The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-04
Conferences AmicabIe.

torney General WickeGsham, those presen
at the conference were W. c. Brown
president OF the New York Central ant
Hudson River Railroad Company; Rober-
S. Lovett president Of the Union Pacin,
Railroad Company, and head of the Har.
riman railroad interests; James McCrea
president Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company; George F. Baer, president Of
the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
Company; Charles s. Mellen. president OF
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company. and ". W Finley
president of the Southern Railway.
Lewis Cass Ledyard was present also
in the capacity of counsel for the railroad
presidents.
Morgan Arranged Conference.
Incident TO the conference, il became
known that the visit Of the railroad
presidents TO the White House was ar
ranged for by ]. P Morgan when he was
in Washington last Friday.
When President Taft was in New York
last Thursday for the purpose of attend
ing the wedding Of his niece, Miss Louise
Taft, a suggestion came 10 the President
that Mr.. Morgan would Ike to talk with
/ him before Mr.. Tafts departure for
| Washington. However, this was not feas-
ibIe, and 1t was agreed that Mr., Morgan
should call on the President in Washing
ton at his earliest opportunity.
Mr.. Morgan left New York Thursday
night shortly before the departure Of the
/ President and called on the President at
the White House at $50 o'clock on Friday
morning.
/ At that interview the President and Mr..
Morgan had brief discussion OF the pro-
posed changes in the interstate commerce
law. and the arrangement was made
which resulted in the visit Of the six
railroad presidents to the White House
yesterday.
Divides Message Into Two Parts.
Partly on account Of the delay which
would be caused by making the changes
promised the railroad men In his special
message and the draft of the interstate
| commerce bill. and for no other reason.
President Taft decided yesterday that he
would divide his message into two sec
lions, one dealing with the subject of the
antitrust law and advocating Federal in
/ corporation for interstate corporations.
and the other urging that the interstate
commerce law be amended along the lines
proposed in the administration bill
/ Until yesterday IL was the President
/ intention to deal with the subjects Of the
antitrust law and interstate commerce
amendatOry legislation in one message,
After his conference with the railroad
presidents, he found that the revision Of
the interstate commerce portion Of his
| message. 10 conform 20 the notifications
promised the railroad men. might require
considerable time. and he was anxious
not 70 delay the presentation of the mes.
sage to the Senate and the House
Mr.. Taft also discovered that with both
subjects combined in one message the
document would be Of such length as
practically to prohibit It's publication in
full in many newspapers.
FayOrs National incorporation.
The first message will deal with the
subject OF the antitrust law and Will
advocate legislation permitting interstate
corporations. except railroads, TO obtain
certificates of Incorporation from the
Federal government. The antitrust and
Federal incorporation message will 90 TO
Congress on Thursday. according TO pres
ent prospects. and will contain about 1000
words
The message advocating changes in the
interstate commerce law, which formed
the subject OF yesterdays conference at
the White House, Will 90 TO Congress
on Friday, unless some change IN the
programme occurs. This message will
contain about 5000 words.
VIII Not Send Bills.
With neither message viii the Presi-
dent send the bill he has had drawn TO
carry into effect the ideas TO be advo-
Gated by him in one or the other mes
sage. He will say in each message, how
ever. that the bill has been drafted and
is at the disposal of the appropriate COM
mittee Of Congress whenever the commit
tee desires it.
in taking this course, the President was
guided by the action OF the Senate to-
ward the end Of Mr.. Roosevelt's admin
istration in adopting rule which directed
the return of bills sent to the Senate for
passage by the head Of any government
department. The Senate intended that its
action should be rebuke in particular to
James r. Garfield. then Secretary Of the
Interior. who had transmitted the draft
Of measure for the Congress to enact
into law, and in general to the habit of
Mr.. Roosevelt In drafting legislation ad-
vocated by him and sending it along TO
Congress to enact.
Must Ask for Them.
The President has construed this order
Of the Senate as notice that the Senate
feels capable of drafting its own meas
ures, and, therefore, If either House
wants to see the bills prepared, It viii
have to apply for them of its own Volt
ton at 1900 Pennsylvania avenue
Senator Tillman once referred to a COL
league who presented a measure drawn
under Mr.. Roosevelts direction as "a
spaniel Senator who retrieved this bill
from the White House" Mr.. Taft ap-
parently does not care to have any
spaniel Senators on his staff
Did Not Wish Changes.
In their conference with President Taft
and Attorney General Wickersham the
railroad presidents appeared inclined 70
believe that interstate commerce legisla-
ton was not wise at this time. when thu
railroads were just recovering from the
strenuous treatment TO which thew had
been subjected.
1t was gathered, however. that the
point was not pressed, and the discus
sion was given up almost entirely to de-
tailed suggestions OF changes in the pro-
visions Of the administrators Interstate
commerce bill Several Of these sugges-