Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-01-18
FAVORSMODER-
ATE REVISION
Some Changes in Tariff to be Uroed
Upon Congress by the President
at This Session.
WILL NOT CAUSE PARTY SPLIT
Opinion Of Representatives and sena.
tors to Finally Govern in Tariff
RemodeIIing.

Washington, Jan. 1O.-President
Roosevelt favors the earliest possible
action looking to revision by con.
gress Of the tariff. He SO informed
the senator's 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 Fifty-Ninth congress into extra
ordinary session as soon as the COM
mttees have indicated that they arc
for passage.
One of those present at the confer
ence on Saturday said today, in view
of the conflicting stories published
regarding the meeting, that the presi-
dent informed them that while he
did not believe in any sweeping re-
vision of the tariff, and would abide
absolutely by the judgment of the two
houses OF congress in a matter that
related so particularly to them, yet
he did think that the time had come
when the schedules should be exam
ined and there should be readjust-
ment SO as to be certain Of them.
The president added that his own
view was that the special session
should meet at the earliest date at
which the committees of the two.
houses could come to an agreement
as to a bill. II 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. especially the house
| committee on ways and means, should
inform him they would be ready with
their report.
II congress should act on the tariff
question in accordance with the pres
ldents desire, it was made perfect.
ly plain today that the extraordinary
session would be called TO assemble
IN the coming spring. 1t has been
pointed out, however. by the tariff
experts of the house and of the sen.
ate, that 1t will require many weeks
to prepare measure for submission
to the house. The president realizes,
That this Is practical objection to.
an early spring session of congress-.
as the members of the committee
nave not time now necessary to de-
vote to the preparation of a tariff
bill. -s-..-......
So far as the president is concern
ed. he would be willing to have con,
gress In session during the summer.
months. He has indicated his entire
readiness to remain in Washington
next summer II congress will under
take at that time the consideration
OF tariff measure. .. r.....
While no decision Of definite char.
acter has been reached as to the time
OF the extraordinary session, it Is rea.
sonable to believe that II one should
De called to meet next autumn, 1t will
probably be in October. 1t was add
ed that there Is not the least pros
pect OF differences so radical arising
between the president and the Re-
publican leaders in congress over the
tarln question as to cause any split
In the party. While the president is
deeply In earnest in his desire for
tariff revision. he regards the question
as one of expediency inasmuch as no
principle Is at stake.
On another question, however, that
OF legislation relating to interstate
freight rates of railroads, his mind
is quite made up. He hopes to secure
from congress some definite action
regarding that legislation at the pres
snt session, but IL he does not, he
will bring the subject again before
congress at the proposed .extraordi-
nary session and will urge with all his
power the crystalization into a law
OF the recommendations he has al
ready made to congress on that Ques.
ton.
The freight rate question he does
not regard as one of expediency He
holds that 1t Is a subject in which q
great moral principle is involved, and
one very near to all the people of the
He regards it, in fact, as
the paramount issue at this time.
Some unconcen was given at the
conference to the subject Of appropri-
atoms to be authorized at the present
session OF congress. The president
cordially approved of the disposition
Of congress to hold the appropriations
to the lowest possible limit, but he
urged very strongly that the naval ap-
should not be materially
disturbed. saying that the best guar
antee OF peace for this country lies in
strong and homogeneous navy, and
that the naval program as mapped out
should be carried into effect, without
the dropping Of single vessel He
maintained that congress should au-
fhorize the construction not merely
of one or two cruisers. but of fighting
ships. battleships. and he expressed
The hope that an agreement in this
regard might be reached in congress.