Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-18
From Washington.

j. fO1u w dSllluS tOli'
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gszette.]
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 49,
A plan to defeat President Rooseyelts
rate legislation programme is being agi-
tsted in the Senate which the backers
hope will crystallizointo an expression"
from both houses OF Congress before the
week is oyer. The scheme in brief is to
h I'D conference on Friday or Saturday
at which bill will be agreed upon which
will contain some of the Presidents
suggestions without those which promise
to work harm to the railroads. la other
words. it will be the Presidents railroad
rate regulation without its teeth. The
Hepburn bill, now being prepared, will
be used as the basis that the conference
will adopt, great care being taken, how
ever. to emasculate that instrument
wherever it runs counter TO the ideas OF
the biz railroad interests. Then with
this bill in their hands the members and
Senators will say to the President awe
are willing to pass this measure at the
present session and there will be-no neces-
sity to call an extraordinary session in the
spring, summer or any other time" If
the President objects to the proposition,
he will be placed in the rather delicate
position Of asserting that bis ideas are
better than those of Congress. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the President
will swallow this bait or not. Friends
of the administration say that he will
not listen to any compromise that does
not contain some real protection for the
small shippers. 1t is said that the Hep
burn bill has been scrutiaized bg a
number of the most influential railroad
men in the country and that they have
given it their sanction. If this is so, it
is quite probable that it will not meet
with the approval of the President. for
he demands a measure that not only
sounds we'll but will be effective in cor
recting the huge rebate, rate discrimi-
nation and private car evils.
A resolution directing the Secretary of
Commerce and Labor to investigate the
steel trust. was introduced in the House
today by Mr.. Little, (dem. Ark.). In
4 uctions are given TO ascertain to what
extent the trus. controls interstate COM
merce and whether or not it superyises
the action Of steel companies not publicly
declared to remembers Gifts corporation.
The Secretary is further directed to re-
port his findings and recommendation
to the first session Of the next Congress.
Rate legislation constituted the chief
tonic of this mornings session of the
Board of Trade, majority and |
reports being submitted by the !
committee on amendments 10 the inter-
state commerce law. Following q brief |
address by ex-Secretary of State John !
w. Henderson on arbitration treaties,
VIM. NJ. Coates, of Philadelphia, chair
nan of the committee, submitted report
n opposition to unjust discrimination by
in any form.
Senator Elkins, chairman OF the Senate
on interstate commerce, to-
lay introduced bill amending the in
erstate commerce lew, and to further
prevent the payment Of commissions or
ebates on freight.
State Department officials do not hest
ate to say this morning that if Russian
roops have occupied Kashgar, as stated
n the morning cable dispatches, that
Russia has committed a serious interna-
ional crime and one which the nations
f the world will not countenauce. The
ruth of this report, however, is not ac-
epted for the present, for Russia's JUS
lfication for such action cannot be found
n any acts of China since the beginning
f the war in the far East.
At the morning opening of the Smoot I
caring today, Judge James E. Tai
lsge, Of Salt Lake, Mormon since
irth, not polygamst, and author of
lie book called "Articles of Faith"
,sti6ed as TO the manner in which he
anne to write the treaties and said that O
was E1lly adopted by the church. I
lie also Lisde the last revision of the S
Pearl of Great Price" To perform u
lese tasks be had for years studied the {,
)ctrines of the church. He then gave n
lie organization of the church in detail. \
! explaining the judiciary branch of t
lie church witness declared, "the OBJ fl
ct is TO steer clear of lawyers entirely" f
though be admitted that the church c.
'ntained lawyers as members. Wit "
sss identified signatures appended to a n
amber Of letters of instruction sent u
1t by the first presidency of the church b
inferior courts advising against the b
ial of cases in which is involved the L
lestion OF land titles. a,
@. F. Staples of Minnesota, C. C. m
cCord, of Kentucky, and B. T. tt
rump, OF Virginia, railway COM OF
issioners of their respective states, th
presenting the association ofStats COM al
issioners, Representative Hearst Of az
sw- York, and w. d. Hines represent pl
z the Atlantic Cost Line were today 81