The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-12
WILL CALL AN EXTRA SESSION.
NOT FOR TARIFF REVISION, but
FOR NATE LEGISLATION.
The President Regards Railroad Rate
Legislation More Important Than
the Tariff, but Has Not Given Up Hope
That Revision win BE Accomplished.

WAsHISGToE. Jan. IL In the face OF
overwhelming objection on the part Of
Republican members Of the House to tariff
revision, the President has abandoned for
the time being any agitation Of the sub
ject Of calling an extra session to enact
tariff legislation.
But he has not given up the extra session
idea and has determined TO call the Fifty
ninth Congress together probably in the
fail, TO consider railway rate legislation
unless Congress should enact some legis-
lation on this character at the present
session
Whiie the President has told the Congress
leaders that he regards the railway rate
matter Of greater Importance than the
tariff. he has not given up hope that tarin
revision will be accomplished soon. and he
thinks that events may so shape themselves
that, If Congress ia convened in special Sos
sion 10 consider the rate question It may
also be in a mood to overhaul the Dngley
schedules
The President made II plain to the senate
and the II ouse leaders with whom he con
ferred last Saturday that hewould be guided
in his action with regard to the tarih by
the sentiment oi the Republican members
OF Congress. Speaker Cannon told him
to-day that an overwhelming majority
OF the House was opposed to tariff revision,
and the President reiterated the statement
made by him on Saturday
In talks with other Republican Congress
men he indicated that he wanted rate legis-
lation more than tarh legislation. and It
is inferred from this that he mas fully de
cided not TO press his tariff revision views
at this time As there is hardly any iikeh-
hood that railway rate legislation will be
enacted by the present Congress an extra
session is regarded IA certainty
But Congress-or rather tho House end
Of it's still up in the air over the tariff
revision situation Members opposed 10
revision are not sure that il would be wise
to drop the propa ganda against the revision
idea even in he face Of the understand
ing obtained to-day thai the President
will not press his views on the subject.
Therefore Speaker Cannon and his lieu
tenants who have been leading the fight
against any interference with the present
schedules are leaving no stone unturned
10 form such solid pha AK " opposition
to the Presidents wishes that should he
reviye his revision policy he will be made
10 see that il cannot be accomplished
The situation in the House was hkened
to-day to n lettering board with one end
upmC part OF the time aud down the
other From the showing produced by
Speaker Cannon an Overwhelming ma
jority Of the Republican Representatives
are opposed TO any tnrif Legislation. but
there IL well grounded suspicion that
many Of these supposed Hnti-revisionIsts
will be ready 10 run to the other end Of the
lettering board after the President has
talked with them
Honor to-day. however are with Speaker
Cannon He has assurances from leaders
of State delegations some OF whom have
polled all their Republican colleagues. that
the anti-reyision sentiment il paramount
Grusyenor Of Ohio has told him, for cI-
ample. that W per cent OF the House Re
publicans DO not want any tinkering with
tariff schedules
But Speaker Cannon and the House
leaders have apparently forgotten that the
Seuule must DE taken into consideration in
the termination Of the attitude OF the Con-
gress toward the Presidents desire for re
vision. and It is significant that most Of the
big men of the Senate. the real leaders,
are inclined to follow Mr. Roosevelt
In these circumstances il Is possible that
the President may again propose IN the
near future that the schedules he revised
These leaders such men "a Allison, AID
rich Lodge and Spooner-may not all be-
iieye that the tariff legislation is necessary
hut the position Of some of them Is that the
people have been made 10 think that the
Dngley schedules need readjustnent and
it would be- unwise to 60 contrary 10 the
popular will.
lhe idea Of conforming 10 the sentiment
supposed to prevail among the voters in
favor Of tariff Legislation mas iuade an i'm
preston on the Republican side Of the Sem
ate. and It was declared to-day. by promi-
nent Senator, that nearly all the members Of
his party in the upper house are with the
President in his tariff readjustment policy
Even Knox Of Pennsylvania whose Re-
publican colleagues in the House are solidly
against revision is credited with believing
that the tariff should be revised.
In his private Office and on the floor Of
the House and in the Republican cloak
room Speaker Cannon talked anti-revision
to-day His lieutenants went about among
their state colleagues and polled them
for the Speakers benefit. At the end Of
the day they said that there was some re-
vision sentiment among Northwestern
members and those from Massachusetts,.
but the rest Of the Republican membership
Of the House was practically unanimous
m opposition 10 the Presidents policy.
Their poll showed that the Pacific slope
was solidly against tariff Legislation and
that the Rocky Mountain States and the
Dakotas we're nearly all with them.
Pcnnsvlvania polled a solid Republican
vote against the President. and the dele
CATION signed protest 10 the President
against forcing the issue at this time. Four
teen ~ the sNventecn Republicans from
Ohio signed "a similar petition. Burton
and jackson of OHIO refused 70 gn
Payne OF Auburn Douglas " New York
CITY and Perkina Of Rochester ere the only
Republican members Of New York who de-
declined 90 sign a statement opposing re-
vision and a petition * being circulated
urging Mr. Payne as chairman OF the Ways
and Means Committee andNthe nominal
leader Of the New York Republican dele
cation. 70 come ont squarely against any
fariG legislation. His colleagues say that
Mr. Payne IL on the fence.
Arson Phelps stokes. Jr.. Father.
NEW HAVEN. Jan. il.-An heir TO the