Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-06
NOT TRYING
TO DICTATE
PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE TOWARD
CONGRESS ON RAILWAY RATE
LEGISLATION.

Washington. Feb. 5.-President
Roosevelt is not trying to dictate to
congress regarding railroad rate or
any other problem of legislation. He
has not delivered to the senate or to
the house any sort of an ''ultimatum'
on subjects of legislation. and has
not held over the head of congress
the threat of an extraordinary ses-
sion,' if he does not obtain the leg
islaton for which he is hoping. This
statement is made by authority.
II is also announced that suggestions
OF compromise of any sort on rate
regulation which do not embOdy the
substance of the presidents message
on the subject nave not appealed to
the president. 1t can also be said
that he doubtless would refuse to &C
cept compromise which would affect
any essential feature of the propOs-
ed legislation. What is known as the
Hepburn bill, now under discussion
by the house. embodies substantially
the presidents views, as set forth
in his last annual message. In the
early day of the present session, he
interstate commerce commission was
the most practicable offered. but after
mature consideration it seemed to him
that the Hepburn bill was the bet
ter.
A Favorable Report.
Members of the senate committee
Oh interstate commerce have assured
the president that either the Hep
burn BILL or a measure resembling i,
| in essential features, will be report
eG to the senate. The report of the
senate committee will not be unan
| imous, but it will represent the views
Of majority of the members.
The report will be supported, it i.
said, by Senators Cullom Dolliver ant
Clapp and possibly by other Republi
cans. and by the Democratic member!
of the committee. 1t can be state,
that while the president desires tina
such rate regulation shall be estab
lished, he is firm in his attitude tina
the railroads. as we'll as the ship
pers. shall be dealt with entirely just
ly. He is not trying to dictate mat
tiers of detail, and, of course, will pre-
serve an open mind as to the propos
ed amendments, which do not affec
the material and substantial feature!
of the bill. Senators Dolliver ant
Clapp had another talk with thu
president today on the rate regulatio!
question, following a meeting of thu
senate committee. at which the sub
iect was under consideration
The president is interested in boti
the tariff and the statehood meas
ures. Concessions as to either on,
of them have not. it is stated, beef
given serious consideration. At tn,
white house it is understood that al
effort is to be made in the senate frs
to eliminate Arizona and New Mexico
from consideration as a joint state
and if that should fail; secondly. Il
incorporate in the statehood bill
provision for the submission Of tn
question of joint statehood to the vot
ers of the two territories. 1t is earl.
yet to say with any degree of accu
racy what the result of the latte
proposition may be. Beveridge of In
diana, chairman of the committee OF
territories, has assured the presiden
that in his Judgment the measure a.
it stands, ultimately will be enacted
into law.
The Philippine Bill.
A vigorous fight is being made OF
the Philippine bill. Just now it is no
a question of there being merely
majority and a minority on the meas
ure, for the senate practically Is dl
! vided into several groups on tn