The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-03-28
ROOSEVELT REMEDY
PRESIDENT HAS CONFERENCE
WITH LEADERS IN RESPONSE
TO PETITION.
Will Probably Send Special Message
Fully Outlining vieWs-Tariff Re-
vision After March 4, 1909, Passage
Of Aidrich Bill, Employers Liability
Bill and Other Measures Urged.

Washington, March 23.-President
Roosevelt has determined on legis-
lative program the enactment of which
will be urged upon congress in spe-
cial message which he said will go In
next week. Each of the measures to
be proposed involves perplexing diff
ficulties and each will have far-reach-
ing effects on business and economic
conditions of the country. The pro-
gram is the product of important con-
ferences, through which the president
has been put in possession of the views
of all interests concerned. Likewise
the attitude of the leaders in both
branches of congress has been made
known. It's success depends upon the
combined effort, which he believes can
be brought to bear in behalf of the
whole plan by those affected especial
ly by some of it's features.
Program of New Laws.
The program includes:
A declaration in favor of revision of
the tariff in a special session to be
held after March 4, 1909.
An amendment to the Sherman anti
trust law so as to make important con-
cessions to combinations of both labor
and capital.
Limiting the powers of certain courts
in the use of the Injunction in labor
disputes.
Passage of an employers liability
bill
Passage of the Aldrich financial bill
Middle West Pledges Support.
The support of the business and
financial interests of the Middle West
was pledged to the president on this
program, after an extended confer
ence held at the White House Friday
night. A most satisfactory conference
was held at the presidents office Sat
urday with leaders of the two houses
of congress. The details of Friday
nights conference we're purposely
withheld pending the morning confer
| ence. At the conclusion of the latter
a long statement was made public by
Secretary Loeb.
| After setting forth the objects of
the conference and quoting the ad-
dress to the president by the spokess
man of the visitors, the statement con-
tinues:
A subcommittee consisting of
Messrs. Hall, Wacker, Smith and Top
ping called on the president at the
executive office this morning and
they were informed by the president
that he would probably communicate
mendations concerning the legislation
needed.
The president, Senator Aldrich and
Representatives Payne of New York,
Dalzell of Pennsylvania and Hepburn
of Iowa participated in the confer
ence. The chief object considered
was tariff revision, but there will be
other conferences at which other ques-
tions will be taken up in detail.
An agreement was reached between
the president and the leaders of the
house in favor of a declaration for
tariff revision at special session, to
be held after March 4, 1909. 1t was
decided that the best manner in which
to prepare for the legislation is to
have Investigations conducted by the
ways and means committee of the
house and the finance committee of
the senate The investigations will
not be in the form of hearings, but ex-
perts will be called to assist the COM
mittee in preparing data. The plan is
opposed to the appointment of tariff
commission. such as is proposed in the
Beveridge and La Toilette bills.
The amendments suggested to the
Sherman antitrust bill were discussed
briefly. The president said that a bill
would be presented providing for the
legalizing of traffic agreements be-
tween railroads. He called attention
to the fact that labor organizations
had been expected to agree to such
| legislation in return for provision
exempting them from the operations
of the law.
The legislators present were not
ready to assent to the demands made
by labor in their bill of grievances re-
Gently submitted to congress, and on
that account urged that it would be
inadvisable to attempt any revision of
| the Sherman law at this time
1t is said that the president, while
not exactly rejecting it, was not dis
posed to agree with the advice given
him. He declared that it was but JUS
tice to the railroads to permit traffic
agreements under proper restrictions
and control by the interstate COM
merce commission, and said that no
interests would be injured by such
legislation. He was not impressed by
the statement made to him that labor
I wwv~