The Dolores star., 1906-02-09
RAILROAD RATES
PRESIDENT RoosevGLT rAvoRs
HEPDuRN BILL.
HAS ISSUED NO uLTlnATuA

But Would Not Compromise on Lsels.
iation Not In Accord with vIsws
Expressed In His ksessass.-Dssp
Interested In Philippines and etats.
hood Measures.
Washington.-Presid Roosevelt ID
not trying to dictate to Congress what
1t shall do or not do regarding rail.
road rate legislation or any other
problem Of legislation. He has not de-
livered to the Senate or TO the House
any sort of an 'ultimatum" ON subjects
of legislation, and has not held over
the heads of Congress the threat of
an extraordinary session" II he does
not obtain the legislation for which he
II hoping. This statement In made by
authority, also. that suggestions Of .
compromise of any sort on rate legis-
lation which do not embody the sub
stance of the Presidents message on
the subject have not appealed to the
President. 1t can also be said that he
doubtless would refuse to accept .
compromise which would affect any
essential feature Of the proposed legis-
lation. What is known as the Hep
burn bill, now under discussion by the
House, embodies substantially the
Presidents views, as set. forth in his
last annual message. In the early days
of the present session he thought the
measure proposed by the Interstate
Commerce Commission was the most
practicable offered. but after mature
consideration II seemed to him that
the Hepburn bill was the better.
Members of the Senate committee on
interstate commerce have assured the
President that either the Hepburn bill
or measure resembling 1t In essential
features will be reported to the SEN
ate. The report OF the Senate commit
tee will not be unanimous, but 1t will
represent the views OF majority of
the members. The report will be sup
ported, 1t is expected. by Senators
Cullom, Dolliver and Clapp. and pos
sibly by other Republicans. and by the
Democratic members of the commit
tee. 1t can be stated that while the
President desires that such rate legis-
lation shall be established as he has
recommended, he is firm in his atti-
tude that the railroads as well as the
shippers shall be dealt with Justly. He
wants nothing in the law that would
affect unfairly the rights or the prop
erty Of the railroads.
He is confident that legislation to
be framed substantially on the lInes
Of the Hepburn measure will prove
fair alike to the railroads and to the
people. He is not trying to dictate
matters Of detail, and, of course, will
preserve an open mind as to proposed
amendments which do not affect the
material and substantial features of
the bill.
The President is interested in both
the Philippine tariff and the statehood
measure. Concessions as to either
one OF them have not. 1t is stated. been
given serious consideration. At the
White House 1t is understood that an
effort Is to be made in the Senate first
to eliminate Arizona and New Mexico
for consideration as a joint state, and
II that should fail. secondly to incor-
porate in the statehood provision for
the reference Of the question of joint
statehood to the voters of the two ter.
ritories. 1t is too early yet to say
with any degree Of accuracy what the
result Of the latter proposition may be.