The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-21
HOPES CONGRESS
DISPLAYS WISDOM
iDOILIVER BELIEVES RAILROAD
MEASURE WILL BE SUPPORTED.
Iowa Senator Leaves for Washington
and Talks Freely Of Prospective
Legislation-Does Not Think Pres1-
dent Will Urge Tariff Changes as
Matter for Immediate Attention.
Special to The Journal.


Fort Dodge, Iowa, Nov. Ex-senator Dolli-
yer, with his family, left last night for Wash
ington to take up the work of the approaching
session Of congress. . To the Journal cor
respondent he talked freely about the prospec-
tive legislation.
..The present session of congress- he said,
ais likely to become memorable on account or
the Importance Of the questions with which 1T
has to deal. 1t is likely that the presidents
message will give the keynote of congressional
activity for the winter. And unless all re-
ports are at fault the message Will give an
overshadowing prominence to the railroad-rate
question. I have very strong hope that there
will be wisdom enough in congress to bring both
houses together in support Of the presidents
recommendation this subject
''It Is unfortunate in a sense that persistent
attempts have been made to befog the public
mind as to what the president wishes to have
done. Vast quantities of literature have been
circulated to warn the people against the policy
of taking the business of the railroads out of
the hands Of their managers and putting 1T into
the hands of government commission. All of
this literature is circulated as If proposition
like that was pending in congress. Books have
been written, some Of them evidently made to
order, to exhibit the evils Of government own
ership. and to portray the inefhciency of Euro
pean methods of dealing with the railroad prob
lem. All these efforts to influence public opin-
ion we'll enough in their way, but they do
not deal with the question which President
Roosevelt has raised
Explains Proposed Measure.
''That question is simple and easily under
stood Shall complaint made by shipper.
that the rate charged Is unreasonable, be decided
by the traffic department Of the road without
appeal, or shall the government create an impair
tial public tribunal, to hear and adjudicate such
complaints with fairness and Justice to both par
ties? That is exactly what President Roosevelt
proposes.
''To say that such provision Of law takes
the business Of the railroads out of their
hands and turns it to the government is
utter confusion Of the subject. Such tri-
bunal to bring to fair settlement rate con-
troverses between the railroads and the ship
ping community Is absolutely essential to per-
manent, good understanding between the great
interests involved. Instead Of disturbing their
relations, 1t will operate to pacify and compose
them. Conscious Of Its right to appeal to a
tribunal, with no interest in the question, eX-
cept to do what is right and just. the shipper
will meet the traffic manager under conditions
which will, in nearly every case, enable them
to agree together, that instead Of introducing
an element of disturbance into the business
community, the proposal of the president looks
In the direction Of peace and good will. am of
the opinion that such legislation, far from injur-
ing the railroads aid their patrons, will tend
toward better conditions for both Of them
Senator Dolliver was asked about the pros
poets Of tariff legislation in this session Of con-
gress- AS to that he said
Tariff Changes Not Expected.
''1t is a little difficult to predict. think
nearly everybody is agreed that general re-
vision Of the tariff is not called for at this
time. Whether specific changes could be made
in the schedules here and there in the act OF
1897 Is practically a question Of parliamentary
tactics If you could get everybody to agree
the schedule which needs amendment ouI
path would be comparatively plain. But the
discussion has already developed the fact that
tariff revision means thing for Massachu
setts and quite another thing in Iowa, and II
requires no very deep knowledge of affairs tc
see that when the question is opened it is likely
to be open from one end to the other. 1t il
because President Roosevelt understands the sit
uation that he is not likely to urge the question
of tariff legislation matter calling for tn,
immediate attention of congress.
my own opinion Is that there will be no gen
eral tariff legislation prior to the next presi
Dental election and I have a distinct convic
ton that the republican party will go into tha
fight with fair understanding with the people
that the party will take up the tariff question
with view to reduce such duties as are highe
than necessary for the protection of our do
mestfc industry.
''The Dingley law will by that time be NOR
than ten years old, and in the natural order o
things will be superseded, but the America
people will be fortunate, indeed, If the next ste
in legislation is followed by ten years Of sue
industrial growth and development as that whic
resulted from the legislation Of 1897
Senator Dolliver said that he expected ii,
session to last at least till June, and to be on
OF the busiest In recent years