Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-23
preoldont and Rates Bnl.

AutnorlthtlNc announcement comes
from Washington that President Roose-
welt will no longer attempt to influence
the judgment Of the Senate in passing
upon the Hepburn Railroad Rates bill,
pow pending in that body. He will keep
hands off, il is said, but will veto the
measure that may be enacted II IL shall
fail TO command his approval
This attitude is very different from
the position the President assumed at
the beginning Of the struggle over the
rates question IN Congress, and had he
assumed it from tho first, instead Of at
this late hour he would have spared his
political followers in the House Of Rep
resentatives a large amount Of trouble,
not to say discontinue.
When the Hepburn bill was introduced
IN the House II was given out that its pro-
visions had been approved by the Presi-
dent and that Il was an out-and-out adj
ministration measure. As such moa-
sure therefore, II was swallowed by all
but seven OF the Republican members Of
the House, notwithstanding the many
manifest discrepancies with which il was
burdened. Resolutely the friends Of the
administration defeated all attempts at
proper and reasonable amendment
blindly supporting the bill as il was re-
ported, because they had been assured
that the President desired them TO- The
Democratic members supported Il as a
matter Of party policy, claiming that the
legislation at which IL aimed was in accord
with declaration Of the Democratic ma
tional platform OF 1904.
When the bin roached the Senate Il
was accompanied by the same announced
insistonce Of the President that it should
be enacted without the slightest change.
But the Republican Senators refused to
be suhservient and showed disposition
towards independence that augured badly
for the Presidents wishes. For awhile
the administration influence was directed
towards bringing the recalcitrant Sena-
tors into line, but failing in this Il was
announced that the President would con
sent to an amendment making the action
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
in establishing new rates, after complaint
and hearing, renewable by the courts.
Now comes the announcement that the
President will hold aloof, refraining from
further pressure upon Senators to
accept the bill intact, in accordance with
his wishes, but reserving 70 himself the
right to veto the measure as finally passed
in the event that Il shall not please him
The later attitude Of the President, il
must be admitted, is the more creditable
In fact, il is not open TO criticism. H,
withdraws from the field of Legislation
and confines himself 10 the Legitimate
functions of his Office Under the Con
stitution il is for Congress TO legislat,
and for the President to either appove oi
veto. Congress will now pay attention
70 the Rates BILL and the measure thai
may be formulated and approved by that
body will be sent to the President. II il
Fhall meet with his appoval, it viii be
come law; otherwise, an executive vets
will be lodged against il, and then il vii
be up to Congress to say whether ther,
shall be any legislation at all.
That the Senate will refuse to accep
the bill as il came from the House is gen
orally conceded. Even those who sup
ported it IN the latter body are desirou
that il shall be changed in several particu
lars, as it is manifestly weak by reason
Of improperly drawn and obscure pro
visions, to say nothing Of what many con
sider vital defect in not providing fo
final review by the courts. An amend
ment providing for thu review has beer
offered by Senator Knox, and there 4
little doubt that the Senate will adopt Il
TO say nothing of other amendments In
fact, the shape that the bin may assum,
by the time il gets back 70 the House. and
later, into the inevitable committee O
conference, is problematical. But Il i
relief to know that whatever meas,ir
may emerge from the conflict between
Senate and House will at least be an act
OF Congress, and not scheme laid dow
and arbitrarily insisted upon by the Presi
dent. Thus viii the people be assured
that the power to enact legislation still
lodges at the Capitol, and not at the Whit.
House.