Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-18
DENIAL FRON WHITE HOUSE
Governor Deneen's Visit Had Nothing 10
Do with Secretary TSft'S sDdidIOy.
Y0AKUM TO SEE PRESIDENT AGAIN
Head of Rock Island Will Urge
Executive to Issue state
ment that VIII Resssure
Investors.
oAKUM TO SEE PRESIDENT AGAIN

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Secretary
Loeb tonight denied public statements that
the White House conference yesterday, in
which Governor Charles s. Deneen and
Attorney General Stead participated, was
for the purpose Of promoting the candidacy
of Secretary Taft for the presidency. The
story originated from the fact that Sec
retary Taft and his brother, Charles p
Taft of Cincinnati. called at the executive
office while the president was In confer
ence with the Illinois officials and were
introduced to the presidents visitors. The
only reference made to politics during the
conference was when the president asked
Governor Deneen regarding the mayoralty
fight in Chicago.
3. F. Yoakum, chairman of the board of
directors Of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific railroad, who conferred with Presi-
dent Roosevelt last week on the railroad
situation. will visit the White House again
this week. Mr.. Yoakum, who has an
nounced himself unreservedly in favor of
close cooperation between the railroads
and the federal government. again will
urge the president to issue reassuring
statement outlining his attitude toward the
railroad
MeIIen Comes Tuesday.
President Mellen OF the Hartford road
will call on the president Tuesday, and IT
is believed the other three railroad presi-
dents with whom ]. p Morgan requested
the president to discuss the railroad situa-
ton will come to Washington this week.
! President Mellen has made 1t plain to a
cabinet officer with whom he has com
municated that he will visit the White
House as an individual and will not un-
/ NTavry
man and Hughitt or the railroad corpora
tions generally. AS yet neither OF the
other three presidents have asked Mr.
1 Roosevelt to receive them, though II is be-
lieved that some word will be received from
Mr.. Hughitt tomorrow.
The work of the Interstate Commerce.
commission has grown so heavy that II
has been decided to discontinue the hear
ings which have been conducted by mem
bers of the commission outside of Wash
ington. Hereafter when It is found neces'
sary to conduct Investigations in Other
cities special agents will take the testi
mony and report to the commission and
the arguments on the case will be heard
by the commissioners in this city.
! Spokane Case RcOpened Again.
CHICAGO, March I-The Interstate
| COHlIneICe COmHllSSlJu VIII HiSSt hSAN ~
morrow to take up the demand of bust
ness interests in Spokane for reduction
in freight rates to that city from the east
The case involves some important points
to be determined, and the investigation
may result in complete change in thu
basis OF freight charges which has beer
adopted by the railroads.
Rates from New York to Spokane ar,
now made by adding to the rate TO Port
land or Seattle the local rate from one o
these ports to Spokane. The rates from
Chicago to Spokane in most cases, are tn
same as from New York The railroad
are confronted with the task of justifyinl
these rates before the Interstate Commerc
commission. their argument being tina
they are forced to meet the water rates L
Pacific coast points, and that these rate
are too low. Two years ago the commits
sion ruled against the railroads in a sim
liar case brought by the business men o
Denver, who protested against a lower rat
from New York 20 San Francisco than L
Denver. In deciding that case the commits
sion said:
Surely a rate which pays expenses for
3, ,4OO-mile haul will yield reasonable profit
for haul not much over half that distance
when the service actually rendered Is 10
the cheapest and easiest half Of the tota
haul.
If the commission in the Spokane cas-
follows its ruling in the Denver case
may result in a revolution In rate making
which will affect every commercial cente
from the Atlantic to the Pacific