The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-10-22
MESSAGE WILL
INTEREST ALL
PRESIDENT WILL HAVE SOME.
THING MORE ON Rate
~ REGULATION.

y flNS -mOhEr ON IA
REGULATION.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 90. 81 As the
date for the assembling of the Six
tieth congress approaches interest in
the probable contents OF the Presi.
dents message becomes more and
more keen. In fact. the topic Just
now is overshadowlng everything else
political.
In general IT is understood that the
President will have something further
to say upon the subject OF railroad
regulation, but just;%hat his recon.
mendations on this subject will be
even those who have talked with Mr..
Roosevelt recently are not at all Ger.
tain. Some smonths ago 1t was believ.
ell that sweeping extension, OF the
powers Of the interstate commerce
commission would be advocated, but
OF late there has been q growing feel
ling that the message woGld be likely
/ to confne itself to recommendations
/ for Strengthening the existing law.
There are those who would not be sur.
prised II the message recommended
the repeal of the Sherman law, or It's
amendment, In such particulars MS
would inausurate an entirely new plan
OF controlling trusts and corporations.
| It Is accepted MS foregone conclu.
sion In well Informed circles here
Lalso that n section OF the message will
be devoted to an explanation In de.
rfense Of the plan for sending the bat
tleshiR lteet to the Pacific. Another
subject which will undoubtedly occu-
by II considerable amount OF space in
the message Is that OF the desirability
of adopting Il definite and energetic
policy OF waterway Improvement in.
/ Guiding the preservation of the forests
as the conservators of the water sup
! ply. This is subject for which the
President is full OF enthusiasm.
While he has long been firm be-
lever in the improvement OF rivers
and harbors of the country by the ma
ton, his recent journey down the Mis-.
sissippi was revelation to him. In
his talks with governors OF the vari.
GUS western States and other enthusl.
astic supporters Of broad and liberal
policy Of waterway improvement :
, like Congressman Ransdell, of Louisl-
ana-he has learned that the average
cost of water transportation upon i'm.
proved waterways Is less than one
sixth OF rail transportation, and he
has come to accept the belief that the
, Improvement Of the waterways Of the
country will prove the most effective
possible form of rate regulation and
prevent freight congestion on tile
great railways Of the country.
1t is well known that the President
does not do anything half.heartedly.
! Having interested himself In the sub.
ject Of improving the nations water
ways, he undoubtedly. will follow 1t up
with great energy. Except for his an
nounced determination to make no
npra nlJ raccnc =, oo,yon.t... T..
Washington. 1t is believed that he
would make n stirring speech at the
fourth annual convention of the Ma
| tional Rivers and IIarbors congress,
which is to assemble In this city De-
cember>4, 5, and G, and 1t is said that
he is strongly tempted to make an ex.
ception In this case. II Is more likely
however that he will designate ono
of his cabinet officers to represent him
on that occasion. =
The President comes from n State
which nearly for century has fol.
lowed the policy of improving its wat.
,erways. In scnce he regards him.
self as the father Of the Panama ca
nal and he feels that the inaugura-
ton of broad policy Of waterway i'm.
provements may prove his most endur.
ing claim 10 the consideration and re.
mcmbrance of generations yet to come.
THE DOCTORS AGREE.