The San Francisco call., 1905-01-11
VIII Call an Extra Session
of Congress as Early as
Possible to Revise the
Schedules Now in Force
REIMBURSEMENT WILL
NOT BE SWEEPING
President Will Press Action
to Supervise the Inter-
state Freight Rates Of
Railroads of the Country

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-President
Roosevelt favors the earliest possible
action looking to a revision by Con-
gress of the tariff. He so informed the
Senators and Representatives, who
were in conference with him at the
White House last Saturday, and he
has made plain his position to others
since that conference. He will call
the Fifty-ninth Congress into extra
ordinary session as soon as the COM
mittees have indicated that they are
prepared to submit tariff measure
for passage.
One of those present at the con-
ference on Saturday said to-day in
view of the many conflicting stories
published regarding the meeting, that
the President informed them that,
while he did not believe in anv sweep
ing revision of the tariff and would
abide absolutely by the judgment of
the two houses of Congress in a mat
ter that related so particularly to
them, yet he did think the time had
come when the schedules should be
thoroughly examined and there should
be readjustment.
The President added that his own
view was that the special session
should take place at the earliest date
at which the committees of the two
houses could come to an agreement.
If .hey took this view, he said, he
would hold himself ready to call the
extraordinary session at whatever
time the members of the two commit
tees, especially the House Committee
on Ways and Means, should inform
him they would be ready with their
report.
MAY MEET IN OCTOBER.
If Congress should act on the tariff
question in accordance with the Presi-
dents desire, it was made perfectly
plain to-day that the extraordinary
session would be called to assemble
the coming spring. 1t has been point
ed out, however, by the tariff experts
of the House and Senate that it will
require many weeks to prepare
measure for submission to the House.
The President realizes that there is a
practical objection to an early spring
session of Congress, as the members
of the committees have not the time
now necessary to devote to the prep
aration of tariff bill.
So far as the President is concerned
he would be willing to have Congress
in session during the summer months.
He has indicated his entire readiness
to remain in Washington next summer
If Congress will undertake at that time
the consideration of a tariff measure,
but Congress, thus far, has shown no
disposition to accede to the PROPOSE
tior of a hot weather session.
While no decision of a definite char
acter has been reached as to the time
of the extraordinary session, 1t is reas-
enable to believe that If one should be
called to meet next autumn 1t prob
ably will be in October.
least prospect of differences so radical
arising between the President and the
Republican leaders in Congress over
the tariff question as to cause a split
in the party. While the President is
deeply in earnest in his desire for tariff
revision, he regards the question as
one of expediency inasmuch as no prin-
ciple is at stake.
TO FIGHT RAILROADS.
On another question, however-that
of legislation relating to interstate
freight rates Of railroads-his mind is
quite made UP. He will fight for that
legislation, and fight hard. He hopes
TO secure from Congress some definite
action regarding that legislation at the
present session, but If he does not. he
will bring the subject again before
Congress at the proposed extraordinary
session and will urge with all his power
the Capitalization into law of the rec
concentrations he has already made to
Congress on that question. The freight
rate question he does not regard as
one of expediency. He holds that 1t
is subject in which a great moral
principle is involved, and one very near
to all the people of the country. He
regards 1t, in fact, as the paramount
issue at this time.
Some concern was given at the con-
ference to the subject of appropria-
tions to be authorized at the present
session Of Congress. The President
cordially approved of the disposition of
Congress to hold the appropriations
down to the lowest possible limit but
he urged very strongly that the naval
appropriations should not be material
ly disturbed, saying that the best guar.
antee of peace for this country lies in
a strong and homogeneous navy, and
that the navy programme as mapped
out should be carried into effect, with
out the dropping of a single vessel.
The President maintained that Con-
gress should authorize the construction
not merely of one or two cruisers. but
of battleshiDs, and he expressed the
hope that an agreement with him In
this regard might be reached in Con-
gress.