The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-03
President Now Trying to Dit-
 tate to Congress
DEMANDS RATE REGULATION
Is Also Deeply interested In Statehood and Philippine Bills, Both of Which Have a Rocky Road
 In the Senate.

Washington February 2.-President Roosevelt is now trying to dictate to the Congress what it shall do or not do re- garding railroad rate regulation or any other problem of legislation He has not delivered to the Senate or to the House any sort of an "ultlmatum on subjects of legislation and has not held over the heads of Congress "the threat of extra ordinary session if he does not obtain the legislation for which he is hoping
 The statement Is made by authority also that suggestions of a compromise Of any sort on rate regulation which do noe embody the substance of the Presidents message on the subject have not appeal ed to the President It can also be said that he doubtless would refuse to accept compromise which would affect any es- sential feature of the proposed legisla- ton.
 What is known as the Hepburn bill. now under discussion by the House, em- bodies substantially the Presidents views as set forth in his last annual mes sage.
 In the early days of the present ses- sion he thought the measure proposed by the interstate commerce commission was the most practical offered; but after ma ture consideration it seemed to him that the Hepburn bill was the better.
 Hepburn Bill Will Be Reported.
 Members of the Senate committee on in. terstate commerce have assured the Pres ident that either the Hepburn bill or measure resembling it in essential fea- tures will be reported to the Senate. The report of the Senate committee will not be unanimous but il will represent the views of a majority of the members The re- port will he supported, it is expected by Senators Cullom, Deliver and Clapp and possibly hy other republicans and by the democratic members of the committee. It can be stated that while the President desires that such rate regulation shall be established as he has recommended, he Is firm in his attitude that the railroads as well as the shippers shall be dealt with justly He Is confident that the leglsla- tion 10 be framed substantially on the lines of the Hepburn measure will prove fair alike 10 the railroads and to the people He is not trying 10 dictate mat ters of detail, and of course will preserve an open mind as to proposed amendments which dc not affect the material and substantial features of the bill. sena- tors Deliver and Clapp had another talk with the President today on the rate regulation question following a meeting of the Senate committee at which tho subject was under consideration. They called at the nite House while the cab met was in session. but the President saw ole or two members of the cabinet discussed the subject with them.
 Interested in Statehood Bill.
 The President is interested deeply in both the Philippine tariff bill and the statehood measure. Concessions as to either one of them have not. 1t is stated. been given serious considerations At the White House fl Is understood that an ef- fort is to be made in the Senate first, 10 eliminate Arizona and New Mexico from consideration as a joint state. and if that should fail. secondly, to incorpor- ate in the statehood bill provision for the reference of the question of joint statehood to the voters of the two terr- tories. Senator Beveridge of Indiana, chairman of the committee on territories, has assured the President that, in his judgment the measure as 1t stands ulti- mately will be enacted into law.
 That would be as the President desires. but it Is not unlikely that he would sign the bill even if 1t were sent to him with the referendum provision included
 Vigorous Fight on Statehood Bill.
 vigorous fight Is being made on the Philippine bill. Just now it is not a ahes- ton of there being merely a majority and minority on the measure, for tho Senate particularly is divided Into sev- eral groups on the measure, each one of which represents a different view.
 Secretary Taft who is a stauneh advo- cate of the bill. has let it be understood that no compromise involving an increase of the tariff rates of Philippine sugar and tobacco imports over the 25 per cent rate proposed in the pending measure will he executed if his views are to obtain. He spurns the suggestion that in order to secure votes for the Hepburn rate regu- lation bill the administration would he willing to permit the Philippine sugar and tobacco imports to come Into the United States at a rate of 50 per cent of the Dingley tarlff rates. Secretary Taft would rather see the Philippine bill de- feated on q direct vote rather than be party 10 any such compromise.