The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-03
Will NOT DICTATE.
But President Roosevelt VIII Hold
Out for What He Wants

Washington, Feb. 3.-President
Roosevelt is not trying to dictate to
congress what it shall do or not do,
regarding railroad rate regulation or
any other problem of legislation. He
has not delivered 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 any extraordinary session"
if he does not obtain the legislation
for which he is hoping. This state
ment is made by authority; also that
suggestions of a compromise Of any
sort on rate regulation which do not
embOdy the substance of the presi-
dents message on the subject have not
appealed to the president. It can also
be said that he doubtless would refuse
10 accept compromise which would
affect any essential feature of the pro-
posed legislation.
What is known as the Hepburn bill.
now under discussion by the house,
embodleS substantially the presidents
views as set forth in his last annual
message. In the early days of the
present session he thought the meas
ure proposed by the interstate com
rnerce commission was the most prac-
ticable offered, but after mature con-
sideratiOn it 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
Dill or a measure resembling it in es-
senual features will be reported to the
senate. The report of the senate com
ulIte6 VIII not be unanimous. but it
will represent the views of a majority
of the members. The report will be
supported, it is expected. by Senators
Cullom. DOlEver and Clapp and pos
Sibly by other Republicans. and bv the
M f.
tee. While the president desires that
such rate regulation shall be estab-
I1shed as he has recommended, he is
firm in his attitude that the railroads
with entirely justly. He wants moth
ing in the law that would affect I'M
fairly the rights or the property of the
railroads. He is confident that legis-
lation 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 pro-
posed amendments which do not af-
feet the material and substantial feat
ures of the bill.
The president is interested deeply in
both the Philippines tariff measure and
the statehood measure. Concessions as
to either one of them have not, it is
stated, been given serious considera-
ton. At the White House it is under
the senate, first, to eliminate Arizona
and New Mexico from consideration as
a joint state; and if that should fail
secondly, to incorporate in the state
hood bill a provision for the reference
of the question of joint statehood to
the voters of the two territories. It is
too early yet to say with any degree
of accuracy what the result of the lat
ter proposition may be. Senator Bev-
eridge of Indiana, chairman of the
committee on territories, has assured
the president that in his Judgment the
m eaSure as it stands ultimately will be
enacted into law. That would be as
the president desires, but it is not I'M
likely that he would sign the bill, even
if it were sent to him with the refer
endum provision included.
A vigorous fight is being made on
the Philippines bill Just now it is not
a question of there being merely
majority and a minority measure, for
the senate particularly is divided into
several groups on the measure. each
one of which represents a different
view Whether these divergent views
can be resolved and the measure
law or not, remains yet to be deter
mined. Secretary Taft. who is
stanch advocate of the bill, has let it
be understood that no compromise in
voIving an increase of the tariff rate
proposed in the pending measure viii
be accepted, if his views are to obtain
He spurns the suggestion that, il order
to secure votes for the Hepburn rate
regulation bill, the administration
would be willing to permit the Philip
pine sugar and tobacco imports to come.
into the United States at rate of so
per cent of the Dingley tariff rates.
Secretary Taft would see the Philip
pine bill defeated on a direct vote
rather than be party to any such
compromise.