Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-15
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Two Interstate Commerce Com
missioners Call.

The White House was so scarce of visit
ors today as to attract attention. There
were lust three people with the President
prior to the cabinet session. which began
at II o'clock. These were Commissioners
Harlan and Prouty of the interstate COM
MERGE commission and Senator Hemenway
of Indiana The two commissioners are
about to leave for Chicago to begin some
hearings in connection with the railroads.
They desired to take up some matters with
the President before they went. They
would not discuss their interview, but there
is an impression that the President has
suggested that In future hearings of the
commission everything possible be done
to avoid anything that will excite the
financial world-not in c0ncealing informa-
ton or preventing facts coming to light,
but in other ways. Commissioner Harlan
some time ago advanced the opinion that
the interstate commerce commission may
have the power to deal with state laws,
the operation of which results in inter
ference with interstate traffic, as claimed
is the case by the railroads.
Cortelyou Well Satisfied.
At the cabinet meeting today Secretary
Cortelyou explained what action he had
taken to relieve the financial panic in New
York. He was heartily congratulated On
the wise and business-like course he had
pursued and on the good effect it had al
| him in numbers during the day, and the
| fact that the President and the cabinet felt
pleased was sufficient to make the new Sec
| rotary feel first class. Mr.. Cortelyou said
he felt sure that he would be able to buy
| close to $25, 100000 Of tie per cent bonds
he had offered to purchase. Secretary
Shaw had made two offers for these bonds
| in the last few months. but few were sent
| In to the treasury because the prices offered
were too low. AS the price fixed by Secre-
tary Cortelyou is a fair one the treasury
| is expected to turn a large number Of these
| bonds into it's sinking fund, which has re-
cefyed few additions since Secretary Gage
went out of business.
President Roosevelts congratulations to
| Mr.. Cortelyou' were especially hearty. as
| transferring Mr.. CortelyOu from the Post
Office Department to the treasury, the claim
being advanced that Mr.. Cortelyou was abb
soluteiy ignorant to many phases of the
great financial problem. In ten days after
| coming into Office Mr.. Cortelyou is called
upon to face a great financial crisis and
| meets 1t with promptness and conservative
| wisdom.
| The Railroad Conference.
| The railroad presidents who were invited
to visit the President by J. Pierpont Nor
| gan are acting mysteriously. Not a word
has been received by the President as to
Washington. The matter Of their coming
| was wholly In the hands of Mr. Morgan,
| who Is supposed to have communicated
| with them. and asked them to come to
| Washington. So far as the President was
concerned he did not agree to invite them.
but to receive them when they came He
| is still willing to do SO. but he will not send
Invitations to them.
! 1t Is not believed that the four railroad
/ presidents have concluded not to make the
visit, as Is surmised by some. The belief
| Is that they have determined to have a
conference among themselves before COM
l ing, and agree upon some definite PROPOSE
lions to lay before the President. The fact
/ Is that up to this time various financial
callers upon the President have shot into
the air." to use that phrase, and have
never said anything to him that was def
/ mite enough for him to give definite an
i swer to- The experience Of the others will
prevent their repeating such nebuious per-
formances and they win come with fixed
] views and propositions to put before the