The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-24
TARIFF REVISION
Extra Session Of Congress Next
Year to Revise Schedules.
TO PASS The ALDRICH BILL

Conference at White House Mapped
Out Measures to Be Passed BY
Congress Amend Antitrust
Law.
Washington. March 2S-Alarmed by
the growing indignation OF the bust
ness interests at the only too sppar-
ent intention OF the majority in con
gress to do nothing to remedy the
financial ills of the country. President
Roosevelt and the house and the sen
ate leaders mapped out a scheme OF
| legislative promises and reforms by
which they hope TO retain confidence
in the Republican party.
The line OF action comprises the fol
lowing measures:
A declaration in favor OF a revision
Of the tariff in a special session OF con
gress to be held after March 4. 1909
An amendment TO the sherman anti
trust law so as to make important
concessions to combinations of both
capital and labor.
The limiting OF the powers OF Ger
tain courts in the use of the injunc-
ton in labor disputes
Passage OF an employers liability
bill
Passage OF the Aldrich financial bill
IN accordance with the agreement
reached. the president will send a
message TO congress in which he will
outline his desires for legislation. Then
the house and senate leaders will get
busy
Those attending the conference at
which the agreement 10 the measures
outlined above was reached were the
president. Senator Aldrich. Represen-
tatives PAYNE OF New York: Dalzell.
Of Pennsylvania. and Hepburn. Of
Iowa
| Each OF the measures proposed in
wolves perpleXing difficulties. particu.
larly from a political point OF view
and each will have a far-reaching Of.
feet on the business and economic con.
ditions OF the country.
The support Of the business and
financial interests Of the middle west
Is already pledged 70 the presidents
program OF legislative reforms This
pledge was given al the White House
by a delegation representing CONNER.
cial organizations with = membership
Of $500 business men. corporations
firms and individuals
II was decided Nv the conferrees
that the best method in which 20 pre-
pare for legislation looking 70 a re-
vision OF the tsrin in special ses-
sion In 1909 is 10 have investigation
| conducted by the WAYS and means
committee or the house and finance
committee ~ the senate These in.
vestigations will not be in the form
OF hearings hut experts will be called
In 10 assist the committees IN pre-
pairing data.
Amendments suggested 10 the Sher-
man antitrust hill were discussed
briefly The president said that bill
would be presented providing for the
legalizing Of trafhc agreements be.
tween railroads. He called attention
to the fact that labor organizations had
been expected to agree to such legis-
lation in return for a provision ex.
empting them from the operations Of
the law
The legislators present were not
ready 10 assent 10 the demands made
by union labor in its bill OF grievances
recently submitted 10 congress. and on
that account urged that IL would be
inadvisable to attempt any revision
OF the Sherman law at this time
| II is said that the president. while
not actually rejecting IL. was not dis
| posed to agree with the advice given
him. He declared that il was but
| Justice to the railroads 10 permit traf-
nc agreements under proper restric-
lions and control OF the interstate
| commerce commission and said that
no interests would be injured by such
legislation. He was not impressed BY
the statement made to him that labor
would regard this as extending bene-
fits of railroads and Withholding them
from unions.
The president was told fatty that
such a course at this time would be
bad politics for the majority party 70
play On the statement that II was
not certain that labor had rejected I'M
alterably the proposals for an agree
ment under which some OF the bene
nts would accrue 10 organized labor
the subject went over until such time
as the president shall be ready to pres
ent his bill In concrete form.