Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-11
the TARIFF.
President Favors Earliest
Possible Revision.
Will Call an Extra Session Of
Fifty-ninth Congress.
Also Believes Naval Appropriations
Should Be Liberal.

Washington, Jan. 10-President
Roosevelt farOrs the earliest possible
action looking to revision by Con-
sress 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
tariff measure for passage.
One of those present at the confer
cnce. Saturday. said. today, that the
President informed them that while the
did not believe in any sweeping re-
vision OF the tariff and would abide
absolutely by the judgement OF the two
houses of Congress in a matter that re-
lated so particularly to them. yet he
did think the time had come when the
schedules should be thoroughly ex-
amined and there should be readJust-
ment as to certain Of them.
The President added that his own
view was that the special session shouid
take place at the earliest date by which
the committees of the two houses
could come to an agreement as 10 d
bill.
So far as the President is concerned.
ne would b. willing to have Congress
in session during the summer months.
lie has indicated his entire readiness TO
remain in Washington next summer IL
Congress will undertake at that time
the consideration of a tariff measure,
hnc far shown
tlisnosition to accede to the propositions
Of hot weather session. While no de-
,;sion Of a definite character has been
reached as to the time OF the cAtra-
ordinary session it is reasonably GER
tain that if one should be held 1t VIII
be called to meet next autumn PROB
ably in October. On this point. now
eyer. it is too early to speak definitely,
on another question. however. That
Of legislation IN relation to interstate
freight rates of railroads his mlnd IS
unite made up He Will fight for that
legislation and SIGHT hard. He hopes to
secure from Congress some definite ac-
ton regarding hat legislation at the
present session, but # ne does not. ne
will bring the subject again before con-
gress at the proposed extraordinary
session and wiil urge with all his pow
or. the disqualification Of ali efforts on
that question.
Some consideration was given at the
conference to the subject of apprrpria
tinns to be authorized At the present
session of Congress. The President ap-
proved OF the disposition OF Congress 10
hold the appropriations down To the
lowest possible limit. bat n" urged very
strongly that the naval appropriations
should rot be materially disturbed
saying that the best ;,I;,raitee of peace
for this country lies IN a strong am.
homogeneous navy and that the pro-
gram as Mapped out should be carried
INTO effect without thu dropping of a
single vessel.
The President maintained that Con-
srcSS should authorize the construc-
ton. rot merely cf one or two cruisers,
bat Of fighting ships. oattleships and he
expressed the hope that agreement with
HIM in this regard might be reached III
Congress.