Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1905-01-11
EXTRA SESSION
OF CONGRESS
President Determined on
Tariff Revision and Rail
road Legislation
It WILL Be CALLED MKT FALL

Washington, Jan. IL. - President
Roosevelt favors the earliest possible
action looking to a revision by con-
gross of the tariff He so informed the
senators and representatives who were
in conference with him at the White
House last Saturday, and he has made
plain his position to others since that
conference. He will call the 59th con-
gress into extraordinary session as
soon as the committees have indicated
that they are prepared to submit a
tariff measure for passage.
One of those present at the confer
ence on Saturday said, in view Of the
many conflicting stories published re-
garding the meeting. that the presi-
dent informed them that while he did
not believe in any sweeping revision
of the tariff, and would abide abso-
lutely by the judgment of the two
houses Of congress in a matter that
related so particularly to them, yet he
did think the time had come when
the schedules should be thoroughly
examined and there should be a re-
adjustment 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 a bill If they took this view, he
said, he would hold himself ready to
call the extraordinary session at
hot -
committees. and especially the house
committee on ways and means, should
inform him they would be ready with
their report
If the congress should act on the
tariff question in accordance with the
presidents desire it was made per-
fectly plain that the extraordinary ses-
sion would be called to assemble the
coming spring II has been pointed out,
however. by the tariff experts of the
house and of the senate, that it will
require many weeks to prepare a
measure for submission to the house.
While no decision of definite char
acter has been reached as to the time
of the extraordinary session. it is rea-
sonably certain that if one should be
held, il will be called to meet next
autumn, probably in October On this
point, however, it is too early to speak
definitely, as by the agreement to be
reached between the president and the
leaders of the senate and the house of
representatives, the extraordinary ses-
sion will not be called until the COM
mittees are ready to report a bill.
On another question, however, that
Of Legislation relating to the inter
state freight rates of railroads, his
nind is quite made up. He will fight
for that legislation and fight hard. He
hopes to secure from congress some
definite action regarding that legisla.
ton at the present session; but If he
does not, he will bring the subject
again before congress at the proposed
extraordinary session, and will urge
with all his power the capitalization
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
o great principle is involved and one
very near to all the people of the
country. He regards it in fact, as the
paramount issue at It's time, far and
away more important than the pro
posed revision of the tariff. He spoke
plainly, 1t is stated, of his views at
the conference on Saturday concern
ing the freight rate nrOblem The px
preston of his attitude on the sub
ject led to free interchange of opin
ions regarding it. but no conclusions
could be reached at that time.