The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-15
DECLARES He DID
NOT TRY TO RULE.
President Issues Signed State
ment on the Rate Bill
Controversy.
EXPLAINS CONFERENCE
WITH THE DEMOCRATS
Asserts That Allison Amend
ment Has Not Changed the
Scope of Measure.

DCUpC vi MCdSuI6o
WASHINGTON, May 14-The sensa-
tional rate bill incident In the Senate
Saturday. during which Mr. Tillman, on
tho authority or former Senator Chan
dler. made statements regarding the
Presidents course In connection with
pending railroad rate legislation some OF
which statements were denied by Mr.
Lodge behalf Of the President. had it's
sequence this evening, when statement
was issued by the White House giving an
account of the subject on the part OF tho
President and Attorney General Moody
The statement comprised two letters. one
from the President to Senator Allison and
the other from Attorney-General Moody
to the President. both dated today
The President says;
No Chance for Misconceptiou.
I'm no case, either in the case of Mr.
Chandler or any one 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
Inents or that L would not be satisfied
,y with any amendment which preserved the
essential features OF the Hepburn bill as
1t came from the House"
Would Not Insist.
The President says that as to MANY Of
the amendments. including the so-called
Long OYerman. Bacon and Spooner
amendments, he had said he should be
entirely satisfied TO have them in the bill
and suggested notifications as to other
amendments. but that 'as TO- none (of the
nmendments) did ever say. either to MIR
Chandler OF to any one else that / should
insist upon having them I'm the bill as a
condition of my approval" and that on
the contrary. he, che Presidenp was
careful TO state that he was not trying
TO dictate any particular programme OF
action
The President says the statements
made to Senator Chandler were the
same, In substance, as those made to Mr.
Allison and other Senator's OF both par
| ties, He says he was asked 10 see Chan
dler as the representative OF Mr. TIL
man, In charge Of the bill. and that the
conferences Attoruey-GenernI Moody had
with Senators Tillman and Bailey we're
such as had been held with many other
Senators TO determine the phreseology
and discuss the effect of amendments pro-
posed by them
Not an Intermediary.
Tho President states that he bocame
convinced that II was impossible for SEN
ators with advantage" TO use him as an
intermediary, and suggested to all TO
whom he spoke that they communicate
With Senator Allison. whose purposes and
President says that his own opinion that
the Allison amendment In way
changed tho court review as provided In
the original Hepburn bill. is also the
opinion OF AttorneyGeneral Moody and
Secretaries Root and Taft
Letter Of AttorneyGeneral.
The Attorney-General's letter gives an
account, at the Presidents request of the
conference which Mr.. Moody had at the
Presidents direction with Senators TIL
man and Bailey regarding the court re-
View feature. He SAYS he advised the
President that he should not at any stage
Fnifr ra1
to any form OF language in any part Of
the BILL and the President affirmed the
wisdom of that course, He reviews the
concludes that there was nothing in the
conversations" between the Senators and
himself which bound the President to any
particular amendment.
Tillman Will Talk.
Senator Tillman talked freely tonight
statement issued by President Roosevelt
He expressed his preference. however, not
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
in the Senate tomorrow. He discussed
the Presidents statement tonight with
former Senator Chandler. and he urged
Mr.. Chandler TO issue a statement giving
a full history of the whole matter.
Did Not Initiate.
Senator Tillman wanted tho facts to
go into the newspapers that he did no,
In any way initiate the negotiations with
the President regarding the Democratic
support for the railroad rate bill. and that
he did not ask Senator Chandler to go TO
the White House
Former Senator Chandler tonight re-
fused TO discuss the statement from the
White Housee. Ho indicated that he did
not expect TO issue a statement at this
1cated that he was anxious TO have
railroad ratio legislation enacted
Went on Invitation.
Regarding his visits to the White House,
Mr.. Chandler said that previous to his
invitation to call TO see the President on
with the President regarding the pend
ng bill he had not been at the White
,ious to that invitation he had no Inn
mediate Intention of going there. He said
hat he did not go to the White House
rs an emIssary of Mr.. Tillman, but that
ne went there in response to the Presi-
lents invitation
Following Is the correspondence en-
White House this evening. The Presi-
lents letter.
Tho White House Washington. May H. IscS
Ny Dear Senator Alliscn:-As Senator Till-
nan brought In your namo IN connection with
nine in the statement he nade concerning our
,eThaps duo to you that 1 should writo you
n the matter
Believes It a Duty.
After the ratio bill was reported from tho
ommlttce and after, by vote of the committee
fr. Tillmon had been put in charge OF IL
many Senators and many outsiders came 10
,es asked to see ex- Senator Chandler as rep
osentng Mr. Tillman who was In charge OF
no bill
Directed the Appointment
suited In response thot wac. Of course.
ntirsly willing 10 Mr.. Tlllmnn personal ~
| 10 see Mr., Chandler any one else who
ould speak for him. and l accordinglv d.
rfeH o
,r Mr., chandler TO me. Ny understanding
as that he was the repi esentauvo OF Mr
In LA urn inlnrYisE 6a GkGtQd -