The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-18
RAILROADS ARE DISSATISFIED
President Roosevelt Win Insist on
the Recommendation Made q
His Message to Congress
Being Carried Out

authority to the Interstate Commerce
commission to revise railroad rates,
upon complaint that they are unrea-
sonable such revision to be subject
to review by the federal courts. He
win insist upon the enactment of this
legislation until 1t is secured. This
statement is authoritative.
In the house and in the senate
strong opposition to the legislation ad-
yocated by the president is rapidly de-
veloping. The opposition, for various
reasons. is determined that the presi-
dents recommendations shall be dis
regarded. As yet they do not APP
preciate to the full the presidents de-
termination. but supported by some
railroad interests they will not yield
nutil forced to do SO.
This situation makes certain one Of
the hardest legislative fights in re-
cent years, and 1t will be for the re-
publican party. Notwithstanding the
strength of the opposition, the presi-
dent win eventually win, backed as
he is by public sentiment and
strengthened by his unyielding deter
mination.
The presidents recommendation
that the Interstate Commerce COM
mission be given authority to revise
rates was made only after the most
careful consideration. The PROPOSE
ton to confer such power on the In
terstate Commerce commission was
not original with the president, though
the adoption of the plan as solution
of the adoption of the plan as a solu-
ton of the problem of unreasonable
rates which is developing intense ir-
ritation throughout the country was
upon his own motion. He studied the
situation and concluded that therin
was the remedy.
The presidents purpose in making
this recommendation to the present
congress was to draw the teeth Of the
opposition my having 1t develop its
arguments. His tactics are similar to
those of the general who, before be-
ginning an attack. searches the
enemy's front with his artillery, to de-
velop their position.
Though realizing that It is most diff
hcult to secure new legislation at a
short session of congress, the presi-
dent hoped that theere would be un-
reasonable opposition to his plan. II
that opposition develops as pro-
nouncedly as is now promised, the
aggressive campaign in behalf Of his
plan. His recommendation has al
ready arrested public attention, and
has now the prestige Of his SUPPORT.
In public addresses, which he is GER
tain to make, after the adjournment
of congress, the president will devote
large attention to this rate revision
idea as an important step in the di-
rection Of solving the trust problem.
He will, also. in his next annual
message to congress make rate revis-
ion by the Interstate Commerce COM
mission, subject to judicial review.
the principal topic of his message.
He has made up his mind to fight for
1t and he never enters a fight in be-
half of any idea without the deter
mination to win. This is a quality
which some of those opposed to his
plan have not appreciated. They had
an idea that rather than risk a serious
party strife he would yield to opposi-
tion and not force the fighting. But
they have not measured the man. He
means to secure this legislation. That
fact must be accepted.
The president has measured the
menace of socialism, which. he be-
lieves, must grow If the republican
party does not meet every issue
squarely. He will fight the erroneous
doctrines of socialism with all the
earnestness of his nature. But at the
same time he will do his part to re-
move the causes of grievance that
have fertilized the soil in which So
cialism of Abraham Lincoln. While
Lincoln had to meet disunionism in
the form of slavery and the determin-
alton of the south to rule or ruin
Theodore Roosevelt feels that he is
fighting disunionism in the shape Of
socialism.
He proposes, as he states to those
who have his confidence, to stand for
the interests of the plain people of
the United States" regardless of all
opposition. Part of that stand is his
fight against unreasonable freight
rates. Those who think that fight
will not be aggressive to not remem-
Der his three years fight for trust
regulatory legislation, and they forget