The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-25
JOY Of MINORITY
OVER RATE BILL
Policy of the Democrats
Wins a Great
Victory.
TOLERATES TALK
OF A THIRD TERM
President Chats With Members
of Congress Regarding Jacob
Riis's Assertion, But
Not in a Way En-
tirely Lacking in
Equivocation.


WASHINGTC-. ID. c., January a.
There is general eiation among Demo-
Gratis at the Capitol to-day, over the oc-
tion of the House Committee on inter
state and foreign commerce, in report
ing unanimously. n bill to regulate rail-
way rates. The Democrats of the com-
mittee succeeded In having Incorporated
into the measure many features OF tha
minority bill, drawn by Representative
Richardson of Alabama. and known as
the Davy bill, taking the name of the
representative from Louisiana who is the
member of the committee who has adj
vocated 1t.
most remarkable fact is that soma
portions of the bill are in almost the z
Identical words of the last Democratic
platform. The charge has been made
over and over by the Democrats that
the President had stolen Democratic prin-
ciples when he advocated the goverii-
ment regulation OF rates. subject on /
which the Republican platform was
silent That the bill. which will be sup
ported by Democrats and Republicans
of the House alike, and which lis sun
posed TO represent the views of the ad-
ministratlon, should he in the terms OF
Democratic National Platform. is one OF
the remarkable political facts OF the
country. The bill will pass the House with
little or no objection. 1t may never get
through the Senate. but the Republicans
of the House of Representatives will go
upon record as supporting a democratic
measure
Talk Of a Third Term.
The President is. creating much fun
for the Republicans these days. by the
manner in which he is treating the gos-
sip. set afioart ty Jacob RIis, concerning
third term. The absolute and entirely
nnanbiguous declaration OF Mr. Roose-
welt, the night of his election. that lie
would not seek another term in the
White House. has been taken by the
Democrats and Republicans alike at it's
face value. Some correspondents, i'm
cluding this one have minated that
when the time came the President would
he found TO be candidate for re-elec-
tion, but the professedly knowing ones
have hastened to declare. as voicing the
sentiment of the President. that he
meant precisely what he said and that
he would not. under any circumstances,
accept another nomination.
Some OF the Presidents friends have
made bold to mention to him the subject
of the Riis interview. He has not given
them any satisfaction. 1t is n we'll known
fact that when subject is mentioned Mt
the White House on which there Is a di-
rergence Of opinion between the Congress
and the President. he lilies off the
HANDLE to use the colloquial expression
and only those old members, who have
learned not to fear the anger of the ad-
ministration. venture to discuss certain
topics with him unless he first introduces
them himself. 1t is said that there Is
nobody in the Senate who will dare now
to ask the President to explain exactly
what he meant on the subject of rate
regulation. as discussed in his message
and the Santo Domingo treaty is a sub
ject tabooed as between calling senators
and the President,
One or two of the older and holder Re-
pubicans of Congress have ventured tc
discuss the Riis Interview, and have been
surprised to see the President smile when
1T is mentioned. He will talk on the
subject. but not in a way that is entirely
lacking In equivocation. He told one
caller that while he relied very strongly
on Mr.. Riis for advice in sociological
matters, he did not rely upon him for
advice on political questions. But the
gist of the whole matter is that President
Roosevelt has refused to say positively
that Mr.. Riis was wrong In declaring he
would be a acandidate for a third term.
1t Is rather hard to see how the Presi-
dent can be a candidate again under any
circumstances, so entirely unequivocal
was his declaration, made in the White
House on the night of the election in
1901. 1t will be interesting to recall the
exact terms of that declaration.
Il am deeply sensible OF the honor
done me by the American people in
thus expressing their condolences In
tried tried to do do / appreciate to to the fuil
the solemn responsibility this comb
dence imposes upon me, aud shall do
all that in my power lies not to for
"on the 4th OF next March / shall
have served three and q half tsears.
and this three as and ana y hnIf rh years @ snnsu
which limits The President 10 two
terms regards the substance, and not
the FORM m and unHer p 20 sslreams5anees sa
4 way may be found In which the Pres
ident can get aIonm, ~, ~ me 1s dsclnratiion ,i
studied by every Renuhllcan representa.
tivca and senntor IN Washington. but that
way Is eatisy lyl nnkpomn WI, e :, ths n,an man
Swanson Has Pulled Stakes.
Representative Swanson is barely
representative IN Congress from Virginia,
'Hc sent letter 70 Governor Montague
to-day resening his seat In the House
Tof Representntiyes rs y memhar from
the Fifth Virginia District, and also noti-
fled the Speaker of his having sent his 4
resignation to the Governor Tho sresig-
n;ttion will take effect ON the aoth day
OF this month, Mr.. Swanson will leave
or that day for Richmond. where he win,
nn the lst day of February. take tina
oath Of Office Us Governor OF the COM
.manwealth @ y.
Governor elect Swanson said to-day ma
had not rnnda mp his mind regarding or-
oil FIR ha nj