New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-02
RATE FIGHT SEEMS WON
WHAT PRESIDENT WANTS.
Il Lac Fair to Shipper and Railroad
Ahke-His Position Unchanged.
tFrom Tho Tribune Bureau ]


Washington. March Interest in the prog
ress of President Roosevelt's railroad rate fight
is daily becoming greater in Washington 1t is
almost the sole topic Of conversation about the
capitol. and as a general subject of discussion
at the hotels. and even among business men. 1t
is fast crowdng out every other item of interest
One significant fact may be gathered from the
tenor of the talk Every seems certain that
the President will win. No one even among his
political opponents. will admit that he will lose
OUT when the final test of strength comes
the floor of the Senate The only problem in
the minds of most Of those who discuss the sub
1ect is whether he will obtain quite all he wants
from the legislative power. and whether the end
attained will be reached by Just the process he
would have chosen had the writing of the rate
bill been left absolutely in his own hands.
number of his critics have said from time to
time as the fight has gone on that he
changing front" "receding or "vacillating."
Some have pretended to speak for him TO
his determination to accept this or reject that
amendment. Others have announced. with more
or less pretence to authority. that the President
would veto this or that bill If this or that
amendment were Incorporated In it's final form
Even among ordinarily we'll informed members
OF Congress considerable haziness seems to exist
as to just what the President wants. how he
PRESIDENTS POSITION DEFINED.
Among those who have enjoyed the Presidents
misapprehension exists. They know plainly what
he wants. for he has not at any time disguised
MS course or his feelings. He wants a rate bill
Ihat VIII be fair to shipper and railroad alike;
that will put an end to the present discrimina-
ton against individuals. commodities and locali-
ties; one that will go into effect as soon as
possible and that will hold water in the
highest court OF the land. AS has been repeat
edly declared in these dispatches, he is con-
cerned with the substance rather than the FORM
he does not care what amendments are incor-
porated in the measure. long they do not
overload or weaken it: he has not declared
himself unalterably opposed TO any amendments
that he has not seen. nor heart and soul for"
any addition to the bill that has been suggested.
but not presented in black and white. He likes
the Hepburn bill as 1t is. but believes that 1t
be improved. But rather than have II "bettered
to death" by amendments that will cause it TO
fail when It reaches the Supreme Court, he
would prefer TO see II pass in it's present form.
He would like to see the bill pass by sub
stantial majority of both political parties in
Congress- but If it came to a showdown" he
would prefer that 1t pass by aid of Demo-
cratic majority rather than that IL did not pass
all. The President has made no threats as
to what he will do will not do in the event
Of certain contingencies arising. There is time
enough to meet emergencies when they arise.
he believes. but at the same time his friends
feel that he will insist a vote being
reached. even though 1T becomes necessary to
keep Congress in session we'll into the heated
term to gain that result
The Presidents supporters declare that he has
,-1Y1tf to
measure, and it is conceded that he will get It,
If he is fairly beaten In Congress. he will take
his medicine as becomes gallant lighter. with
out complaint. but one thinks for a moment
that he will receive setback of this sort.
WILL FIGHT TO THE END.
There is a fear. expressed by a number of his
legal friends that the salient feature Of any rate
making bill passed by Congress to correct the
unbearable conditions now complained OF will be
set aside by the Supreme Court no matter In
what form 1t is finally passed This contingency
is admitted by the President as within the limits
of possibility but he does not think IL at all
likely that the Hepburn bill will suffer such a
fate If It is overturned. however. after being
prepared with all the skill that the brightest
legal talent can bring to bear it's provisions
the fight will not end there. The President Is
determined to carry the battle until the vic
tory Is won no matter where it leads The end
must be attained: If not by means of bill of
the sort now under consideration. then in some
other manner that will hold water In the courts
The sooner the men who fighting the Presi-
dent accept this fact the sooner the coun-
try will be able calmly to resume its ordinary
course The railroads themselves will be the
gamers if their managers will withdraw their
opposition. for agitation is not likely to help
thair b1ISiD
pensive and worrisome.
AMENDMENTS THE PRESIDENT FAvORs.
Briefly stated the amendments that President
Roosevelt would like to see Incorporated in the
Hepburn bill IL they do not injure its chances
of passing. are:
First-The elimination of the thirty day pro-
vision regarding the effectiveness of the commits
sions rate.
Second-A paragraph providing for the pay
nnent into court by the railroads of the difference
between the new commission rate and the old
rate in the event that the court grants stay
pending review
Third-Specification of the grounds for court
review
The last is perhaps the most important in the
Presidents eyes He believes that the grounds
for review should he narrowed down to two:
First whether the commission has exceeded It's
authority under the Constitution. and. second.
whether the rate is in whole or in part confis-
catory.
Senator spooner has proposed the second
amendment-that providing for the payment
into court by the railroad company of the diff
ference between the new commission rate and
the one previously IN force. Senator Knox
wished to substitute bond for this cash pay
ment. but the President. 1T is understood, be-
aSb iS far h