The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-03
SPECIAL SESSION
IS DUE In OCTOBER
Continued From First Page

A leading Republican lawyer in the
senate, for example, remarked in pri-
vate conversation the other day:
Il have just been looking over this
bill as it was passed by the house.
What do you think of it," he was
asked.
Il haven't examined It very thor
oughly," was the reply, but 1 see at
least two holes in IL, each OF which is
big enough to drive four horse team
through"
The wide diversity OF opinion among
members of the senate in regard to
railroad legislation becomes more and
more apparent as time passes and OPP
portunity is given for free discussion.
There Is a considerable element in the
senate that holds that the EIkins law.
which was really drawn up by Senator
Knox when he was attorney general
and passed by congress two years ago.
contains the broadest kind Of provi-
sion regarding the regulation of rail-
roads.
Elkins Law Infested
1t is held that there has been no
thorough test of the efficacy of this law
to cure the evils which the administra-
liou 10 seeking 10 cure. On the Olner
hand. there are those who believe that
the Elkins' law is not broad enough
(or, at least, not specific enough) to
deal adequately with the rate question,
and who agree thoroughly with Mr..
Roosevelt when he declares that the
question OF additional railway legisla-
ton Is even more pressing than the
question of revising the tariff law.
There is much speculation as to the
" he =
committee on interstate commerce
during the coming summer. This
committee is expected TO sit during
the long recess and to be prepared
with plan OF legislation by the time
Mr.. Roosevelt calls congress together
In the fall. 1t would be no surprise If
the committee, however should urge
the president. about midsummer. to let
the matter go over until the regular
session in December on the ground
that the members have not had suffi-
Gent time to consider properly so inn
portant a scheme of legislation. II
August. in all probability, the ques-
ton of an extra session will reach the
critical stage between the leaders of the
senate and the president. although
there is no doubt at this time of the
session in October.
wants TO Get at arm
The fact is the president wishes to
have the regular session of next win
ter unhampered by railway legislation,
for he is thoroughly resolved that the
Dingiey tariff law should be amended
before the next regular session of con-
gress adjourns in the spring or sum-
mer of 1906. Troublesome as the rate
question is, and manifold as are the
interests to be consulted, no one
doubts that the revision of the tariff
VIII consume more time than any other
legislation which could possibly be
proposed. The president does not be-
neve that congress is capable of dis
posing of the rate legislation and the
tariff legislation at the regular ses-
sion. He wishes to have both matters
disposed of before the next political
campaign, which will be on hand In
the fall of 1906. Both questions he re-
CARDS as politically important. al
though he has said to his friends in
so many words that '.as between the
two questions. the railway legislation
is matter of principle, while the tariff
legislation is a matter of policy"
Walter E Clark