Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-16
TALKS WITH SENATORS
Discusses Three Bills With Carter
and Beveridge.
CROW INDIAN LOSES HIS NERVE
Brings Buckskin Shirt From Far
West as Present for President,
But Is Afraid to Offer It.

President Taft has begun prOdding Con-
gress to get Legislation started. A month
and a half has passed since the new year
came in and practically nothing has been
done with the measures generally spoken
of as 1.-The administration legislative pro-
gram The more important Of these
measures, those amending the interstate
commerce act and regulating the incor-
poration of corporations, are still In COM
mittees, but the President recognizes that
deliberation should be shown in their
preparation as bills. He shows no dispo-
sition to try to hasten these, although he
would like to see them under way.
AS to the postal savings bank bill. the
statehood bill and the organization Of
the Alaskan government, three measures
and reported to the Senate. the Presi-
dent doesn't understand the failure to do
something. This morning he had In con-
ference with him Senators Carter and
Beveridge. the former In charge OF the
postal savings bank measure and the lat
ter of the statehood bill and the Alaska
reorganization proposition.
When the conference was over Senator
Carter said that there was q curious
situation in both houses Of Congress. He
described 1t as psychological. Committee
meetings were poorly attended and there
was either a general indifference or
widespread interest in other matters than
those desired to be pushed. II think
the Montana senator. "and that we will
get down to a hustling pace that will
dispose of business right along. SO far
as the postal savings bank bill Is con-
cerned, ] venture the prediction that IL
will pass the Senate
Beveridge Is Reticent.
Senator Beveridge would offer no pre-
diction as to statehood or Alaska reor-
ganization. He tried to get his committee
on territories together yesterday to ar
range to push both of these bills, but not
a handful of senator's attended. Nobody
seems to care much about either measure
Senator Borah Of Idaho. who Is oppos-
ing the Alaska reorganization bill, was
with the President for some time today
The Idaho senator has announced that
he will fight the Alaska bill proposing a
commission for the government OF the
territory. He declares that this sp1acks
too much of carpet-bagism and lack of
self-government. There are 1900 good
Americans in Alaska, he has stated. and
he believes they are competent to govern
themselves. selecting their own officials
by ballot, without having them app ointed
from a distance He regrets he Is not able
plan. and will fight the bill 50 long as 1t
is before the Senate. He has the promise
OF support from other republicans and
many democrats.
Electric Roads Stand Pat.
OficiaIs of electric interurban lines in
the west told President Taft today they
did not wish to be excepted from the
operations Of the interstate commerce
acts now in existence or from the
amendments proposed in the administra-
ton bill before Congress. They told the
President that the Interstate commerce
commission had recently assumed au-
thority to fix joint or through rates be-
tween steam and electric lines under GER
tain conditions. and that decision is salts
factory to them. The steam roads. It Is
claimed, managed to get into the pending
bill clause exempting electric lines from
the operations Of the law. This would
have prevented the Interstate commerce
commission fixing rates between the two
classes Of roads where they can inter-
change business
The subject was taken before the Presi-
dent by w. J. Ferris. Lacrosse. Wis; 7.
s. Cass and George. e. Lichly of Water
loo. Iowa, and Col. w. G. Dows OF Cedar
Rapids They were introduced to the
President by Representative Pickett OF
Iowa. They went from the White House
to the Capitol to confer with the proper
committees, and also saw Attorney Gen.
eral Wickersham.
President Taft has made a tentative
promise to attend the actors fund fair,
to be held in the list Regiment Armory,
In New York. in May. He promised
Daniel Frohman to be-on hand. II pos