The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-11
PRESIDENT HAS
 SEVERAL HOBBIES Mind is Fully Made Up on
 Rate Question TARIFF IS ALSO TOO HIGH He Is Wiling to Call Spring Session and Stay in Washington All Sum-
 mer If Congress Will
 Do Something.
TARIFF IS ALSO TOO HIGH

Washington, January 1O.-President Roosevelt favors the earliest possible ac- tion looking to a 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 1 Saturday, and he has made plain his position to other since that conference.
 He will call the Fifty-ninth Congress into extraordinary sesison as soon as the committees have indicated that they are prepared to submit tariff measure for passage
 One of those present at the conference lieve in any sweeping revision of the many conflicting stories published regard ing the meeting that the President ip- formed them that while he did not bel- lieve in any sweeping revlison of the tariff, and would abide absolutely by the judgment of the two houses of Congress in a matter that related to particularly to them, yet he did think the time had come when the schedules should be thor oughly examined and that there should be a readjustment 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 the bill. If they took this view, he said, he would hold himself ready to call the extraordinary session at whatever time the members of the two committees, and especially the house committee on ways and means, should inform him they would be ready with their report. If Congress should act on the tariff question in accordance with the Presidents desire, it was made perfectly plain today that the extra ordinary session would be called to as-
 semble in the coming spring.
 Will Require Many Weeks.
 It has been pointed out, however, by the tariff experts of the House and of the Senate that it will require many weeks to prepare measure for submis- sion to the House. The President realizes that there is a practical objection to an early spring session of Congress, as the
 members of the committee have not the 7
 preparation of a tariff bill.
 So far as the President is concerned, he
 would be willing to have Congress in session during the summer months. He 1 has indncated his entire readiness to re-
 main in Washington next summer if | Congress will undertake at that time the | consideration of a tariff measure; but l Congress- has thus far shown no dispo- i sition to accede to the proposition of a | hot weather session..
 While no decision of a definite charac- | ter has been reached as to the time | of the extraordinary session, it is req | sonably certain that If one should be | held, it would be called to meet next au- | tumn probably in October On this point. however, 1t is too early to speak defi- | nite1y and until an agreement is reached | between the President and the leaders | of the Senate and House, the session will
 not be called until the committees are
 ready to report a bill. It was added that | there is not the least prospect of diff ferences so radical arising between the
 President and the republican leaders in
 Congress over the tariff question, as to cause a split in the party.
 While the President Is deeply in earn l est in his desire for tariff revision, he regards the question as one of expediency 1 in which no great principle Is at stake.
 As he indicated to the conference on Saturday, he Is willing to abide absolute ly by the judgment of the two houses of | Congress in the matter.
 Will Fight for Legislation. l On another 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 1 secure from Congress some definite ac- | tion regarding that legislation at the | present session, but if he does not he will bring the subject again before Con- | gress at the proposed extraordinary ses-
 sion, and will urge with all his might
 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 it is a subject in which
 a great moral principle Is involved, and | enc very dear to all the people of the | country. He regards 1t is a paramount issue at this time, far more important l than the proposed revision of the tariff.
 He spoke plainly it 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 it, but no conclusions could be reached at that time.
 Some consideration was given at the conference to the subject of considerations 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. say ing that the best guarantee of peace for this country lies in a strong and homo genous navy.