The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-28
CONGRESS TO WORRY
OVER TozlNl.4Al CANAL.
Possible That Rate Matter and Tariff Revision Will
Not Be Taken UP at Extra Session--At-
titude Of President.

). Z l. Ii q N y
views, and was MS determined as ever
to bring about the enactment OF d law
which should give to the national gov
Eernment tho power8tO regulate passenger
and freight rates on all transportation
lines, and to fix all8terninnl charges. s5
The ultra protectionists. vulgarly term
cd stand-patters." have sought to ct
feet n change Of sentiment on the part.
Aof the President as regards revision o
tariff rates. AS late as the fourteenth
Eof May the President gave posit evil
&1cnce that he was II tart lrevisionst,s
when Secretary Taft Issued q statement
TO the effect that certain supplies for.
the construction OF the canal would
be purchased abroad. owing to tho fact
that they could be secured moro chcaply
from European; manufacturers than from
home producers. The President ut once
backed tp this policy. and thus flung
down tic gauntlet to tho opponents of.
tariff reduction. There is absolutely
nothing emanating from tho President
since that time to indicate that he has
undergone any change OF heart. IA
z Nor has he said ything or taken any
action concerning rate regulation which
would indicate a bncle-down Perhaps,
the fact that he has said nor done a n.y.
thing has caused the belief that he has
changed his mind. The appointment Of
AoSSA eStii
of State could be construed as an sact$ Of
triendliness to the railroads and trusts,
but his signal honoring Of the greatest
corporation lawyer In the world need not
\ be looked on as conclusive evidence FofS
surrender to trusts and corporate
power & 5 4 Is Ne
81 so5sthat. while tho extra session will
hardly deal4with rate mat ers nor with
tariff revision, there IS no good reason
I, 40 az
mlnlstration will not be exerted to have
these become the chief subjects Of legis'
$lation "a t the regular session
New Rate Bill.
1T is pretty certain that the rate bill
which Will be introduced at the next
session OF Congress will be very differ
$ent from the measure which passed the
house at the last session, known MS the
Esch Townsend bill. This bill was very
moderate. and had inperfcctfons which
could only have been overlooked in the
hurry with which the measure went
through The lower house. Hon LeonidasS
#Livings ton Il Of Georgia. senior demo-
cratic member OF q he commit tee on ap-t
preparations, called attention to-day to
the fact that5the terms of the bill would
make It possible for a Federal tribunal
such as that provided for by the BILL
10 CIOWG CtEh
their operation touched Interstate CONF
MERGE, While 1t is likely that this feat
ure Of the bill will be looked after, and
the ntent made plain, yet, 1t is not be-$
#lieved that any serious result could have.
come from allowing 1t to Tainlas 1t ls.l
The State legislatures have not any
5power6low to enact legisla ton q Meeting
commerce between The States, nor has
the Congress the power q enact8l glsla-E
ton Affecting Interstate Commerce
There is much doubt whether State
law requiring nnegro who is travelling,
from n point In one state o a point be-
You'd the State, to ride in the coach for
Bcolored Is constitutional. 4t a rate gsbil 4
could mot affect the question.
/ have said nothing regarding the lesls-l
6lationJ which may be v expected 3on5 the;
subject of the treasury def cit.sI s. IS es-i
#ttnaied that the deficit for the month
Of July alone will reach near ly s1s, 900 00O.3
Revision OF the tariff 50 that the voluinei
OF imports may be greater and more
revenue customs be realized, or, II q
stamp tax, or a tax on coffee, are alter
natives presented by the republlcan ma
jority as remedies for the dcflcit Re-
4trenchmenti Is also talked of.yThe last Is
an irldescent dream, which has seldom
& been realized In the history of govern
ments. without n revolution first.