New-York tribune., 1910-06-10
THE EDAyTNWASHINGTON


Prt siden; Roosevelts statement that he will
EoI speak at the grand rally of the League
of Republican Clubs in New York on June
* should cause no surprise. for the purport
of the coloneTs reply TO the invitation 10
speak on that occasion was given in this
column in The Tribune of May 25, when II
was stated shat Mr.. Roosevelt said that he
was reluctant to make any political speech
so soon after his arrival in this country.
II was then explained that. lnasmuch as the
colonel did not absolutely refuse, a further
effort would be made when he returned, but
the fact that he did not expect TO address
the convention was clearly set forth. In
view OF the fact that he has felt called upon
10 deny that he viii speak on that occasion.
it now seems improbable that it will be pos
sihle to persuade him to do even after
he arrives.
ANOTHER TAFT POLICY-Another step
in the promotion of the Taft policies was
taken in the Senate to-day when an amend
ment was added to the sundry civil bill
appropriating 100000 for the purpose of en-
abling the Executive and the Secretary OF
the Treasury to revise the methods OF the
executive departments and adopt a modern
business system in the administration of
told in The Tribune. the Secretary of the
! Treasury, with a very small sum which he
found he could devote TO this purpose. has
already effected a material saving In the cost
of doing business, and there is every reason
TO believe thSt a saving out Of all proper
ton To the expenditure can be effected il
Congress will consent to the investment
authorized to-day by the Senate. The final
appropriation of this sum will prove
source of great qualification to the Presi-
dent.
THE RAILROAD BILL-Some Of the
Republican conferrees on the railroad bill
met informally again to-day. and mads
considerable progress in the determination
o. those points on which the representatives
of both houses could agree. II is now OBJ
vious that the greatest difficulty will be en-
cnuntered when an attempt Is made to agree
on the long and short haul clause, the Sen
ate standing out strongly for it's version
and the House for its provision, which close
" approximates a straight mileage pro-
vision The indications point strongly 70
the elimination Of the provision for fed
eraI supervision of railroad securities, de-
spite the fact that the President would
like to see it retained. 1t seems prob
able that this will be left for future
legislation. The provision for physical
valuation OF railroads will probably ne
stricken out and also the amendment
adopted in the House providing that where
a railroad reduces rate to meet water
competition ii cannot raise It again unless
IL can show materially different conditions
II exist II is held that this provision will
endanger the constitutionality Of the bin.
and that. moreover. it is unnecessary. as
81
road cannot raise any rate without first
satisfying the Interstate Commerce Com
mission of the justice of the advance. There
is also a probability that the time allowed
TO the Interstate Commerce Commission 10
determine the reasona bleness of a pro-
posed rate will be curtailed. The Senate
till allows thirty days. 12O days and then
six months. in all about eleven months.
This is believed considerably longer than is
ne ecessary. and II is felt that by shortening
the period the commission can be made 10
work with greater expedition.
UNCLE SAM POOR PAY-The Commit
! tee on Claims reported to the Senate to-
! day a bill granting s773,647 25 to the South
| ern Pacific Railroad for the work It did to
check the Salton Sink and save the I'm
! perial Valley from permanent inundation.
| The amount spent for this work by the
/ Southern Pacific. which was carried in the
! bill introduced by Senator Flint. was
/ 81 665. 1856 20. and the payment was strongly
recommended by President Roosevelt in
/ special message to Congress on January
! r. 1907. OF course. the railroad cannot com
pei the United States to pay more than it
| chooses for this work which was done
! without any contract. and Congress ap-
pears to think it will be doing its full duty
! by passing the bill reported to-day, al
though il carries considerably less than
| half the amount spent to remedy the break
/ In the Colorado River and save the val
| ley, which is occupied by between 5000 and
. 10000 settlers. q. @. IL