Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-15
Statement from White House Denies Charge
Of Change Of Front
NOT PLEDGED TO ANY AMENDMENT
President Desires to See Rate Bill Passed
as il Game from House.
THREATS TO ANY PERSON
Executive Did Not Tell Mr.. Chandler Ger
tain Changes Must Be Made,
HISTORY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
President Was Asked to See Mr..
Chandler Hs Representative of MIR.
TnIman-MoOdy COnfers
with Bailey.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE sensa-
tonal rate bill incident in the senate Sat
urdsy. during which Mr. TiIlman, on the
authority Of former Senator Chandler.
made statements regarding the presidents
course in connection with pending railroad
rate legislation. some Of which statements
we're denied by Mr. Lodge on behalf of
the president, had it's sequel this evening
when official statement was issued by
the White House giving an account OF the
subject on the part of the president and
Attorney General Moody. The statement
comprised two letters, from the president
to Senator Allison and the other from At
torney General Moody to the president.
both dated today The president says:
| I'm no case, either in the case OF Mr..
Chandler or anyone else. was there the
| slightest opportunity for any honest mis-
conception OF my attitude or any belief
that pledged myself specifically TO one
| and only one amendment, or set OF amend
ments, or that I would not be satisfied
| with any amendment which preserved the
| essential features OF the Hepburn bill as
It came from the house"
No UItimatum from President.
The president says that many amend
|
man and Spooner amendments he had said
he should be entirely satisfied to have
| in the bill and suggested modihca-
! tions as to other amendments, but "as to
none Cof the amendments) did I ever say,
either to Mr.. Chandler or to anyone else.
| that should insist upon having them in
the bin as condition of my approval" and
| that on the contrary he (the presiden) was
careful to state that he was not trying
to dictate any particular program of action.
| The president says the statement made
TO Senator Chandler was the same in sub
| stance those made TO Mr.. Allison and
other senators of both parties. He says
he was asked to see Chandler as the rep
resentative of Mr.. Timan. in charge of
the bill. and that at the conferences Mr..
Moody had with Senators Tflman and
Bailey were such as had been held with
many othhr senators to determine the
phra seolcgy and diEIuss the effect of
amendments proposed by them The pres
ident states that he became convinced that
IT was Impossible for senators with ad-
vantage" TO use him as an intermediary
and suggested to all TO whom he spoke
that they communicate with Senator ALI
son, whose purposes and the presidents
we're identical" The president says that
his own opinion that the Allison amend
I
as provided in the original Hepburn bill
is also the opinion Of Attorney General
Moody and Secretaries Root and Taft.
Moody Tells of Conferences. i
The attorney generals letter gives
account, at the presidents request, OF
conferences Of Mr.. Moody had at the prS,e,
dents request with Senators TillniLa l..
Bailey regarding the court review feature
He says he advised the president that he
should not at any stage become finally
, committed beyond recall TO any form Of
language in any part of the bill and the
president affirmed the wisdom of that
course. He reviews the discussion Of In
terlocutory injunctions and concludes that
there was nothing in the converse tions"
between the senators and himself which
!, bound the president 10 any particular
amendment.
e TiIImRn Declines 10 he Quoted.
Senator Tillman talked freely tonight
, with a number OF his callers about the
] statement issued by President Roosevelt,
= lie expressed his preference. however. not
l. TO be quoted, pointing out that whatever
he wished to say on the subject OF the
| statement he would say on the floor OF
the senate. He expects that the question
D will be brought TO the front In some way
in the senate tomorrow. He discussed the
| PRESIDENT amendment tonight with forrn er
! Senator Chandler and he urgel N Chard-
Ter TO issue a statement giving a fun ii e.
- tory OF the whole matter Senator Tillman
e wanted the fact TO go into the newspapers
n that he did not In any way initiate the ne
- gotistions with the president regarding the
y democratic support for the railroad rate
e bill and that he did not ask Senator Chand-
z Ter 10 go to the White House
. a
to discuss the statement from the white
}; House. He indicated that he did not 81
B.; pect 10 issue a statement st this time bear
ing on the subject, lie also indicated thai
ne was anxious to have railroad rate legiS-
( lation enacted.
Letter "a Mr.. Allison.
, Following r. the text OF the president {
letter to Mr.. Allison:
The White House. Washington, May a.
1896 nv Dear Senator Allison-As Sena-
tor Tilman brought in your name In con
u made concerning our relations 70 the rate
e bill last Saturday, II is perhaps que q
n you that ! should write you on the latter
= After the rate bill was reported from the
d committee and AFTER by vote OF the com
AZ mittee. Mr.. Itllman had been put IN charge
le OF Il, many senators and many outsiders
/ came TO zee me with reference 20 H.
Among others. was asked TO see ex-
n Senator Chandler as representing Mr.. TIL.
a. man. who was In charge OF the bill.
= stated in response that was OF course en-
y | tirely willing TO see Mr.. Tillman person
ally or 10 see Mr.. Chandler or any one
else who could speak for him and ] &C
p | cordingly directed my secretary TO make ar
u Z appointment for Mr. Chandler 20 see me
MY understanding was that he was tht
- representative OF Mr. Tillman. In this mrs
! interview he stated 10 me the views OF Mr.
Tillman, with seeming authority. He called
on me several times During the same
period I saw other gentlemen who pro
fessed 10 give the views OF other senator's
. / In addition, i saw numerous senators, DOT
te republicans and democrats some OF then
he once or twice some OF them many times
10 / saw numerous outsiders, railroad men
shippers. newspaper men and students o
OF traific regulation. including especially TN
M attorney general and members OF the Inter
- state Commerce commission, and on tWi
occasions I saw groups OF newspaper mel
~ In n mass. TO all Of these, senators, rep
e. n -entatives OF senators ana outsider
of alike / made the same statementai thos
a, that l made 20 Mr.. Chandler being IN
IN Gauoa In auhatauce that i made 70 YOU an