The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-28
Will Not Urge Adoption of His
Railroad Rate Policy at This
Session of Congress.
OFFICIALS TO HOLD POWWOW.
Unless They and Representatives
of Shippers Association, Reach
Agreement, Nothing Likely
VIII BE Done.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

J u E4l-I'~ SI'ES lAL-
| WASHINGTON. Dec. 27-Anotiler change
has occurred in administrative tactics re-
gardiHG the railroad rate problem and it
comes on the heels Of the news that there
Is TO be great conference of railroad
presidents and railroad lawyers here next
week to endeavOr 10 agree on a bill that
VIII apply to truuk-line roads, as wei! as
the shippers.
A week ago the President was full OF the
idea of having the matter settled at this
session OF Congress. and it was reported
from the White House that Attorney Gen.
eral Moody would prepare a bill which
would ernt0dy his ideas and those of the
President and that the administration
. would urge that this bill be passed this
winter.
But to-day an entirely different story
came from the White House after the
Cabinet meeting. This was that 1t was
not the intention Of the President and
his Cabinet 10 press on Congress an "ad-
ministration measure" dealing with the
railroad rate problem. because such a
measure would be doomed to defeat
WILL OFFER ADVICE.
This is i !ightnlnglike change. The an
dent and the Attorney General Will b,
c3ntent cont Win expressing their opinion and
mat the Attorney General will offer his
A'iElce 10 those members OF Congress
VINO desire il. II Is also said that inc
AttoTney General has already talked with
problem with him.
ms Is not only i radical departure
from the Programme but it is a rranr..
from former methods OF the President
nt-n no Vf1Ff true l..
i'e last congress. the bills were agreed
20 by the President and the leaders Of
Congress and tney wer. drawn by Attor-
n'y General Knox. The prograuIrne as
arranged by the President. went through
without single change. and the reason
I9F II was that the railroads got what
ti'eS mad been asking for several years
the repeal OF the criminal clause fn,.
StSHtI!S rebates and giving secret rates.
senatorial sensitiveness. of course. has
had something to do with the decision of
the administration 10 hold its hand in the
preparation of a bill of it, own brrt rhe
controlling reason. of course Is the meet
ing which has been arranged between the
railroad men and the shippers To be-, held
here next week.
RAILROADS COUNTERMOVE.
1t Is said that nearly all the trunk lines
and great systems Will be represented
Great things are expected from this con-
ference. The railroad men will be rr..rarad
represented by l. +. Bacon OF Milwaukee,
ana ctneT Organizations interested in nav
ing the power Ia IlN rates givrI! 10 the In
terState Commerce Commission
The railroads want 4 bill which will l.-
gaiize pooling TAe shippers want bill
which Will permit the Interstate Com
rer Commission 70 nX rateS on COM
plants ana proof that the rate is exces-
sive. review TO be had before the United
States courts.
Whether these interests can get to-
Gcther. the conference next week will de
termiuc- II has been intImated that the
shippers would be willing To have a pool
ing clause put into their bill if they
could obtain authority Tor the Interstate
Commerce Commission 10 fix and change
rates.
II these two widely separated interests
can get together on bilI. 1t is likely that
there Will be legislation this winter
whether the administration presents a bill
or not, because. with the railroads and
the shippers both FOR a measure, there
would be Gfmust no opposition.
On the other hand. should next weeks
conference TAIL To reach an agreement
then there is no prospect OF legislation
this winter.