The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-08
President Calls the Republican
Leaders to White House
PARTICIPANTS ARE SILENT
If Sentiment for Tariff Revision Is
Strong Enough the President Has
Decided to Call an Ex-
ira Session.

Washington, January IAN important
conference regarding legislative questions
pending before Congress was held at the
White House this afternoon. In addition
to President Roosevelt the parties to the
conference were Speaker Cannon, SEN
ators Allison of Iowa, Aldrich of Rhode
Island, Spooner of Wisconsin, Platt OF
Connecticut, and Representatives Payne
of New York. Grosvenor of Ohio and
Tawney of Minnesota.
1t can be said that no conclusions were
reached at the conference. Indeed, the
statement is made that other conferences
will be held before decisions of definite
character are reached. AT the conclusion
of the conference the President author
lied the following statement concern
ing it:
These gentlemen came here to discuss
various matters of policy before Congress,
including the tariff and the interstate
| commerce law, but they are not ready
yet to announce any definite conclu-
sions."
The President would go no further than
that, but he emphasized the principle that
no definite conclusions had been reached.
The conference was called for 2:30 p.
ferees invited by the President were
promptly on time.
Invitations Were Informal.
The invitations were entirely informal.
the President having extended them per-
sonally or BY phone. The fact that the
conferees are all experts on the tariff, the
Representatives, with the exception of
speaker, being the chairmen and ranking
republican members of the ways and
means committee, with which any tariff
measure has to originate, and the Sem
ators being the chairman and members
of the finance committee of the Senate,
which handles any tariff bill that may
be before that body. prompted the con-
clusion that the principal topic of dis
cussion at the conference would be the
tariff question.
1t can be said that the subject of tariff
revision was considered almost to the
exclusion of other legislative problems.
although the subject of railroad freight
rate legislation and appropriations to be
authorized at the present session of Con-
gress were discussed to some extent. The
conference lasted one hour and fifty-five
minutes. IlUHR p6lOTc II cIuSu, HOWtNcif q
score or more newspaper correspondents
had assembled at the White House in
anticipation of some definite statement,
when it was concluded. AS the conferees
left the executive offices they greeted the
n newspaper friends cordially, but not one
of them would discuss the conference in
any way.
speaker Cannon laughed as he was con-
fronted by solid phalanx Of newspaper
l L. ,l-N l. Anra 10 In c
and then remarked:
Cannon Declines to Talk.
st have not a thing to say boys I
don't deny that some things were said
in the room yonder," indicating the Pres
| dents offices .but I can't tell you what
| they were."
| Inquiry of other parties to the con-
ference developed the fact that the Pres
ident had exacted from each one of them
promise not to discuss any of the
details of the conference for publication.
Each of the conferees referred all in
quiries to the President, saying that he
would make public all that it was de-
sired to say concerning the meeting.
Sevral of those who participated in the
conference went from the White House
to the Arlington hotel. In few min
utes they were surrounded by members
of the Senate and the House of Repre-
sentatives, all anxious to learn the re-
suit, If any, of the discussion. They got
| little beyond the most general statement.
The conference was a frank discussion
of the whole subject of tariff revision,
each man present calculating his personal
views with absolute freedom. 1t was
| the Presidents purpose in calling the
conference to ascertain the opinions Of
| those whom he had invited with a view
| to harmonzing any differences that might
| develop, in order that unanimity of ac-
| tion might be agreed upon in the end
| 1t is the Presidents purpose to have
other conferences in the near future with
other members of both the Senate and
| the House of Representatives in the car
rying out of his policy to consult with
the entire republican membership regard
ing their feeling toward the subject of
| tariff revision.
Will Call Extra Session.
| If 1t shold be found that the sentiment
| in favor of revision be sufficiently strong
| to warrant affirmative action it can be
| said to be the Presidents purpose to call
| the Congress into extraordinary session
| for the purpose Of crystalizing into law
| the ideas of party leaders 1t is indicat-
| Ell by one of the parties to today's con-
| ference that If a revision of the present
tariff should be decioed to be necessary.
! the session fOr the enactlOn OF Ine meas
ure proposed probably will be called next
| fall Meantime, after the decision of the
| President shall have been reached, the
leaders of Congress will begin the prep
J. son of a bill. carefully considering
ch changes in the present tariff law
| as may be suggested. 1t is said to be en-
tirely likely that no definite conclusion
| regarding either the general subject of
| revision or the calling of an extraordinary
I g. ~tI rArIres
| grapher at the cottage and General
stoessel mounted his charger to show the
horses good points and said goodbye to
| General Nogi and rode back to Port
| arthur.
The quiet and even solemn meeting of
| the generals ended at about l o'clock.
| The regular Russian soldiers in Port Ar
| thur marched out today. The only troops
| now in the city are the volunteers.
Two fire were started in Port Arthur
today for which General stoessel apol-
| gized. He said the volunteers were un-
| ahIa to control the pOpulace and he de-