Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-16
CONGRESSMEN'S VIEWS
RAILROAD PRESIDENTS TO BACK
MR.. ROOSEVELT.
President Mellen Makes a Call and
Gives Some Significant Utter
ances-other Callers Today.

According to prominent of both
bodies OF Congress who are in Washington
there will be mighty small deficit in the
treasury this fiscal year, and no legislation
will be necessary to provide additional reve-
nues. The increased revenues of the treas
ury in the last four months, despite In
creased expenditures, have practically put
an end to the various propositions for rails
ing more revenue y small deficit has 10
fears for the leaders of Congress with
good surplus in the treasury from the sur
plus of former fiscal years. Senators and
representatives are rather inclined to the
opinion that it will be better for the treas
ury not to remain in possession of too much
of surplus, as the money Is needed in
trade channels. They would have been in
favor of raising more revenues, however.
had the prospect been for a large deficit this
year appeared to be certain at one time.
Senator Hale of Maine of the Senate
committee on appropriati ons made call
of respect on the President today When
he was asked what he thought about The
Treasury condition he said: THE deficit
this fiscal year will be small one, judginr
from the present outlook. and consequently
there will be no need for Legislation to
raise further revenues.
Senator Burrows of Michigan. another
taller to talk with the President, was or
the same opinion Senator Hale. What
ever deficit we have this year VIII not
bother anybody or cause the imposition OF
additional taxes" he said.
Representative McCleary of Minnesota.
probable chairman of the House committee
on appropriations, had few minutes with
the President. He believes that economy In
appropriations will result In expenditures
not exceeding revenues in the next fiscal
year and he has no fears as to the present
fiscal wear If there should be a demand
for further revenue legislation at any time
Val; Hawai- no
customs duty on coffee of a few cents
pound would be the best thing. He Is sat
isfied that such tax would bring about
encouragement Of the coffee growing IN
dustry in the 1slano poSseSSioH5 NJ ehe
United States.
Senator Proctor of Vermont introduced
Mr.. and Mrs Blinn, who are appearing at
a. Washington theater this week. Senator
of Washington. Senator McCumber of
North Dakota, and Senator Dryden of New
Jersey made calls and had conferences. Sen
ator McCumber had with him number OF
persons interested in pure food legislation
at the coming session of Congress They
were r. NJ. Allen, secretary of the National
Food and Dairy Association; Horace An
keny, pure food commissioner of Ohio; DR.
Iadd pure food commissioner of North
Dakota, and Miss Lackey, of the National
Federation of Women's Clubs
For Insurance Legislation.
Senator Dryden of New Jersey. who In
troduced In the last Congress a bill giving
the federal government power to regulate
life insurance and who will present SINH
lar measure at the next session, had a talk
with the President, who will discuss this
subject in his forthcoming message.
Senator Dryden was asked about the con-
tention that the life insurance companies
are not sincere because they know that any
bill giving federal control of life insurance
would not be constitutional. He said: 1T Is
true that the Supreme Court Of the United
States has held in a number of cases that
life insurance cannot be classed as inter-
state commerce, but not a single decision
has been based upon federal laws. All the
decisions have been based upon state laws
and involved state cases. With federal leg
islation, properly handled, I do not believe
this would be so. Eminent lawyers of the
country are much divided on this question,
some Of them believing that a bill giving
the government power Of control would be
constitutional, while others believe to the
contrary
Railroad President Backs Roosevelt.
Charles 8. Mellen, president of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
| Company, called on the President today,
presumably to discuss the railroad rate
situation. He was accompanied by T. e.
Byrne, his assistant, who was formerly
stationed at the Boston headquarters, but
| is now with Mr.. Mellen IN New Haven.
Z
| the paramount issue of the day, but when
| a. Star reporter called attention to Mr.. Mel
| lens reputed position of great liberality
toward the advocates of reform and his in
clnation to sympathize with President
Roosevelt, Mr.. Mellen asked these ques-
tons:
| Have you noticed that have not been
down here to protest?
| "Haye you 70 ced that In this agitation
| I have not takeh any action whatever"
On receiving an affirmative response to
| these questions Mr.. Melien added signih-
cantly: 1.-THE only action that l going
/ to take Is to support the President"
These utterances are highly significant
| as showing that some of the railroad men
| do not view with alarm" the Presidents
program Of railroad rate regulation. 1t Is
probable that Mr.. Mellen, because of his
liberal attitude, will be of great assistance
| to president Roosevelt in the final shaping
nm of his policy. and 1t is possible that
he and the other railroad presidents who
take essentially the same view, notably