Evening journal., 1905-09-22
ROOSEVELT AND
THE RAILROADS
.Ea@si,
President Will Soon Resume
His Advocacy of Rate
Legislation
He WILL URGE CONGRESS 70 ACT
By WnlIam NOE smIlh.

By William Wolm smith.
Washington, d. G., Sept. 2s-The
Rumistic conclusions reached by the
railroad press agents and distributed /
freely TO the newspapers from this
point to the effect that there has been
such a marked change in public senti-
ment on the railroad question that
action BY Congress is Improbable. do
not appear to be wholly justified in
view of the facts Here and there a
commercial organization which former
" favored the regulation of railroad
rates has changed it's attitude but i'm
almost every instance the change has
been brought about by the exertion Of
persuasive pressure from the railroads
Of the character which they so fire.
quently apply.
on the other hand many orgauiza-
uons have reiterated their emphatic
demand for relief legislation and have
been joined by others hitherto nom
commitial Thus the situation does not
appear to have changed materially I'm
the past six months for what the rail-
roads have gained On one quarter they
have lost in another which Us equally
true Of the advocates Of rate regula-
ton.
For some time the railroad lobby has
been congratulatng itself that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had lost interest in the
proposition or had dospaired of being
able 90 bring Congress to his way of
thinking. They have been encouraged
in this belief by the activity OF tha
! HHt nfI
demand made upon his time by such
problems as attended the peace confer
euce, the Panama Canal. ctc. But
the belief that President Roosevelt has
been side tracked" so to speak. is like
~ TO prove erroneous. Mr. Roosevelt is
strenuous. hut he is also persistent,
and his apparent inactivity on the rail-
road question of late can be more
properly attributed to his reluctance to
usclessly expend his force than to a
diminished or vanished interest I'm the
problem.
According to Representative Towns
end. of Michigan. one OF the joint
authors Of the Esch-Townsend bill
President Roosevelt has invited him
for a conference in Washington on
October 1st and Mr.. Townsend IS
President is determined that something
shall be accomplished at the next ses-
ssion. Between October 1st and Decem-
lber 4th. when Congress assemblies,
there will be abundance Of time for Mr.
Roosevelt to organize his forces. one
point IN this connection has APPARENTLY
been lost sight Of by the opponents Of
railroad legislation and that is that the
Esch-Townsend bin was practically an
administration measure and approved
by President Roosevelt before being
introduced. Denunciations of that
measure arc therefore criticisms Of the
Presidents personal views.
\. p. Bacon Of Milwaukee. chairman
of the executive committee of the
Interstate Commerce Law Convention
has issued a call for a meeting of the
convention in Chicago on October 26
Dy this time the forces will be fairly
laigDed for the winters campaign and
/ 10 viii be possible TO obtain some idea
as 70 the chances for action at the
lcoming session. Senator Elkins has an
lnounCcl that he VIII inrsoduee lill
which will be in line with President
/ Roosevelts recommendations and
which will prove satisfactory to all.
bin that will accomplish something and
il is said his views VIII be supported
/ by a few of the Republicans on the
! Committee and many of the Democrats
The committee viii meet on Novem-
Der Is 10 draft a measure and an in
lteresting struggle between the friends
of the railroads and the advocates OF
legislation TO regulate their rates is In
prospect.
Representative Tawney Of Minnesota
recognized as one of the leading men or
the Republican side although some.
times not i'm line with the majority oi
lhis party, expressed himself yesterday
as satisfied there would be railroad
lrate legislation this winter. "Th'
sentiment for it is very strong and
lcanpot be ignored. The Nebraska Re.
lpublicans for instance, are committed
TO 1t in their platform" said he. Mr.
ITawney was considerably interested ir
the policy of the Post-office Depart.
iment as to whether the fourth class
postmasters viii be generally reap
pointed or the members of Congress
will be given an opportunity TO recon-
mend others. Representative Bede, o.
Minnesota, was also I'm the city. HI
wants to appoint a collector Of customl
at his home i'm Duluth, but the Sena
tors also wish to have a say in thl
lmatter.
When seen at the Arlington. Repre-
sentative Ryan of Buffalo, spoke mos
highly Of John Sharp Williams hi
Democratic leader i'm the House anc
deplored the possibility of his relln
gushing the leadership. Mr.. Williams
will be a candidate for the Senate from
Mississippi and may find his hands 81
p full that he viii be asked to be re-
, lieved from the duties of his position
! as floor leader. Mr. Ryan said h
voiced the sentiments of a majority o
the Democrats in Congress who wished
: Mr.. Williams to continue.
Meterorology.
Hyuh dat tree toad holler!
3 .r..1Ia ~