The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-19
LONG IN Topeka.
Senator Here toAttend Saturday
Night Club Banquet.
-
Says He Feels Better Than fo7.
Many Years.
RATE LAWS
Believes Government VIII AS
sumo More Authority.
Not Prepared to Say What
Form Legislation Win Take.

Senator Chester I. Long, brawnier
and sturdier than for many months.
arrived in Topeka this morning. eight
hours late from the west, to attend
this evening the annual dinner of the
Saturday Night club.
"Feeling fine" said the senator. and
he looked and acted the part. sI
haven't been in such good health since
I was elected to the senate. It does
me good to come back here to Topeka
for this Saturday Night club affair;
was one of the charter members of
that organization.
ST will be travelling afound here in
Kansas until the first part of July,
when I leave to join the party of SEN
ators and representatives who are go
ing to the Philippines. We start on
July 8, on the steamer NIanchuria.
This is not government vessel; I un-
derstand that a government boat will
be used to take the party from port
to port there in the islands, but not
across the ocean.
'I am filing a number of dates for
speeches at commencement day ex-
ercises, etc. am to speak at Nicker-
son high school next. am also to
speak at Oklahoma university
Senator Long was asked about the
probable action of congress on rail-
road matters. He said.
Il feel confident that congress will
enact some sort of a law giving to the
government more authority to control
railroads. Just what form this Iegis-
lation will take, I am not prepared to
say.
ssPersonally, I am in favor of such
a law. believe it is right, and I be-
lieve that the sentiment of Kansas is
for it.
Mind that I do not say I am in
favor of extending the power and Jur-
isdiction of the interstate commerce
commission I do not know that I
am in favor of such a move. But ]
am in favor of giving to either the
commerce commission or some other
body additional authority in railroad
control"
How far do you believe the govern
ment should go in extending this addl-
tiOnaI authority? Should it give the
power to make rates?" was asked.
THAT is a point I do not care to
discuss a this time. I am in favor OF
extending the control Of the govern
ment; of course it must be done IN some
constitutional manner"
Senator Long was asked whether
President Roosevelt had indicated any
preference among the various proposed
railroad bills.
mo" replied the senator, 'the presi-
dent does not endorse pending 1egisla-
ton in this way. There have been sew
eral bills before congress which have
been prepared by the attorney general
But the president has not endorsed any
bill''
Mrs. Long will not accompany Sen
ator Long on the trip to the Philippines.
Senator Long says that he understands
that neither Mrs. Curtis or Mrs Scott
will accompany their husbands on the
long trip.
THE object of the trip to the Philip
pine" said Senator Long. is to get in
formation to guide our actions in the
proposed reduction of the Dingley tariff
schedules which apply to those islands.
Ten senators and 80 members of the
house are to go on the trip, but the
party will be considerably larger than
merely these members of the commit
tee. Many of the delegates will take
their families.
AT present the government collects
rs per cent of the Dingley tariff on i'm
ports from the Philippines The people
of the islands want this reduced to so
per cent. or less I believe that con-
gress will grant a reduction; how much
I don't know. Of course there are
strong influences at work against
garnting any reduction The tobacco
and sugar manufacturers are opposed
to any change lam in favor of grant
ing the islands a reduction. The house
of representa- tiTes has twice passed such
bill, and I believe it will pass the
senate"