Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-04
Presidents Views on Railway
Legislation Unchanged.
TALKS WITH TOWNSEND
INVITATIONS FROM DELEGA-
TIoNs FROM SOUTHERN CITIES.
Rebuke Administered to Customs Col
lector Stuart at Newport News
Alabama Appointments.


ated to two of his callers today that there
is not the slightest change in his attitude
on railroad rebate legislation. far 1t
relates to giving to the Interstate commerce
commission the power to fix rate when
1t has been determined to be unfair.
Much had been printed about what he
will will not do or say the President told
of his callers, for all of which he
was not responsible but when he sends his
message to Congress December the coun-
try will know that there change in
his position.
This is what the President said to Rep
resentative Prince of Illinois, who will soon
address institute of farmers in his dis
trict, and who asked the President whether
he could announce any change in his posi-
ton.
The President said substantially the same
thing TO Representative Townsend of Mich
igan. of the joint authors the Esch-
Townsend bill in the last session of Con-
gress.
The President Unchanged.
president Roosevelt is dead in earnest
the subject of railroad rate legislation,
and Is just as determined as ever that
legislative regulations shall be enacted
looking to federal supervision of the freight
rate situation remarked Representative
The conference was the most interesting
and important held today at the White
House. The President has taken up the
subject of railroad freight rates with an
earnest desire to reach such conclusion
as Will be satisfactory generally. but he
adheres to the principle embodied in the
legislation proposed at the last session of
Congress.
Representative Townsend called to talk
over the general subject with the President
and of the necessity for making changes in
which
posed last winter. Mr.. Esch notified the
President that he could not be here at this
time. but that Mr.. Townsend and he were
in entire accord Mr.. Townsend did not
have opportunity to go fully into the sub
tect with the President today. but the
President requested him TO call again at
2:30 pm. tomorrow. He did not know
whether the President intended to have
Others present at the conference or not,
he had had no intimation of a general con-
ference OF senators and representatives
the subject.
II have no authority to represent the
Presidents views as to railroad rates.
said Mr.. Townsend, but l can say that he
entertains now the same views in principle
as he expressed in his message last Decem-
Der. He believes that to either the inter
state commerce commission to
other body ought to be given the authority
TO adjust rates found to be unreasonable
The cruX of the whole matter is not that
the commission should fix rates but that it
should have the power to substitute for a
rate found on investigation 20 be unjust
reasonable rate Without such authority
the evils complained of could not be
reached"
Have any suggestions of changes in the
Esch-Townsend measure been made?"
Bill to Be Made Clearer.
Some changes may be made" replied
Mr.. Townsend, but they will be for the
purpose of making the bill clearer on GER
tain points 1t is intended. of course TO in
clude in the regulations private cars. re-
frigerator cars and terminal charges We
thought they were covered by our measure
but in order that there may be no question
about them they will be definitely included
IN the Dill. one thing is quite certain:
There will be no narrowing of the scope OF
the bill-no modification of the princinles
involved. The interests of both the ship
pers and the railroads to be subserved
NOBODY wants to do injustice to the
transportation lines. and the bill agreed
upon will not be unfair to the railroads -
Mr. Townsend said 1t was expected that
the Senate committee on interstate COM
neree would report measure to regulate
railroad freight rates. While he did not
have a definite idea as to the scone OF the
senate measure, he regarded it as doubtful
whether the members OF the Senate COM
mittee would agree with Senator Foraker
mat the proposition involved only cues
ton of methods.
Delegations From the South.
Delegations and visitors from the south
bore down upon the President TODAY To
tax to him about details of his coming
trip to that section. Towns all along the
line are begging for few minutes stop
and other towns and cities are not salts
fed with the time allotted them They
want the President with them longer
Senator Simmons of North Carolina con-
ierred about the Presidents journey
through North Carolina He wanted the
PRESIDENT TO stay longer al Raleigh and to
make some other stops in that state not
now scheduled, but the President was
Obliged to decline. The President intends
10 make an important speech at Raleiph
and he talked to Senator Simmons eoT1a
about what he will say.
Senator Simmons said that he agreed
win the President on railroad rebate legis-
lation. on revision of the tariff and on his
position as to better treatment of the Chi
nese- He believed the people of the coun-
lions. N.Y."
Birmingham, Ala. sent up a delegation
headed by J. o. Thompson. collector of in
terhaI revenue. That city wants more of
the Presidents time. The state fair will be
In progress when the President gets to
birmingham. and the people of that city
mink the stay of the chief executive ought
10 extend over two hours The President
is scheduled to reach Birmingham at 4:30 on
the afternoon of the 2ith, and leave there
az O'5o OF the same afternoon. The dele
CATION was composed of John l.. Parker
president of the board of trade; Eugene
Eles. president of the State Fair Associa-
non: j. b. Babb, Harry Shorter j. H Barr
Maj. Thurston and Mr.. Conner
The Presidents Safety at New Orleans
Representatives Meyer and Davy of New
Orleans and Thomas j. Woodward post
master of that city, paid their respects to
the President and told him he would be as
safe IN New Orleans. so far as yellow fever
was concerned. as he would be in Washing
ton from smallpox and typhoid fever
There were only twenIy-three deaths in
New Orleans from yellow fever last week"
sale Representative Meyer. AT least, that
many were charged 10 yellow fever but
nearly everything is now charged to that
disease / think that by the time the Presi-
dent gets 10 New Orleans there will be no
deaths from the disease"
The President is scheduled to reach New
Orleans the morning of the 18th AMI to
leave the city that night. The New Orleans
delega ton wanted him to stay over night
so they might tender him banquet 1t is
probable that the President will not remain
over night.