Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-15
Presidents Attitude on Inter-
state Commerce Law
NOT CONCERNED AT DETAIL
Merely Seeks Legislation Satisfac'
tory to the People.
SENDS MESSAGE TO EDITORS
Republicans at Springfield, ILL.,,
Urged to Stand by Congress and
the Administration.


Il do not mind saying that President
Taft is not insisting that the admins
tration bill amending the Interstate COM
merce laws shall go through without
change. He is trying to get a good law
such as is wanted by the people of the
country, and he is not clubbing over de-
tails. 1t is law, action. he wants; law
that will be complete and satisfactory"
This was the brief statement Senator
Jones Of Washington made today after
he had been in conference some time
with the President, other senator's pres
ent being Messrs. Brown and Burkett Of
Nebraska.
Senator Jones did not wish to go fur
Their or to quote the President, but 1t Is
clearly evident that the squabbiing over
the interstate commerce bill has caused
the president to let republican leaders
understand that all he Will insist upon Is
legislation that will fill the gaps left
when the Hepburn law was enacted. That
there are gaps the President is confident
also that he will not consent to the fill
Ing OF these gaps with ineffective amend
ments too conservative in nature or with
radical requirements that will be prompt
- tuiH ON OOWA Wy In0 COuTtS. AVHOukH
he is unwilling to be placed in the atti-
tude of an unyielding dictator Of leg1s.
latlon. demanding his own bill to the ex-
ciusion OF everybody elses, yet he Is not
the only prominent republican who fears
that Quibbling and insistence upon in
dividual views will result in an unsatis-
factory measure. II he finds 1t necessary
ne Will endeavor to weld the legislation
INTO effective shape toward the last.
Alleged Captious Criticism.
The President. It is said, wants to see
earnest and honest differences OF opinion
over the advisability Of certain amend
ments. but there Is more or less exas-
peration at hostile criticisms Of the ad-
ministration bill emanating from sources
that are more bent upon political opposi-
ton to the administration than upon the
enactment OF their own propositions. The
Senate Is privately characterized by sena-
tors from the west not In accord with 1t
as having the direct and chief purpose OF
making trouble for the administration
and finding fault on all occasions with
any and all propositions advanced by the
President. Many OF the senator's who
were in sympathy with the two senators
some months ago on the taP<n and were
put down In the insurgent column have
found 1t wise to stand from under.
The two Nebraska senators are among
these Tney are determined not to be put
down as consistently opposed to measures
having administration origin and indorse-
ment, while the two senators named and
the few others standing with them, 1t is
charged. have been consistent so far in
hammering and dissecting everything
starting at the White House.
Legislation Counted On.
There is not the slightest doubt at the
White House that there will be a law
amending the interstate commerce act
embracing, in the main, the essential
points recommended from there, but the
President does not care about the particu-
lar wording Of the features of the amend
ment. He, like President Roosevelt, ad-
mits that all legislation comes after COM
promise and liberal treatment OF the opin-
ions Of those responsible for lawmaking.
What he will stand strongly for In the
final roundup is legislation that means
something. He will insist to the last, too.
upon an interstate commerce court, upon
supervision Of stock and bond issues and
upon transferring to the Department of
Justice the initiation OF processes and
prosecutions in the courts. He will not
Maggie over the words that provide for
these things; the substance is what he
wants.
Significant Message to Editors.
There is much significance in the tele-
gram President Taft has sent to the ILL.,
nois Republican EDITORIAL Association. in
session at Springfield. The telegram.
which is as follows, was in response to q
request for something that could be read
at the meeting:
March IA, 1910.
George C. Rankin. Esq,
president Illinois Republican Editorial
Association, Springfield. H.:
Sincerely hope that youwill have a
and that the republican editors Of ILL.,
nois will stand by the action Of tthe re-
publican Congress and republican admin
istration in reference to the tariff bill
and other progressive legislation. The
expression OF q meeting like the one you
have called. arising from a normal, sane
and patriotic republican attitude. will
have much influence for good in Illinois
and the rest OF the country.
The sentiments in the telegram fore
shadow the policy the President will pur-
sue from now on when called upon for
advice as to making republican platforms
and campaign speeches. He has already
advised Indiana republicans, as stated
In The Star, to stand by republican
Congress and administration on the
that the President will ampiify his rec
concentrations in some of the speeches he
will make on the trip he begins tomor-
row. Before the Irish Fellowship Club
at Chicago Thursday his speech IL likely
to be one applicable to the gathering he
will address. but elsewhere his text will
be the standing together Of republicans
upon all questions stamped with the ap-
prevail Of the White House and Con-
gress and the insistence that the ma
jority of the party should fix the issues
for all. and those who do not accept
these issues must finally take the con-
sequences. That is the platform Of the
chief executive as he will consistently
give it from this time on.
Ellis Goes Back to Ohio.
Wade Ellis, chairman Of the republican
executive committee Of Ohio, after final
conference with President Taft today.
said he would return to Ohio and prepare
for the campaign that is ahead of the re-
publicans. Mr.. Ellis and ex-Gov. Myron
Herrick were guests Of the President at
luncheon yesterday. talking over politics
in the Buckeye state. Mr.. Ellis. 1t Is
known ICES not go to his state with as
pessin,istic views Of the future of the
party there as other Ohio republicans. He
admits that there will be a hard and
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