Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-29
THE RlrE-MAKrEo QUESTION.


THE RLTE-MAKIK0 QUESTION.
An exaggerated Importance ia giver
to the recent utterance Of Senator For
aker in regard TO the rate-making ques
ton. No one familiar with the public
record of the Ohio senator should have
been In the least surprised at his an.
nouncement Of dissent from the position
Of President Roosevelt on this subject
Mr.. Foraker has always been identified
with the railroad interest His politi
cal success mas been to no inconsidera.
bic extent due to that fact. The in.
fuence Of the railroads. was a factor
In making him governor of Ohio, and
II assisted materially in sending him
to the national senate. Ever since
he became a member of that body
he has been loyal to the power that
helped him reach that eminence.
He has always figured in the list of
the railroad senators and be has never
lost an opportunity TO show his devotion
to that interest. In his speech at the
opening Of the Ohio republican cam
paign, in which he declared opposition
to the legislation recommended by Mr..
Roosevelt, Foraker simply reafirmed
his previous utteranees. He asserted
anew views that he had more than once
expressed in the senate and elsewhere.
But he does not in this represent the
opinion Of the rank and file OF Ohio
republicans. The majority Of these con-
cur in what was said by Secretary Taft
as chairman Of the state republican
convention, heartily and unquallfedly
endorsing the position of President
Roosevelt and which was approved by
that convention.
Senator Foraker's leadership in Ohio
is not so strong as formerly and this
fact is largely due to his corporation
affiliations. This may not materially
affect his influence in the senate, though
even in that body he is doubtless less
influential than before his alliance with
and subservience to the corporations be-
came well and generally known. Mr..
obligation which he owes the corpora
tons. He will still labor zealously in
their cause. But the indications are
that he and those associated with him
In antagonizing the president and an
overwhelming public sentiment will find
that they have much more difficult
task than hitherto. The people are
determined to have legislation of the
character which Mr.. Roosevelt has
urged and they will secure It. Accord
ing to reports from Washington Sena-
tor Allison is Of the opinion that an
effective rate-making measure will be
passed at the coming session of con-
gress. While recognizing the fact that
the members of the interstate COM
merce committee of the senate have
diverse views concerning the fixing Of
railroad rates, the Iowa senator be-
lieves that the differences will be COM
posed so as to result in a measure that
will conform to President Roosevelt's
ideas
This opinion is shared by others who
have given careful attention to the sit
uation. Thus an eastern paper, which
has the most favorable opportunity for
knowing sentiment in corporation quar-
tiers remarks that the regulation OF rail-
way rates being the subject nearest to
the presidents heart, it will be carried
to successful issue through congress.
in spite OF the senatorial opposition. 1t
is yet to be determined how well this
opposition has been organized. 1t is
possible that 1t is not now as strong as
in the last congress, that it has been
somewhat weakened under the influence
of public opinion. But it undoubtedly
is still formidable and may be expected
to put up a vigorous and persistent
fight.