay high
rates to their railroads, and those which
are heavier, cheaper, and less exigent, to
their steamship lines.
Railroads are rivaling reciprocity in
popular Interest and In the deliberations
Of officers Of government nowadays, inter-
est turning especially on the makeup Of
the senate committee on interstate COM
merce, several of whose members have
been In the past the worst sort of stun
bling blocks in the way of any reform Of
the Interstate commerce act. The COM
mittee will be erevolutionjzed In the coming
session, Senators Chandler. Wolcott, Chill
ton, and Lindsay retiring from the senate
altogether and Senator Cullom of Illinois
resigning from Its craftsmanship, his place
being taken by Senator Elkins of West
Virginia. These vancancies will enable
new men to be placed on the committee
men who, it is hoped, will be more con-
ciliatory and who will be able to accom-
plish something instead of remaining
dead-locked the year around. Senator
Elkins, who has been reported to be op-
poseo to any reform, has just stated that
he will soop introduce Q bill amending tlsa
law. Hsrdeclines to say for what this
will provide, further than that 1t will be
on different lines from those of the social
ed Cullom bill of the last congress- Prob
ably it will be compromise measure,
permitting pooling by the roads In return
for legislation allowing the Interstate COM
merce commission to decide, not only
that any given rate is unreasonable" !"
but also to declare what rate is reasonable,
and to enforce It's decision in the courts.
Pugnacious as President Roosevelt Is
supposed to be, he has had his fill of
fighting during the past week, and has
fairly run away for a few days' cruise on
Chesapeake Bay, where he can fill his
lungs with fresh air and make ready for
the strain that will inevitably attend the
opening of congress. The bitter political
contests that have been waged in New
York, In Delaware, In several southern
states land especially In Missouri, haye en-
tirely satisfied the presidents love of
combat. Then, too, the brief escape from
official cares will enable him to consider
his course In what Is generally expected
to be bitter struggle between himself
and senatorial prerogative. This may
come about In several ways, but that it
will come sooner or later no one here
questions. For instance, only this week,
Mr.. Roosevelt announced that he should
select officers for promotion to high rank
in the army solely on their records, and
that political influence would cut no figure
In the matter. The senators to whom he
made this statement could hardly believe
their ears. One republican senator, who
fairly represents others, 80 far as feeling
is concerned, at once retorted sharply,
Every we'll, Mr.. President" he said, 'sthis
is declaration of your purpose. But I
would remind you, sir, that the senate is
also part of the appointing power Of this
government that 1t must confirm all
nominations made by you; and that it
may have something very different to say
on the subject later on" This, of course,
whether it will result In head-on collision
or not remains to be seen. If public
opinion supports Mr.. Roosevelt, he will
win. There are not half dozen senators
who will dare to stand against it.
According to gossips, Mr.. Roosevelt
had yet another object in leaving the city
just at this time. The Rev. Ell. d. Van
Broekhuizen, ex-chaplain of the Boer
Volksraad, had announced that he would
preach on Sunday on existing conditions
in Boerland, in Grace Dutch Reformed
church, where Mr.. Roosevelt regularly
attends. While Americans would readily
understand that no Importance was to be
attached to Mr.. Roosevelt's presence on
such an occasion, there is no telling In
what shape the incident might be served
up abroad. Hence, it was argued that
1t might be we'll for the president to re-
main away, and 1t was suggested that
this had something to do with his depart
ure. However, IL Mr. Roosevelt really
left town for such reason, he must have
changed his ways exceedingly, Indifference
to public criticism having ever been his
most strongly marked characteristic.
There will be many attempts made this
winter to repeal or further reduce war
tariff items left standing after the reduc-
ton OF last year. Particularly ia this case
In regard to those on liquors, beer and
stock exchange transactions. both because
these are the main Items that are still
higher than before the war, and beacuse