The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-11
PRESIDENT SEES
into FOES PLAN
Seeking to Attract Attention to
Any but the Rate Re-
form Issue.
Roosevelt's Position in the Matter
Not Changed Since the
Fight Began.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Jan. l1.-There has been
good deal Of jangling- of sweet bells
out of tune lately in Washington, and
it is likely it will continue for some
time; The opponents of railway-ratee
legislation are responsible for it, and
they hope so to fool the country as to
draw attention from their pet issue
and focus it on Panama, Santo Domln-
20, statehood and the Philippine tariff.
The president, while admiring the
skill of the bell ringers, believes that
the country will not be fooled any more
than he is fooled, and that, in the end
the ringers will tire, Of their discor7
dant performance and again permit
condition of harmony to prevail.
Certain definite information has come
TO the administration that it has been
the deliberate purpose of the antirate
reform people to try to attract atten-
ton from their issue, and that various
members of both houses, to say nothing
of many of the daily newspapers of
the country, have been misled by the
clamor that has resulted. -"
.-..s-.-.: Trick Is Seen.
The administration feels confident
that the demand for rate legislation is
80 deep-seated, however, as to make it
out Of the question for this old trick
the railroad people discover, this to be
the situation, it is predicted that they
will permit legislation to be enacted,
especially Of the modest sort that is
embodied in the Hepburn bill. which
has just been Endorsed by an over.
whelming vote of the republicans of
the house. =, - .:s..-f;s..s
The president is standing pat and is
pot receding an inch. If anything, he
is advancing his lines slightly: H He
lieves that he cannot help coming out
on top. He wants. the country to know,
however, just what is behind the racket
that has been stirred up in Washing
ton since congress came back after the
holiday recess.
The Presidents Position.
Some of the president IS critics may
uIidertake to say, after o railroad-rate
bill has been signed, that he has
changed his position, and accepted
something much more moderate in tone
than he originally stood for. The re-
cital of the facts, however, ought to
save him from such charge, and it
is up to his friends to keep in mind
Just what his rate position has been.
The president has never asked fol-
anything but a moderate bill. He wants
first, an affirmative assertion of the
federal power over rates, and then he
wants, in the, second place, law that
will give the interstate commerce com
mission the right, after a rate has beer
complained of end found to be unj Just
to name a new rate in its stead
and have that new rate 60 at once into
effect.
Extent of Demand.
His speeches, MESA ges and public ut
terances generally will be searched il
vain for any greater demand than this
He has never asked for control owe
differentials. over the long and short
10
rates. He has asked for the stoppin!
of all rebates to persons, for the aboli
ton of the midnight tariffs. for the cor
rection Of terminal switching and ele
yator charges; but all these come IN
der the general head of rebates, and al
ready have been met in large part b
legislation enacted since he becam
president. = - 49,.
The fact that many Of his friends al
demanding more than he is demanding
Or has demanded, has not influence
him one way or the other. MANY {
these friends no doubt honestly belie,y
mand, and they will be greatly SUI
prised, when they have made a caref,
study of his position, to know ho
sadly they have been mistaken.
Esch-Townsend Bill.
Should the charge be made that
has changed his position, it will hins
upon the Esch- Townsend bill of tt
last session of congress. a very radio
bill. by the way, which he then SUI
ported, and which the house passe
Practically the same bill has been i
troduced in this session, and alreat
there has been some considerable
among the advocates of rate legisl
tion because that bill does not now see
to be the administration favorite.
The explanation is easy. The last sc
sion of congress, to use the president
own words, was ga session for discu
sion, and so he naturally accepted al
bill that was presented, and used it f
the purpose Of bringing the rate que
ton clearly before the country. T
quote the president again, the prese
session Of congress lis to be a sessi
for action,'' and so it happens that
is now asking for bill which fair
expresses his views. That bill is J,
the h-Towhsend bill of last We
or Of this, but the Dolliver and He
burn bills. A combination of these bill
after the correction of phraseology
committee. will be the administrati
bill, and the house will pass it and Sc
1t over to the senate, where it will r
the gauntlet of real opposition.
Sought a Leader.
In the last congress, the preside
looked for many weary days for sol
member Of prominence on the hot
committee on interstate and forei
commerce, who would stand for
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