The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-11
PRESIDENT IS
 FOR REVISION FavOrS Change in Tariff
 Schedules. so INFORMS cONGRESSMEN Will Abide by Decision of the
 Members. Executive Has Positive views on the Question But VIII Not Attempt to Force Action by the Congress. 

Washington, Jan. 10.-The president favors the earliest possible action look ing to revision by congress of the tariff. He so informed the senators and representatives who were in con ference with him at the White House last Thursday and he has made plain his position to others since that confer ence. He will call the 59th congress into extraordinary session as soon as tho committees have indicated that they are prepared to submit tariff measure for passage.
 One of those present at the confer ence Saturady said today, in view of the many conflicting stories published regarding the meeting, that the presi- dent informed them that while he did not believe in any sweeping revision of the tariff and would abide absolute ly by the Judgment of the two houses of congress in a matter that related so particularly to them. yet he did think the time had come when the schedules should be thoroughly exam ined and that there should be a read justment as to certain of them.
 The president added that his own view was that the special session should take place at the earliest date by which the committees of the two houses could come to an agreement as to a bill If the ytook this view, he said, he. would hold himself ready to call the extraordinary session at what. ever time the members of the two com mittees, and especially the house com mittee on ways and means, should inc form him they would be ready for their report.
 Session in Spring.
 If congress should act on the tariff question in accordance with the presi- dents desire, 1t was made perfectly plain today that the extraordinary ses" sion would be called to assemble in the coming spring. 1t has been point ed out, however, by the tarin experts of the house and of the senate, that it will require many weeks to prepare measure for submission to the house.
 The President realizes that there is pEactieabie objection to any spring session of Congress, as the members of the committee have not time now nec- essary to devote to the preparation or 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 n tariff measure;
 
 disposition to accede to the preparation of a hot weather session.
 While no decision of definite character has been reached as to the time of an extraordinary session It Is reasonably certain that If one is to be held 1t will be called to meet next autumn, probably in October. On this point, however it is to early to speak definitely as by the agreement to be reached between the President and the leaders of the Senate and the House, the session will not be called until the committees are ready to report bill. Will Listen to Congress.
 While the President is deeply in earnest fin his desire for tariff revision. he regards the question as one of ex- pediency, in which no great principle Is at stake. As he indicated to the conference on Saturday, he is willing to abide absolutely by the judgment of the two houses of Congress in the matter.
 On the other question, however, that of legislation relating to the 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 legisla- tion at the present session, but if he does not, he will bring the subject again before Congress at the proposed extra ordinary session and will urge with all his power the specialization into law of the recommendations he already has made to Congress on that question.
 The freight rate question he does not regard as one of expediency. He holds that 1t Is a subject in which a great moral principle is involved and one very near to all the people of the coun- try. He regards 1t a fact as a para mount issue at this time. far more lm- portant than the proposed revision of the tariff
 He spoke plainly, 1t is said, of his views at the conference on Saturday concerning the freight rate problem. The expression of his attitude on the question led to a free interchange of opinions regarding 1t. but no conclu- sions could be reached at that time.
 Some consideration was given at the conference to the subject of appropri- ations 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 materially disturbed, saying that the best guar antee of peace for this country lies in a strong and homogeneous navy.
 ------