Evening star., 1909-06-08
NOT WORRYING ABOUT IT
Content to Let Congress Go Ahead
With It's Work,
PLEA OF SPOKANE DELEGATION
Would Amend Interstate Commerce
Law to Allow Shippers to Ap-
peal-Early Closing Saturday.

amusement the many speculative articles
as to what he may or may not do with
the tariff bill when 1t reaches him. One
day he will veto the bill IL it bears the
distinctive marks Of Senator Aldrich, and
the next day he will sign the bill. no
matter what kind 1t is. and leave the re-
sponsibility with the republicans OF the
House. All Of which is highly interesting
to the President. when he realizes that he
has not the remotest idea what he will
do. simply because he does not know what
kind OF tariff bill will be sent him.
The tariff situation is really but little
further advanced today than 1t was when
the extra session was called The House
has put up bill and the Senate is strug-
Cling to get another one. AS between the
two. SO far the Senate bill seems to stand.
the President Is candidly believed to favor
the House measure. but he has expressed
himself SO little in detail as to either that
nobody Is authorized to present to the
country his views at this time. The
President, like every intelligent member
Of Congress-, realizes that the tariff bill
will be made in conference and that the
people of the country will sensibly with
hold judgment until the bill becomes law.
The President is not worrying about
taking the part Of either side. It's not
his business, and that has been his policy
ever since he came into Office. The func-
of the President to pass upon them before
they become operative.
Few Tariff Conferences.
This attitude Of the President is so we'll
known now that he is not bothered with
tariff conferences by the leaders of either
side. Senator Aldrich went to the White
House pretty often at the beginning of
Congress. He has almost ceased these
visits. Senators La Toilette. Beveridge
and the leaders Of the other side formerly
often consulted him on the tariff ques
| ton. Whenever they call now 1t is upor
other business.
| Occasional delegations, representing
| manufacturers or business interests. droT
In on the President to let him know how
| they feel as to the duties imposed in
either the House or the Senate bill. The
glad to hear from them, for the informa-
tiOn he CLEANS, but he commits himself
| in no manner. nor does he propose to.
Congress and the country will not know
his exact position until the time comes to
act. That time has not arrived.
AS to the talk Of veto, the President
would be exceedingly reluctant to use his
power for this purpose on a great tariff
measure adopted by the majority of his
party. but he would not hesitate If he
thought that sentiment among a ma
| jority Of the people of the country was
opposed to the bill He stands for down.
| ward revision of the tariff and the putting
of many of the necessities Of life upon
the free list. Yet he realizes that he can
not get everything he wants. and that the
| tariff bill will have to be a measure of
concessions in all directions, the tenor OF
which complies with the promises of the
| republican platform adopted at Chicago.
Want Appeal for Shippers.
| President Taft today received a numer-
| Gus delegation of prominent citizens OF
Spokane, Wash, introduced by Senator
Jones and Representative Poindexter. The
| delegation has made an appointment with
| the President to present to him proposed
amendments to the act regulating inter
| state commerce. H. NJ. Stephens. the
| head of the delegation. says that the ex-
periences of Spokane, derived from the
| famous Spokane case decided some time
| ago by the interstate commerce commits
| sion, has been of benefit in enabling citi-
| zens of that part OF the country to under
stand changes that would strengthen the
| interstate commerce laws.
The chief amendment which the Presi-
dent will be asked to recommend to Con-
gress will be one allowing the shipper
! the same right of appeal to the courts
| that the railroads have. Under the pres
ent law the railroads may appeal to the
courts from rates which they consider
confscatory. If a shipper is not satisfied
with the decision of the commission as to
| a rate there is no provision for appeal in
| his behalf. Far western people also want
some provision made for a member OF
the interstate commerce commission to be
located in that section, pointing to the
immense distance that must be Travelled
| to come to Washington to present cases
| and testimony.
The Spokane people are to appear before
| the interstate commerce commission to-
morrow in connection with the PROPOSE
ton of the railroads to readjust the rates
declared by the commission to be exceS-
sive in the Spokane case. The representa-
| tives of Spokane are opposed to the propo-
sition for readjustment and want the
rates fixed by the commission to be put
into effect.
Early Saturday Closing.
After consultation with cabinet officers
at the cabinet meeting today President
Taft issued an executive order closing the
executive departments on Saturday after
moons during July, August and September.
Heretofore there has been little uniform
ity about the Saturday half-holiday clos
ing. some departments beginning the early
closing about the middle of June and
others the first Saturday in July.
Miss Case Will Not Wed Spreckels.
NEW YORK, June S-The engagement
of Miss Mary Adele Case. the concert