The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-06
POLICY
PRESIDENT Declines TO SPEAK
ON RAILWAY REGULATION.


Changed His Position Since
They Were Written.
Washington, April 2. -President
Roosevelt, in lieu of going to Spring
field, Ills, to address the Illinois Man
ufacturers' Association on the railroad
situation, has carefully reaffirmed his
position on this important subject of
national interest, by quoting his most
noteworthy utterances regarding the
aim and scope Of governmental regula-
ton.
The president sent letter yester-
day to G. H. Smith, president of the
association, saying it would be impos-
sible for him to accept their invita-
tion, given last week, because he did
not feel that he had anything to say
at this time in a special address on
this special subject.
The president has received many
requests for statement or speech in
connection with the railroad situa-
ton. After giving these requests care
full consideration, he Informed his ad
visors that he had concluded there was
nothing further he could say on the
railway situation; that he did not
deem it wise or proper to say anything
with view to any immediate situa-
tion in Wall street; that as he could
only give expression to the definite
and settled policy to be carried out,
wholly without regard to the exigen-
cies of the moment, and that, as his
views on the policy in question we're
already matter of record. it did not
seem necessary at this time to repeat
them. To the different men who have
visited him or written to him, he has
answered that his words and acts
spoke for themselves and needed no
explanations, and that he would not
in future deviate from the course he
had pursued in the past and was now
pursuing.
No Hostile Action Planned
The statement was made from an
authoritative source that "even a most
cursory examination of what the pres
ident has repeatedly said in speeches
and in messages will show the utter
nonsense of supposing the government
has the slightest intention to take any
action which would invalidate the
safety and stability Of the railway SO.
curities now issued, the whole legisla
tive program Of the president having
been proclaimed again and again as
one to insure the future against the
mistakes and delinquencies of the
past.
The president holds that every ex-
ecutive action under his administra-
ton, whether by the department of
justice or by the interstate CONNER 'e
commission, has furnished it's own
justification. 1t was pointed out in
administration circles that the presi.
dent has made no references in his
speeches or messages to the question
of the physical valuation Of railroads.
His position, it was said, is that the
roads themselves will work out this
problem as an item of bookkeeping,
and reference was made to the fact
that two roads, the Northern Pacific
and the Great Northern, have already
submitted figures as to their valua-
ton. It can be stated on authority
that the president will again ask con
gress at it's next session for power to
deal with the question of over-capital-
ization of railroads. A similar request
was made at the last session, but IA
vorable action was not taken on it.
In his letter to Mr.. Smith the presi-
dent inclosed copies of the speech he
made at Raleigh, N. c., October 10,
1905, and the one he delivered before
delegation of railway employees in
this city on November IA, 1905, to-
gether with his last messages to con-
gress at the beginning of the first and
second sessions of the last congress.
Says Events Confirm His Policy
The president concludes his letter
to Mr.. Smith as follows:
'sYou will see in the two speeches
and the two messages that have said
about all could say if spoke now.
As said to your body the other day,
I have already expressed again and
again my carefully thought out be-
liefs. am more firmly than ever con-
WINGED that these beliefs are wise, and
that the policyI recommended in my
message at the opening of each of the
last regular sessions Of congress must
be carried out just at the moment I
do not see how have much to add to
what have already said; and I think
what has occurred since l wrote the
two messages in question merely Illus
trates in,striking fashion the desira-
bility OF the course I therein out
lined.
New Laws Effective June Is
Il Olympia, April 4.-Secretary OF
State s. 81. Nichols has announced
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