The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-23
LEADERS ARE TO
KNIFE MESSAGE
Republican Members Have loo
Mucl, at Stake to approve
All Presidents Policies.
TO SLASH RATE REGULATION
G. o. p. Members Of Congress
Are Also Opposed to Re- :
vision Of Tariff.
TO SLASH RATE REGULATION
CO., o,r Regular Correspondent.)

(From Our Regular correspondent
,uAst1INc,TON, D. c., November 22.--
r., Presidents have had opportunity to
nrenaro more important or more inter-
eating Slate documents than the message
which President Roosevelt will send to
Congress on Monday, tho 4th OF next
,co,,,b Tho President probably knows
what tho message will contain, though
hardly. for Theodore Roosevelt does not
know his mind long in advance OF ex-
pressing It, whether expression be made
In an address or with pen. But no.
bobby else pretends to know what the
message will contain.
rho President, following his custom.
has been at work on the message almost
ever since tho last Congress expired on
the 4th of March. He Is in the habit OF
&otting down In his own hand, frequently
notes OF subjects with callers at the
White House. which he thinks may be
mentioned In his message. These are
taken In hand by Secretary Loeb. who
has them typewriter and filed away for
reference when the actual work Of pre-
pairing the message commences Occa-
slonally, after caller has gone away,
the President has Mr.. Loeb. or some
other stenographer, come into his Office
end take several sentences OF dlctation
concerning the matter under discussion.
and this is filed to be referred to when
work on the message is In progress.
While nobody can know thus early In
advance exactly what tho President will
discuss In his message nor the method
OF treatment Of the most important SUBJ
tects, 1t is comparatively easy to foresee
several important matters TO which much
space will be devoted. 1t IL believed that
the subject OF regulation OF freight rates
by the government will receive the most
careful and. with the exception OF tariff
revision, the most extended treatment
OF the subjects which the message Will
discuss. President Roosevelt has made
not the slightest concession to the OPP
poncnts Of rate regulation, 1t is said by
those who are supposed to know best
tho mind OF the Executive. It is said
that he will urge, In language much
stronger than that which he used In hts
last message, that Legislation be enacted
empowering a government commission
10 regulate railway charges, and that he
may give considerable space to private
his last message.
Tho subject OF tariff reduction will re-
ceive extended notice, and II Is believed
the Executive Will recommend that there
be made some radical reduction In the rates
fixed by the DInglcy law 1t is hard to
tell which Is going to create greater OPP
position In the ranks OF the Republican
party, the proposition to regulate railway
rates by means OF a governmental COM
mission or that which will look to the
reduction of tariff schedules. It Is a
fact however, that neither the repre-
acntativcs Of The railroads nor the men
who represent the protected interests or
tile country, appear to be uneasy regard
ling the outcome OF the fight. They ap-
pear confident OF their ability TO defeat
the President on both issues and, or
course. they will unite their forces.
The President will devote much OF the
space used In the message TO discussion
of the Panama canal enterprise. He VIII
recommend n bond issue to defray the
cost OF construction. and will probably
call attention TO the increase in cost
ever the first estimates, because OF having
to build sea-cyel instead OF n loci,
canal.
The insurance scandals will also take
up much space in the message. and tx,
recommendations which the President Will
make concerning the regulation Of in
surance companies are being awaited with
probably as great interest as the docu-
me,it Is expected to contain.
The message has been put IN type. The
President has the proofs. and is devotirE
a considerable portion Of each day to 4,
consideration and revision. The einenda-
lions and additions always change in tie
most vital way the first drafts of the
manuscript work of the President.
II would appear that the President il
to DO beaten on both rate regulation ard
tariff revision. There Is no sort of doubt
that majority of the Republicans or
the Senate and the House of Representa-
tvcs are opposed to any revision OF tho
tariff, and it Is believed that they will
occupy the same position on any hill I
which may meet his views concerning
the regulation Of railway rates! They
voted for the Esch-Townsend bill last
year for the reason that 1t did not rcEu.
late. It did not hurt the railways, though
the people who are most bitterly opposed
% corporations, especially railroad cor
rorations. thought It would scarcely stop
short of tearing up the tracks and burn
Ing inc rollns STOCK. Eut snOulu thsre
come up this session bill framed IL
accordance with tho views OF the Presi,
dent, one which would really give to n
Commission the power to compel tiic
charging OF certain rates, It Is safe to
count upon almost solid Republican Op.
position. Senator IIlkins. chairman &c
tho Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce. who has asserted witt, Yene-
,pencc all along that he was III favo:
OF rate legislation, went to see the Prcsi-
dent a day or two ago, and came away
nstonished that Mr.. Roosevelt should
bo such strong PARTISAN on The subjecs
of regulation OF rates by law, There Is
no daubt that the President knows where