The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-12-22
Railroad Rate Question Will
Not Down at Capital.
INFLUENCE" IS AT WORK.
Corporations May Defeat The Presi.
dents Plan; Some Hard Blows
Will Be Dealt.

The situation at the national capital has
now assumed conditions that foreshadow
the session until New Years and per-
haps longer. Threatened dissentions in
the republican ranks of the house are
not likely to materialize. The president
will be taken at his word regarding eco
Monies that do not affect the special
plans of members of congress. This was
made apparent in the criticisms heaped
upon the Panama canal bill, asking a
large appropriation. The people of the
country must not forget that much of
the censure for the extravaganza that
has characterized the digging of this
waterway up to this time, came from
republican members. The frankIfess
with which the subject was handled and
the halfhearted way in which the
amount originally asked was defended
| by Chairman Hepburn indicated that
even the republican leaders foresee end
part of contractors and engineers who
are on the isthmus. A young western
member, named Martin B. Madden, dis
tinguished himself during the first day
of the debate, by showing a familiarity
with the affairs of the canal that as
| tonished men who have been talking
about Nicaragua and Panama for many
years. His prompt and lucid statement
of the reasons why the appropriation
should be cut down were convincing
to many republicans who originally
favored the $l6,500,000 appropriation
His readiness in debate is very likely to
get him place on the appropriations
committee, which will be an unusual
compliment to a man in his first ses-
sion. | recur to this debate merely to
indicate the spirit of economy that will
be in evidence throughout the session
President Roosevelt could supply ideas
and suggestions to half dozen legis-
lative bodies, sitting at the same time
He has opinions on all questions, large
and small; but the admirable thing
about this chief executive is that he is
not dogmatic. He always can be ar
gued with if the countroversionalist have
anything in the shape of logical reason
or fact to support his contention. This
generally understood outside of Wash
ington. But all members of the senate
and house identified with a distinct
policy regarding the tariff or the rate
question comprehend the sincere and en-
tirely reasonable character of the mar
at the White House.
The enormous republican majority in
the house of representatives would be q
source of grave anxiety to Speaker Can
non if an uncompromising split should
accur in the party over the tariff or the
railroadrate reforms so urgently insist
ed upon by President Roosevelt. But
nothing of the kind is likely to occur
All hope of any real tariff reform has
been abandoned. Something may be
done for the Philippines and the Porto
Ricans, but the eighty millions of PEG.
pie at home will have to continue to
pay the war duties. The will of the
monopolsts is the will of the American
god! 1t is sad to confess that this ''di
vinity that shapes our ends" is
Money!
The railroad rate question is sure to
already in and at least as many more
will follow before another week is pass
to say that the presidents views as ex-
pressed at such length in his message
will not be carried out. The influence
of the railroad corporations in the west
is still too potent with the representa-
tives of a dozen states. These men are
not confined to one party by any means.
The great railroad corporations in the
east are in sympathy with the general
plan of President Roosevelt. They are
often made great sufferers by the re-
bates and determinations allowed by
managers of their connecting lines in
the west. The Pennsylvania company
has issued declaration of approval,
and the Vanderbilt system stands upon
the same footing. These two interests
virtually control the trunk lines from
the seaboard.
The rainlroad rate policy of President
Roosevelt was formally presented to the
country by Senator Philander C. Knox
of Pennsylvania in an address before
the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. In
selecting Senator Knox to state his posi-
| ton the president chose one of the
clearest minds in the congress. The
| proposition goes no further than the
obvious duty of congress to regulate