The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-19
WOULD CURB RAILWAY
President FavorsC entralizingControl
in Federal Government.
STATE LAWS ARE TOO LAX

Mr.. Roosevelt Will Get Views Of OFF,
Gals and Press Scheme In Next Con-
oress-Insists On Greater Federal
Control.
Washington. March lS.-An mixing
of President Roosevelt's policy toward
the railroads of the country was OBJ
tanned. although the situation as
whole is still surrounded by an air OF
uncertainty and doubt.
Governor Deneen. of Illinois. had a
conference with the president; also
James Speyer. the New York banker.
ARRANGEMENTS were made for con
ference with President Mellen, OF the
New York. New Haven 4 Hartford
railroad. at the White House Tuesday.
President Mellen is the only one OF the
four railroad heads to respond to the
Invitation to meet the president. as ar
ranged by j. Pierpont Morgan 1t is
limited that he will represent the four.
and there is also the rumor that the
entire four may even yet visit the
White House together.
President Roosevelt strongly favors
the extension of the powers OF the ma
tional government over the railroads.
He desires the enactment of law by
congress which will provide for the
issuance of licenses TO corporations
and another law which will enable the
government to squeeze the water out
OF the stocks and bonds. Exactly what
the president wants in this direction
he does not know himself. and 1t Is
for this reason that he will hold con
ferences with the governors OF states
and others for the purpose of getting
their ideas and experience on railroad
matters.
President Roosevelt is not certain
whether the apprais OF the prop
erty of the railroads should be based
on the initial cost and the cost of i'm
provements: on the amount OF actual
money invested in stocks and bonds.
or the market valuation of stocks,
These are the questions he desires TO
discuss with his callers.
The president is clearly dissatisfied
with the extent of the federal govern
ment's control over the railroads OF
the country. He would have all power
to regulate them exercised under the
commerce clause of the constitution
The Capitalization speech of Secre-
tary Root was forecast Of the atti'
tude the president is soon to assume
unless something is found during the
time between now and the reassem-
bling of congress to persuade him that
it would not be good policy to advo-
cate such an extension Of the govern
ment's control over the interstate
commerce carriers.
Reduced to absolutely essential
terms. the president is about con
WINGED that 1t is time the states should
be deprived of the authority they now
exercise over what he IS pleased 20 be
lieve are the national highways OF
commerce. and which he believes the
makers of the constitution intended
should be placed exclusively in the
keeping OF congress.
The president would have the ma
tional government exercise over the
railroads all the power and authority
it has and exercises over transporta
ton on the navigable waters of the
country. The president has contended
to those who have discussed the sub
iect with him that the decisions and
opinions of the supreme court from
the time of Chief Justice Marshall
down. afford abundant authority for a
claim that it is within the urovince OF
the national government to exercise
the same quality and extent of control
over rail commerce as it does over
commerce on the navigable waters OF
the United States.