The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-12
EXTRASESSION CERTAIN
President Determined on Tariff Re
vision and Railroad Legislation.
WILL BE CALLED NEXT FALL
ur. Roosevelt viii Fight Hard to Sc
cure Legislation Relating to Inter
State Freight Rates, Which He Re
cards As the Paramount Issue.

Washington. Jan. IL. - President
Roosevelt favors the earliest possible
action looking TO a revision by con
gress of the tariff. He so informed the
senators and representatives who were
I'm conference with him at the White
House last Saturday. and he has made
plain his position to others since that
conference. lie will call the 59th con
gress into extraordinary session as
soon as the committees have indicated
that they are prepared to submit a
tariff measure for passage.
One OF hose present at the confer
ence on Saturday said, in view OF the
many conflicting stories published re-
garding the meeting that the presi-
dent informed them that while he dld
not believe in any sweeping revision
of the tariff. and would abide abso-
lutely by the judgment Of the two
houses OF congress in matter that
related so particularly TO them, yet he
did think the time had come when
the schedules should be thoroughly
examined and there should be a re-
adjustment as to certain OF them. The
president added that his own view
was that the special session should
take place at the earliest date by
which the committees of the two
houses could come to an agreement
as to a bill II they took this view. he
said. he would hold himself ready to
call the extraordinary session at
whatever time the members OF the two
committees. and especially the house
committee on ways and means, should
inform him they would be ready with
their report
II the congress should act on the
tariff question in accordance with the
presidents desire il was made per
fectly plain that the extraordinary SEES
sion would be called to assemble the
coming spring 1t has been pointed out,
however. by the tariff experts Of the
house and OF the senate. that II will
require many weeks to prepare a
measure for submission TO the house.
While no decision of a definite char
acter has been reached as to the time
OF the extraordinary session. it is rea-
sonably certain that. If one should be
held. il will be called 10 meet next
autumn. probably in October. On this
point. however, it is too early to speak
definitely. as by the agreement to be
reached between the president and the
leaders of the senate and the house OF
representatives. the extraordinary ses-
sion will not be called until the com
mittees are ready to report a bill.
On another question. however. that
Of legislation relating TO the inter
state freight rates of railroads. his
mind is quite made up. He will fight
for that legislation and fight hard. He
hopes to secure from congress some
definite action regarding that legisla-
ton at the present session; but If he
does not, he will bring the subject
again before congress at the proposed
extraordinary session, and will urge
with all his power the disqualification
into law OF the recommendations he
already has made to congress on that
question The freight rate question he
does not regard as one Of expediency.
He holds that it is a subject in which
a great principle is involved and one
very near to all the people OF the
country. He regards II, in fact, as the
paramount issue at this time. far and
away more important than the pro-
posed revision Of the tariff. He spoke
plainly it is stated, OF his views at
the conference on Saturday concern
ing the freight rate problem. The ex-
preston OF his attitude on the sub
ject led to a free interchange Of opin-
ions regarding il. but no conclusions
could be reached at that time.