The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-03
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE BRING
ING ABOIT A CHANGE.

Republican Senators Getting Together
with the Idea tina Court Revision In
Some Form WIN he Incorporated In
the Measure-FlanS Being Made.
WASHINGTON, March IA much better
feeling prevails among Republican Senators
over the now general understanding that
President Roosevelt realizes that the Hep
burn railway rate bill must be amended
as a matter OF pr~ecaution, at least, in order
to prevent its overthrow by the courts
upon the ground of unconstitutionahty.
None of these Republicans Is deceiving
himself with the belief that the President
is ready to accept q liberal court review
amendment, for it is known that he Is
opposed to that proposition, but there
Is a growing idea that his attitude 10 not
80 stiff -necked as had been supposed. 1t
Is also felt that he Is willing to take into
consideration the suggestions OF those
party friends who are not willing to vote
for the Hepburn meas ure in its present
shape, but will do so If the right to ex-
anime into the lawfulness Of rate orders
issued by the Interstate Commerce Com
miss ion is extended specifically to the
courts.
The most encouraging sign from the
standpoint Of those who regard the Hep
burn bill without the court review pro-
vision as placing u dangerous power In
the hands Of the Interstate G commerce
Commission, and wholly Questionable on
that account, is that Republican Senators,
who have shown a disposition to support
the bill mainly on the ground that it was
advocated by the President, appear to be
willing to favor an amendment granting
the courts a greater measure of authority
over the acts Of the commission.
The reason given for this seeming change
of view ID that, as the President Is willing
that the bill shall be amended in certain
and by no means u%nimportant particulars,
those who nave supported his railway rate
policy solely on party grounds now feel
free to follow their convictions as to the
necessity Of changes. 1t Is not to be sup
posed that the radical rate fixing advocates
among the Republican Senators have in
any way aband oned their opposition to the
review provisi on or are willing to have
the bill amended materially, but there are
others whose attitude tended to place them
on the radical side who are expected to join
with the conservatives to a fairly satisfac-
tory extent.
There is a confident feeling among the
conservatives that the court review pro-
vision, as a last resort, will be inserted
in the Senate, in spite Of opposition from
the President, but they do not desire to force
that issue and will continue the effort to
effect a harmonious party agreement In
advance Of legislative action, so that the
desired changes may be made.
One OF the most satisfactory evidences
that the differences that have divided the
Republican membership of the Senate
will be adjusted is furnished by the new
attitude which the Republican leaders in
that body lave adopted since yesterday.
Ever since three Republican and five Demo-
cratic members Of the Interstate Commerce
Committee outvoted the remaining Repub-
Leans and reported the Hepburn bill to
the Senate without amendment these
leaders nave regarded the measure as in
Democratic hands and nave left the Repub-
licans who favored the bill to arrange their
campaign with the Democrats.
Now, however, the leaders nave ap-
parently determined d. to attempt to harmonic
the existing party differences with the
object of enacting a rate law that will be a
Republican measure and for which their
opponents cannot claim credit. Confer
ences held to-day in the Senate wing Of
the Capitol have given cause for encour-
agement, and there Is some substantial
ground for the belief that the radical Repub-
leans will find themselves in a hopeless
minority among their party associates if
they 40 not meet half way the o%vertures
that are being made to them.