Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-02

tober IA, in which 1 spoke to you of de-
sire to see you before sending in my mes
sage, as I wanted to go over with You GER
tain governmental matters, and you added
that you had heard that l had referred to
the interstate commerce commission; that
YOU regretted this and wished l had left
it out. In writing to you had in view es-
pecially certain matters connected with
currency legislation, and had not thought of
discussing railroad matters with YOU How
ever, if it had occurred to me / should
have been delighted to do SO; but if you
remember when you were down here both
you and l were SO interested in certain Of
New York political developments that l
hardly, If at all, touched on governmental
matters AS regards what l have said in
my message about the interstate commerce
| commission, while, as 1 sly, l should have
been delighted to go over it with you,
| must also frankly say that my mind was
| definitely made up.
Certain revelations connected with the
investigation of the beef trust caused me
| to write the paragraph in question. l went
| with extreme over the information IN
possession of the interstate commerce COM
| mission and of the bureau of corporations
before writing it. l then went over the
| Paul Morton. who is Of all my cabinet the
| man most familiar with railroad matters,
| OF course, and with Root, Knox, Taft and
Moody. 1t is a matter l had been care
| fully considering for two years. and had
been gradually the reluctantly coming to
the conclusion that it is unwise and I'M
safe from every standpoint to leave the
question of rebates where it now is, and
TO fail to give the interstate commerce
commission additional power of an eff
fective kind in regulating these rates.
Let me repeat that did not have this
question in mind when 1 asked you to
come down, but that l should most gladly
have talked it over with you If ii had oc-
CURED to me to do so; but as a matter of
fact, you will remember, when you did
come down to see me, you and were both
s oengaged in the New York political stu
alton that talked of little else; and
finally, that the position have taken has
not been take nightly. but after thinking
over the matter and looking at it from diff
ferent standpoints for at least two years,
and after the most careful consultation
with Morton, Taft, Moody, Knox and Root,
as to the exact phraseology 1 should use.
II do not send you copy simply because
l have given no one a copy, not even the
men above mentioned. 1t is impossible If
/ give out copies of any portions of my
message to prevent the message being
known in advance; and the three press as
sociations, who now have the message, are
under a heavy penalty not to disclose
| word of it before the appointed time.
MI. Harriman's Letter.
On December 2 he wrote me the fol-
lowing letter on the same subject:
December 2, 1904.
Dear Mr.. President: Thank you for
your favor of the 30th.
'Itwas natural for me to suppose that
| railroad matters would be included in
any discussion you and 1 might have be-
fore writing your message. 1 am of the
opinion that an effective interstate COM
| rnerce commission could regulate the
matter of rebates. and absolutely prevent
the same, without any additional power
OF any kind, and, as you say, Paul Nor
than any one else in your cabinet. and
believe he will agree with me in this.
| I fear there has been a lack of co-opera-
ton.
During the enormous development of
the last four years-the railroads have
| found it very hard to keep pace with the
| requirements imposed upon them, and the
| so-called surplus earnings. as well as adj
ditionai capital, have been devoted to
providing additional facilities and the
| lettering and charging of their prop
critics, so as to give the increased and
better service required Of them. This
| work of betterment and enlargement
must go on. and Is all-important for the
proper development of all sections of the
country. There is little doubt that dur
| ing the next decade every single-track
railroad in the country will have to be
donbie-traeked and provide enlarged ter
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