Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-26
Against an Extra Session of
Congress.
THE CABINET MEETIN G
DEPARTMENTAL WORK OCCUPIED
MOST OF THE TIME.
Division Post Office Inspectors Present
ed by Postmaster General-1nterest
in the South.

'1f find that the President contemplates
calling Congress in session after the mid
die Of October or along early in Novem-
ber,' said Representative Foster of Yer
mont II shall urge him as strongly as l
know how To give up the idea and permit
Congress TO handle railroad rate and other
legislation at the regular session. The four
or five weeks that would be saved over the
time for the regular session could be just
as easily made up at the end of the regu-
lar session. l feel confident that when the
President thinks it all over he will find
few advantages In an extra session unless
1t is called about October l. and even
at that time it would be doubtful whether
any better or more satisfactory legislation
would be enacted than If the whole thing
should be intrusted to the regular session
The views of Mr. Foster prevail pretty
generally among congressman, regardless
of how they stand on the question of rate
legislation. There is a disposition TO SuS-
gest to the President that he lay upon the
shelf the consideration he has been giving
to the extra session. 1t is still UNDERSTOOD
that he has reached no definite conclusion
as to a date and that he does not think IL
necessary to fix date or decide now IN
favor of a session. The feeling is that al
ter he turns over in his mind the various
arguments that will be presented against
a session he may conclude that the regis
lation he seeks earnestly Will be Just
as likely to become law at the regular
session as at an extra one. and act ac-
cordingly Senators and representatives.
who favor railroad legislation take TINS po-
sition, as well as those opposed 10 any
thing of the sort. There are numDer OF
men, too, who would like the time that an
extra session would take up to attend TO
private affairs or to get a rest from coh-
gressional duties.
Senator Dolliver of Iowa, after a caII on
the President today to present SOM
friends said that he felt as IL ne Wouio
like TO avoid an extra session, If possible,
especiaIly If 1t should be wtthlb ~"
weeks of the time for the regular session
THAT is a matter that rests win the eS T
tdeut though said Mr.. Doii1ver, ana L
have not talked with him about IL. ,
Representative Foster has come 70 w IT. ~,
ington to invite the President TO atteno Tug
unwilling of memorial to Ethan Alien a.
Burlington August II. which Is Dal'ie VI
bennington day in Vermont. The exercises
will take place on the old farm of Ethan
Allen and among those present Will De
Isthan Allen Hitchcock Secretary of the
intnrinr and a descendant of the revolu-
t!onaTy fighter.
Presidents Interest in Cotton.
Senator Simmons of North Carolina pre-
scented w A. Erwin. prominent farmer of
North Carolina and DR.. c. NJ. Curtis or
Atlanta. Mr.. Erwin is the author of some
of the resolutions taken up by the south
ern industrial parliament relating to the
extension of the cotton trade of the south
He found the President much interested III
any plan that would extend the cotton III
dustry. and was told that the President is
giving consideration to some things that ne
hopes will be beneficial to the south.
Senator Simmons took up with the Presl-
dent the matter of his visit to North caro-
lima, again urging that the President stop
in Raleigh on the 10Th of October to be
present at the state fair. The President
said that he could not do this, but would
be in Raleigh October , The question OF
changing the date for the fair TO suit the
date of the Presidents visit is now being
talked over, and may be done. Senator
Simmons asked the President TO make as
many stops in North Carolina as possible,
but IL is stated that the only stops for
speechmaking VIII be at Raleigh, Durham,
Greensboro and Charlotte.
Representative Meyer of New Orleans
talked 10 the President about his visit to
that city in October, but the exact date has
not been arranged. Mr.. Meyer told the
President a most cordial reception would
be given him by the people of New Orleans.
Wants to Be Collector of Georgia.
DR.. c.. NJ. Curtis, who was with Sena-
tor Simmons. Is a candidate for collector
of internal revenue of Georgia. He has
strong business backing in Atlanta and
other parts of the state. H. A. Rucker,
the present collector, has held the office
eight years, and there Is a rush for the
place in the belief that he will be allowed
TO step down before long.
Postmaster General Cortelyou introduced
20 the President the post office inspectors
who have charge of the divisions In various
parts of the country. They were accom-
panied by w. J. Vickery, the chief of the
post office inspectors.
Representative Pearre of Maryland talk
ed with the President about some Maryland
matters. He thanked the President for the
announcement that Senator McComas will
be appointed to succeed Justice Morris on
the Court of Appeals of the District.
Senators Cullom and Dillingham; were
among the visitors TO get few minutes
with the President.
Just four members of the cabinet were
present at the cabinet meeting today-At-
tOrney General Moody, Postmaster General
Corte4you and Secretaries Hitchcock and
Metcalf. Departmental business took up
the work of the session.
Investigation of Insurance Business.
President Roosevelt, as heretofore noted
has been urged to take steps looking to a
government inquiry into the operations of
life insurance companies, especially the
Equitable Life Assurance Society of New
York concerning which embarrassing COM
plicatOns have developed during the past
few months. After careful consideration
of the subject and inquiry into the legal
phases of such suggested investigation.
the President has determined that. in the
circumstances the government has no au-
thority to take up the matter, either
through a special commission or through
the bureau of corporations.
Attorney General Moody has rendered no
fJrma, opinion as to the power of the COY
eminent TO make an investigation, but IL
is understood to be his opinion, expressed
informally, that the President has no au-
thority TO order investigation of that
kind 1t is doubtful, indeed. in the judg-
ment of the law officers OF the government,
whether Congress itself constitutionally
could empower government officials to
make such an inquiry. The United States
Supreme Court Is on record In decisions
against the conduct of an inquiry into the
business of insurance companies the bust
ness of the companies not involving inter-
state commerce in any way.
lnveStiga tons may be instituted and
carried on by the state governments In the
states where the companies do business
The state inquiries may be made as rigid
as is deemed necessary to develop the
facts. Upon state Investigations therefore
government officials are of opinion that
the people must rely for information as
20 the conduct OF the insurance business.