Connecticut western news., 1907-03-21
WHITE HOUSE CONFAB
Roosevelt Sees President Mellen i of New Haven Road.
THEIR IDEAS INHARMONIOUS.
Chief Executive Favors Federal License Law For Railroads and Contemplates Important Announcement In Speech This Spring.

| Washington, March 20. President | Charles s. Mellen of the New Haven railroad had forty minutes conference with President Roosevelt and as he left the White House he declined to discuss what transpired
 ''I shall have to observe the unwrit- ten law not to quote the president" said President Mellen. "I cannot dis cusS railroad matters on my own re- sponsibility at this time, as I have just left the president, and what 1 might say would be construed as the substance of our conference"
 President Mellen gave his views to the president, and it was learned that the two do not agree by any means. Each of the financiers and railroad presidents who has conferred with President Roosevelt since the visit of J. Pierpont Morgan has presented a different scheme for the relief of the situation. No two agree as to the remedy. Some opposed the presidents federal license law, while others ap- proved 1t.
 ASKS TTCStOSHG kO EStiNt SsdISfllSHt.
 Mr. Roosevelt was urged by some to make a statement of his position on the railroad situation, and at least one of the railroad magnates frankly told the president that he has Ind too much to say about corporations ;Ad railroads and begged MT. Roosevelt; to keep si- lent on t.'is subject This railroad man declared ti.at silence on the part of the president would contribute largely to bringing a stop to the agitation against the railroads.
 After his conference at the White House President Mellen had long talk with the members of the interstate commerce commission, and the discus sion was along the same line as that with President Roosevelt. After Pres ident Mellen left the White House In terstate Commerce Commissioner Lane had a talk with MT. Roosevelt about the railroad situation. The president will have frequent conferences with the individual members of the commis- sion and will utilize their experience and knowledge of the railroad situation in working out his plan.
 Favors License Law.
 The president Is believed to be more firmly convinced than ever that the best way to restore public confidence in railroad securities, which will ena- hle the roads to dispose of their stocks and Bonds to raise funds with which to increase their facilities and to stop the attacks of the state legislatures upon transportation lines, is to enact federal license law.
 His ideas in this direction have been strengthened greatly as the result of his recent conferences with financiers and others.
 No Extra Session of Congress.
 There is not likely to be an extra ses- sion of congress to embody the presi- dents ideas in legislation. If he has digested any of the particular prob lens which he is working out he may set them forth in the address he vii. deliver to the Southern Editorial asso- citation at the Jamestown exposition some tilue in May, or they may be an nounced ill his Decoration day address at Indianapolis. When the president does deliver his address on the subject he will have an important announce ment to make, and the country may expect some new ideas.