The Mankato free press., 1905-12-22
President Of Opinion That 0ppo-
sition Is Melting Away.
THERE WILL BE SKIRMISHING
MIR. Roosevelt Is Confident of Victory
In the National Senate and
House.
[JERMANE IN MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL

[JERMANE IN MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL
Washington, Dec l9-It is now pos
sible to outline in pretty definite form
the opinion of the administration re-
garding the outlook for railroad-rate
legislation.
The president believes that opposition
to his policy, in the senate and among
the railway people generally, is melting
away, but is perfectly aware that it
has not entirely disappeared.
He feels that the several preliminary
skirmishes which have taken place since
the middle of November have resulted
without exception, in his favor, which
is something he did not anticipate. He
had expected to divide the honors with
his opponents so far as these preliminary
moves were concerned, but had not be-
lieved that all the advantage would be
on his side.
He realizes that the probability for a
general engagement is still good, and
insists that his friends should not per-
nit themselves to be overconfident.
Both sides are strong, and alike pre-
pared for battle. The railroads, how
ever, have been appreciably weakened
and further through the desertion of
some of their leading men.
There are certain signs pointing to
capitulation of the enemy, but those
signs, until they shall have taken on a
more definite form, should not be re-
garded as conclusive. 1t is frequently
trick of an opposing force to pretend
weakness, with view to creating over
confidence on the other side. The presi
dent understands this, and while well
coming all signs which seem to point to-
ward victory for the cause which he is
supporting, is, like careful leader,
maintaining his forces i'll fighting trim.
He is also on the lookout for an am
bush, and while not entirely discounting
all that has been said to him about an
easy victory, is weighing these state
mehts with great care.
He is at the same time desirous of
having it understood among his friends
that there is to be no compromise on
his part. He insists that he is stand
ing for principle, and that any COM
promise would be, not compromise, but
surrender. What he wants is that any
rate named by the interstate commerce
commission shall 90 at once into effect.
This is the crux of the fight. Every
thing else will be conceded midnight
rates, private cars, terminal switching
charges and the rest. The railroads want
these things corrected quite as badly as
the president wants them. The abuses
which have crept up under these policies
have become a menace to the railroads,
just as the Frankenstein monster be-
came a demon of crime and destruction.
The railroad created and nurtured these
policies, and finally they became so mas
terful as to assert their independence of
railroad control and institute system
of overcharging that has reacted and be-
come plague to all railway managers.
The president is confident of ultimate
victory, and believes that the sins point
to legislation at a comparatively early
day. But he understands how great and
how numerous are the uncertainties of
legislation, and will not feel absolutely
certain that he has carried his point un-
til the final rollcall has been had in both
houses and the bill is before him for ap-
proval.
There is no attempt in this article to
quote the president, or to repeat what
he may have said on the rate question
to his friends in the privacy of his
home.
The chief difficulty with the desired
legislation, in the view of the admins
tration, is to have it as broad as the
president desires. He wants every rate
which the commission may fix to be
subject to judicial review. The power
of congress in this matter, however, is
on the surface, limited to providing for
a review only of those decisions of the
commission in which the rate fixed may
be confscatory. 1t is up to such able
constitutional lawyers as Senator Knox
to point way out of this difficulty.