Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-09
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Recommendation as to Fixing
Railroad Rates.
ARE NOT PERFUNCTORY
PRESIDENTS RECENT TALKS
WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
He Wants Powers of Interstate Com
merce Commission Enlarged-No Ac-
ton on Saturday Half Holiday.

practically given a number of members OIL
Congress to understand that his recon-
mendations as to increasing the powers OF
the interstate commerce commission in the
fixing of railroad rates were not perfume
tory. He has permitted it to be understood
that he is sincere and earnest in his desire
to see something done, and that he is not
a believer in postponement of action
where it is so palpable that there should be
action The Presidents earnestness in this
direction has been demonstrated in the last
day or two upon inquiry being made of
him by members of Congress interested in
the question of enlarged powers for the
interstate commerce commission. Western
members have told the President that they
believe that this session of Congress ought
not to pass without something being done
They have said that there is greater inter-
est among the people in the trust and rail-
road questions than in the revision of the
tariff, and that there is feenng tnat the
time is now ripe for some legislation 10 De
enacted. The President has reiterated IN
the last few days that railroad rates ought
to be made fair and equal to all. ana tnat
there should be nc rebates: that the COM
mission should be given the power to de-
clare when a rate Is reasonable or unreal
sonable, its decision to become effective
unless reversed by the courts, of the land
Most Important Legislative Act Needed
fTeSlQenI ftOOSeNeit ulStlHSby uSSif' w -
his message that in his Judgment the most
important legislative act now needed as re-
CARDS the regulation of corporations is this
act to confer on the interstate commerce
commission the power to revise rates and
regulations the revised rate to at once go
into effect, and to stay in effect unless and
until the court of review reverses it.
Teegraphc dispatches have been broad
casted in the last few days declaring that
~. ,,nf nIrnc q
this session. That view Is not based, it IS
said, upon any active canvass of Congress,
but upon what seems to be an aversion to
doing anything of Importance at this ses-
sion beyond appropriation bills.
Many members of Congress have recently
talked to the President the subject, and
have told him that the people are with him
on the rebate question. They have stated
that tlfey believe public sentiment will in
sist on his recommendations being put into
law before the conclusion of this session.
and that they see no reason why there
should be delay until the next session.
Senator Elkins, who is the chairman of
the Senate committee on interstate COM
merce, has had a short talk with the Presi-
dent on the question of what legislation
ought to go through at this session, but
there will be much longer and more i'm
portant talk later on. There is no doubt
that as soon as he clears away a number
of pressing matters the President will talk
with Representative Hepburn and members
ject.
The Tariff in Connecticut
Representative Henry of Connecticut,
talking of the tariff revision sentiment in
his state. said: Nobody in Connecticut is
crying for tariff revision. Everything is
humming and prosperous. Many of us feel
that the time is coming when there must
be some slight revision of the tariff, but
the point 1 make is that there is no demand
for it now"
Senator Platt of Connecticut saw the
President on personal matter. Senator
Proctor of Vermont introduced Olin Mer-
rill. collector of custome and republican
leader of the state. Other callers included
Senators Dolliver and Allison of Iowa, a
call of respects; Senator Frye of Maine;
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, Senator
Pettus of Alabama, and Senator Bacon of
Georgia
Elihu Root, ex-Secretary of War, called
on the President just before the cabinet
meeting and shook hands with his former
colleagues.
The Saturday Half Holiday.
The cabinet at it's session today, did not
give any attention to the decision of the
District Court of Appeals that Saturday
afternoon in the District of Columbia is a
legal half holiday. 1t was not talked about
in the least. Attorney General Moody, on
going away from the meeting, said that the
decision of the court simply reinforced the
assumption reached by the heads of de-
partments last summer, when the same
question was under consideration. At that
time, he said, the administrations proceeded
upon the supposition that the law as to a
Saturday half holiday was legal but that
under other enactments heads of depart
mentS have the authority to keep their de-
partments open and employees at work on hol-
idayS or whenever they see fit 1t had then
been decided that the business of the gov
eminent demanded regular work on Sat
urday afternoon except in the summer
| months, when the time could be taken
without seriously affecting the work of
the departments.
There is no probability that any con-
clusion other than that announced by Mr..
Moody will be made by the President or
heads of departments, and that the decis
sion of the Court of Appeals will not af-
feet any change in the working hours of
government clerks.
Promotion for L. G. C. Lamar's Son.
President Roosevelt has again indicated
his friendliness to the south and his nom
sectionalism. He authorized the statement
that he intended to appoint l.. O. c. Lamar
the only son of the late senator, cabinet
officer and Supreme Court justice of that
name, who now holds a civil service place
here in Washington, to some better po-
SlIlOH at the earliest pTdclIcdDie GATE. This
declaration on the part of the President is
the result of a conversation last summer
between the President and Edgar S. Will
son, the Presidents adviser in the state of
Mississippi. Discussing the great men of
the country, the name of Mr.. Lamar was
mentioned, and the President pronounced a
eulogy on the deceased Mississippi states
man. and concluded by asking Mr.. Wilson
If Mr.. Lamar had a son. Mr.. Wilson replied
that he had, and that he held minor po-
elf In, nv1a in Wool
ington, whereupon the President is reported
to have said that appealed to him, and
requested Mr.. Wilson at his convenience
to bring the matter to his attention that
he might appoint Mr.. Lamar, having been
assured of his high character and capacity,
to some better position.
Mr. Wilson again called the Presidents
attention to the conversation and he stated
he would take pleasure in carrying out the
purpose he then indicated Mr.. Lamar ac-
companied by Mr.. Wilson, at the Presi-
dents invftatio called on him, and Mr.
Lamar thanked the President stating that
Tod ~ r..