Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24

will seek to have something to say about it
at as early day possible.
"of course said Mr.. Tillman today, In
commenting on the BILL the first thing TO
do is to discover and incorporate in the bill
the amendments necessary to perfect IL.
There was no opportunity In the House OF
Representatives to amend the BILL and
there are two very essential amendments
needed to make the law at all adequate.
One is the strongest possible prohibition
OF the ownership and control by public car
riers of the articles to be shipped over their
lines TO the exclusion of private owners. In
other words. the railroads have tendency
to deal in some of the commodities that II
WAS supposed they would only handle In the
capacity Of shippers. This applies princi-
pally to the coal business. They should also
lires or contributory lines and supply them
with cars and not block them
Pending an Appeal to Court.
"The question OF adding to the provision
now in the bill for judicial review of the
findings of the interstate commerce COM
mission. continued Mr.. Tillman. should be
approached very cautiously. In the first
place, a decision of the commission has the
same standing as an act of Congress. No
court would undertake to nulify an act of
Congress pending an appeal unless II should
lake Il nlSH-HanQeu course. Cdh STE NO
reason why a decision OF the commission
should be set aside pending an appeal IN
the courts. Any proposition to set aside
such decision pending action by the courts
will receive the strongest opposition can
give il for one. No one seeks. and certainly
j do not. to deny the railroads the right TO
appeal 10 the courts. If a rate is estab-
lished that threatens the confiscation OF
their property. OF course they will have
right To go into the courts for protection.
But for one l am not inclined to ac-
cord to the members of interstate COM
merce commission any less patriotism or
good Judgment than is accorded the judges
on the bench. They, In both instances,
are appointed by the President and con-
frmed by the Senate and 1 think one can
be trusted well as the other. do
not fear that this commission is going
to establish rates that Will be confiscatory
aud l think we Will be able to trust the
commission
Conferences With the President.
your relation toward this legislation
will probably lead to frequent confer
ences with the President" the reporter
suggested to the senator.
The senator meditated a moment and
replied:
"The Presidents views are well under
stood He has expressed himself very fully
in his message and in interviews. Inc
newspapers have not spared any emporium
ttv TO announce what they suppose has
there Is no further need for anybody 10
get his views, and he has been very free
10 communicate his views TO Congress
whenever he has seen fit to do so
DO YOU take the view that TINS raliroau
legislation is q democratic measure, now
that il has been reported by majority
Of democrats on the committee ana pE
democratic SENATOR ,,..,
1T is n non-partisan measure" replied
Senator Tillman. 1T is neither repuDicdH
nor democratic. but it can no longer De
called a republican measure.
The President Delighted.
..Tbe President is delighted" reported
Representative Pete Hepburn this morn
ing after a conference with the chief eX-
ccuiiye.
...rhc presiden. is greatly pleased was
the language used by Senator Dolliver.
"rIow about yourself?" was the query.
uTn1 feeling Al" was the smiling re
spouse and if anybody thought that theIe
was any regret at the White House as 10
the wav things turned out on the rate plli
iu the Senate yesterday they could not hnd
manifestations of It anywhere around the
presidential precincts certainty maven e'5rI,l
seen any gloom around here, was the com
uent OF the Iowan as he climbed into We
hicle to return to the Capitol.
oXVhen are you going TO bring Senator
Tinruan down here 10 talk with the freol-
dent?" was the shot newspaper man
II don't know about that" was the quick
retort but | will tell you what the Presl-
dent thinks about Tillman. Less IMAM zen
days ago he told me he liked Tillman, ana
he gave me his reasons, too. lie sald that
Tillman was a. game hghter ana an honest
man. -
one of the authors of the .Townsend-Esch
dill that passed the House the last session
ofCongress. said: THE President IS pleased.
He may not be entirely satisfied, because
or fvxrC a
liked better, but, on the whole he Is IN
fine spirits" In reference to the matter OF
placing Senator Tillman In charge of the
bill in the Senate. Mr. Townsend said: 1t
seems to me that some of the gentlemen
in the committee saw that they We're going
to be defeated. and In their ptque took
slap at some of the fellows who have been
working for the bill. They thought that
the naming Of Tillmau would be the best
way of doing this l think the effect will
he 10 solidlfy the democrats and make shem
unanimous for the bill There are no re-
pubiicsns who Will go back on the measure
on that account. 1t seems to me the out
look is very bright
And then there was Speaker Cannon. He,
toe, went up TO see how the land lay at
the executive offices. He and Pete" Hep
burn went away together, Hepburn assert
Ing that everything was in splendid shape.
But as to Senator Tillman's leadership
OF the measureT' newspaper man per-
sisted iu inquiring Of the Speaker.
Like Pank of old, these things move me
not" was the prompt response, and the We
hicle moved away.
Senator Clapp was the first OF the rate
men to visit the President. His talk was
brief and he had gotten away when Dolli
yer, Hepburn. Cannon, Townsend and 9TH
ers appeared on the scene. Notable among
the ghsentees were Senators Aldrich, Ell
kinS, ke8n Foraker and Crane
Sam Cuwan. the Texas leader who has
been lighting for rate legislation so long,
went I'm to tell the President that he could
feel assured that the democrats would do
everything reasonable to produce a salts
factory measure. and do II sincerely. with
out seeking political advantages
Senator Dolliver really appeared to be in
good humor and amused at the turn of
affairs But he was optimistic as TO the
outcome. The bill will be passed IN the
Senate without the amendment that is so
much sought" said Senator Dolliver