Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-07
Coming Fight on New Rate
Law Holds Attention of
Administration
GOVERNORS PLAN is RECALLED
Question of Supervision Must First
be Decided-Public Lands conven-
tior to be Held in Denver Known to
be Hostile to Administration - No
Attack on Beef Trust at Present.


which the railroads are making against
the two cent passenger and freight
rates, is being closely followed in
Washington.
Many correspondents have been in
structed to watch any developments on
the part of the national administration.
relative to this important proposed
movements. 1t will be recalled that last
March as soon as congress adjourned
Governor johnson, of Minnesota, pros
posed meeting between the chief ex-
ecutives of several states, and in reply
to his suggestions he received letters
from Governors Cunlmins of Iowa;
Davidson, Wisconsin,; Deneen, Illinois;
and others who rather favored ssthe
plan.
Governor johnson also wrote a long
letter to President Roosevelt on the
same subject and thereby hangs a
story, which. under certain future con-
tingencies, may prove factor in the
next national campaign.
The governors letter to the president
at first blush was we'll received at the
White House. 1t was given out that
President Roosevelt was impressed
with the plan Of holding such a con-
ference and in fact Governor Deneen,
Of Illinois, was here at the time con-
ferring with the president about what
remedy, state or national, should be
invoked against E. H. Hartman Il. she
Alton deal. But a little later Mr..
Roosevelt dictated letter to Governor
Johnson. 1t was reply to the govern
oYs proposed meeting of the various
state executives, and its contents were
of that quality, which is often de-
scribed as a wet blanket"
The president saw that sooner or
later an issue was coming between the
states and the federal government over
the control of transportation. Hence
in his letter to Governor Johnson he
said he did not deem the plan practical
or wise. While this letter was marked
personal" thereby keeping its con-
tents from the general public, Cover
nor Johnson took some consolation in
taking his close personal friends into
his inner private office and reading
the Roosevelt letter to them.
President Roosevelt believes that
there must be- a strong federal control
of the railroads, both on state and in
terstate business for it is claimed it is
impossible to divorce the two suffici-
emily to have hearty cooperation OF
the federal and state administrations.
The fact that prominent railroad men
like A. B. Stickney take this same view
does not change the situation, for it is
insisted by the president and his sup
porters that this question must come
to an issue and be fought out on its
merits.
The attempts that are being made to
drag in other matters like federal SUI
pervision of foods. the control of pub
lie lands in various states and the
segregation of vast areas for forest re-
serves will not be allowed to interfere.
The president proposes to get thru with
the transportation question first. Hence
the situation in Minnesota where the
railroads have declared fight on the
acts Of the last legislature is particu-
larly interesting to Washington just
now.
James r. Garfield, secretary Of the
interior; Clifford Pinchot, chief forester
of the department of agriculture, and
Chief Engineer Frederick II. Newell,
of the reclamation service, are prepar-
ing to go out to Denver to attend the
meeting of the public lands convention,
which is to be held in that city June 10,
10 and 20.
Back of the visit of this distinguished
government delegation to the elevated
city in the Rocky mountains there is
a strong intimation that the conven-
ton in question has been called and
organized and will be managed in di-
rect opposition to the forestry policy
of President Roosevelt.
The representatives of the adminis-
tration are going out to Denver ex-
pectinga fight from the start and
there is every reason to believe their
expectations will be fulfilled in abund-
ant measure.
It has been generally understood
here for some time that the convention,
which was called by E. r. Harper, act
ing governor of Colorado, and which
will be held under the personal pat
Of Governor Buchtel Of that
state, is intended to voice a general
protest Of the far western states
against the whole land policy of the
administration.
It is openly charged that the organi-
cation of this convention has been in
devised to secure an ex-
preston of opinion wholly hostile to
President Roosevelt and particularly
directed to his policy of forest re-
serve.
Apparently there is no N,litics in
this convention, but there Will be a
fight of the bitterest kind.
It is not the intention of the bureau
Of corporations, SO far as a conclusion
IS now possible, to make any move
toward investigating the beef trust
The recent increase in the price of
neat has attracted general attention
md the bureau is watching the situa-
lion closely, but there is no sign that
anything will be done.
Officials Of the bureau say today
hat before any such conclusion could
,e reached with safety there must be
prolonged inquiry covering not only
Ill Of the numerous by products of the
business. but also the different grades
# cattle offered for slaughter
Besides. all of the available force of
he bureau is now engaged in other
york,