Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-05
RATE BILL PROSPECTS GOOD
Indications Point to Passage Of Measure at
Present Session.
TRIUMPH FOR PRESIDENT IN SIGHT
Many DimcuIties 20 Re overcome In
Senate-Tarin aud statehood
bills Way he Modified TO
Pave way.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

CFrom STAN Correspondent
| WASHINGTON. Feb T. 49, CSpecialD - A
railroad rate bill will be passed during the
present session of the hfty-ninth congress.
Every indication points to that end. 1t is
true that there is dlsa greement in the
Interstate and foreign commerce commit
tee of the senate, which has under con-
sideration all bills relating to railroad rate
regulation, but It is anticipated that out
OF that committee will come a bill such
as the democrats signed with the repub
lcans in the house and between the Hep
burn measure. which will pass the house
in II few days and the bill which the
senate committee will report. there will
be little difference. President Roosevelt
recognizes the rights OF railroads. he also
recognizes the rights of individuals Con-
fiscation Of property is prohibited by the
constitution Redress for attempted con-
fiscation of property lies with the courts
and the bill which is now under discussion
in the house of representatives. compre-
hending that clause Of the constitution
which relates to interstate commerce. has
adroity avoided any suggestion as to the
constitutionality by clothing the Interstate
Commerce commission with power TO fix a
reasonable rate.
President Roosevelt has presented num-
Der of very definite issues to congress in
the messages he has sent to the legislative
body of the government since assuming
the office of president. Statehood for Okla
homa, Indian Territory, Arizona and New
Mexico has been very close to him. Since
the visit OF Secretary Taft and delega-
ton from the senate and house to the
Philippines a reduction on imports from
the Philippines has impressed him to the
extent of writing strong message to
congress urging reduction in the Philip
pine tariff Two of these measures have
passed the house and are now pending in
the senate. The third proposition, which
is really first in the presidents mind, will
pass without material amendment and will
go to the senate with an almost unanimous
vote. And this is the proposition on which
the president stands. the regulation of
railroad rates.
The railroad rate bill will be long in
passing the senate. There are many isms
in that body and there are many constitu-
tional lawyers but the way things arc NOV
ing now ii looks II both the Philippine
tariff bill and the statehood bill might be
modified and accepted by the administration
i'll order that a railroad rate bill along the
lines recommended In the last message OF
the president TO congress may become a
law. To that end every power that the adj
ministration has is being directed.
Easier Comm m cation with Mexico.
While a widespread interest is manifested
everywhere In the growth of the commercial
relations between the United States and the
oriental empires, very little has been heard
or seen recently in reference to the grow
ing commerce between this country and
the republics to the south OF us. Mexico in
particular. Yet within the last few years
millions of American capital have been in
vested in mining, forestry. agriculture and
manufactures in the sister republic. The
railroads are beginning to recognize the OPP
portunities for business which salts
factory line, Of Communication promises,
and recently an experiment in transporta-
ton was Inaugural ted between st. Louis and
Mexico City. which has already demon
strated that the time is ripe for better ia
cilities for communication.
Mr.. William f Hoyt. eastern passenger
agent of one Of the western roads, has been
here this week and he tells an interesting
story which demonstrates the readiness Of
the people of this country to seize any op-
portunity to reach the City of Mexico
promptly and comfortably. ION the 10th Of
January" said Mr.. Hoyt "a special solid
vestibule train was started out OF st. Louis
over the. Iron Mountain and Mexican Ma
tonal railroads 1t is scheduled TO reach
the City of Mexico in fifty-nine hours from
the time It leaves ST. Louis-whch is equiv
alent to four days from New York The
train is a solid vestibule Pullman car line
with diner, smoker and all modern travelling
conveniences. Its capacity is 100 passen-
gers. and it is at present run out Of ST.
Louis twice each week. The demand for
Sr1ac baS 90 berth Is
engaged for three weeks ahead and from
present indications a daily service will he
necessary within a short time. This only
indicates" said Mr.. Hoyt. that the Amer
! lean people are anxious to establish closer
relations with Mexico and | think we are
| entering upon an era Of commercial and
social reciprocity which will bind the two
republics closer together to the mutual adj
vantage of both peoples"
senator PIatt's Activity.
| Senator T. c. Plat is physically one of
| the frailest men in the senate. And yet the
senior senator from New York need take
no back seat when ii comes to mental ac
tivity. There is no more industrious man
in the upper house of congress today than
he. As chairman of the joint committee
on printing he has worked hard and con-
tinuously with his colleagues in bringing
about reform Of the methods prevailing
i'm the government printing office. He has
attended nearly all the hearings and is
as well posted as to the conditions prevail
ing and the best methods for curtailing
expenses in the great print shop any
/ member of congress. But IT is not only
in the committee on printing that Senator
Plat is an important factor. He is
member of the important committees on
finance, naval affairs and interoceanic
| canals, and no member of those bodies
is more regular in his attendance than he
In fact, among his collea CUES the senator
is regarded as the most persistent at
tendant upon copmittee meetings in the
senate today. Senator Plat is no Splinter.
He walks with difficulty, but he is clear
in the head today as he ever was and
! from all appearances will continue TO be
a potential force in the affairs Of the
senate during the remainder of his term
DANISH PRINCES WERE BROKE