The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-07

! committee TO sit during the Congress- recesV
Tor the purpose Of investigating the subject
OF railway rate legislation. The resolution
Will also require this subcommittee to re-
port its conclusions to the Senate when the
next Congress assemblies
Senator Kean, in taking this step, has
the approval Of the big leaders OF the Sem
ate with whom he has been in consultation.
After a careful consideration Of the whole
matter they have reached the conclusion
that IT would be unwise and injudicious
to attempt to place upon the statute books,
IN the few weeks Of the present Congress.
/ law as far reaching in its effects az that
which the House is TO rush through this
week
/ IL ia too early yet TO predict the attitude
( which the House will assume when il learns
what the Senate proposes 10 do. but there
! is growing opinion that Mr.. hean's reso-
luton will be amended so "a 10 provide that
the Investigation Of the rate question shall
be conducted by joint committee of the
Senate and House instead Of merely by "a
subcommittee composed OF members OF
the Senate Committee on Interstate Com
merce.
The House leaders. in providing for
brought themselves under the suspicion
Of trying to stampede the Senate into join
ing with them in the attempt to place
rate regulation law on the statute books
before March 4 They have not consulted
their party colleagues IN the Senate or shown
any disposition to regard the upper house
in the matter.
How mistaken this policyis will be proved
49,
to understand that the Senate will not give
consideration to the Townsend bill or any
other rate regulation measure until II has
better evidence at hand of what the country
requires and has had the opportunity Of
al costing the testimony offered.
The prospective action of tho Senate,
while il will not bring an extra session
within the next few months. makes in
evitable a special meeting Of the fifty-ninth
Congress in the fall, probably in the first
weee, OF October.
President Roosevelt according to what
was represented to-day. believes that his
position will be strengthened II the attempt
to secure this legislation * postponed until
fall or winter Briefly he is Of the opinion
that the sentiment in favor Of giving "A
greater measure OF control over railways
to the Federal Government will grow
stronger and stronger, and when the FIFTY
ninth Congress assemblies eight months
from now in special session. or later in
regular session. both houses will be unable
to resist popular demand that something
be done with this all important matter.
In the meantime Mr. Roosevelt will
continue his efforts to keep tho agitation
alive What course he will pursue to
that end has not been disclosed and probably
not determined. but there can be no doubt
that the country will hear from the Presi-
dent occasionally during the summer
months.
The selection Of Senator kean to present
the resolution for an investigation Of the
rate question marks his elevation to the
ranks Of the leaders of the upper house
For long time he has had the confidence
OF the Senate managers and their willing
ness to have him propose the most import
ant step TO be taken at the present session
is tribute to his ability which would not be
given II his older colleagues in the legisla-
tive arena did not believe it was thoroughly
dpspryad