The Red Cloud chief., 1906-05-18
PRESIDENTS REPLY
ROOSEVELT DENIES CHARGES OF
ALLEGED DoUeLE DEALING.

NVft Ef~eS~ -
ator William e. Chandler Acted a.
intermediary.
Washington, May 15.-The sensa'
Rional rate bill incident In the senate
Saturday, during which Mr.. Tillman,
on the authority OF former Senator
Chandler, made statements regarding
the presidents course in connection
with pending railroad rate legislation,
some Of which statements were de-
MED by Senator Lodge on behalf OF
the president. had Its sequel when an
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, n
from the president to Senator Allison
and the other from Attorney General
Moody to the president. The presi-
dent says: I'm no case, either In the
case OF Mr.. Chandler or any one else,
sVas there the slightest opportunity
for any honest misconception OF my
attitude or any belief that I had
pledged myself specifically to one and
only one amendment or set OF amend.
mcuts, or that I would not be satisfied
with any amendment which preserved
the essential features Of the Hepburn
bill as Il came from the house"
Not Trying to Dictate.
The president says that many
amendments, including the so-called
long, Overman and Spooner amend
ments, he had said he should be en-
tirely satisfied to have them in the
bill, ard suggested notifications as
10 other amendments. but "as to none
hof the amendments) did l ever say.
either to Mr.. Chandler or to any n
else, that I should insist upon having
them In the bill as q condition OF my
approval" and that, on the contrary,
he (the president) 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
substance. as those made to Mr.. ALI
son and other senators Of both parties.
He says he was asked to see Chandler
a. the representative Of Tillman, In
charge OF the bill, and that the
conferences Moody had with Senators
Tillman and Bailey were such as had
been held with many other senators to
determine the p~hraseology and dis.
Cuss the effect OF amendments pro-
posed by them. The president states
that he became convinced that II was
impossible for senators. with advan-
fage," to use him as an intermediary
and suggested to all to whom he spoke
that they communicate with Senator
Allison, whose purposes and the presi.
dents were identical" The presi.
dent says that his own opinion that
the Allison amendment In no way
changed the court review as provided
In the original Hepburn bill is also the
opinion Of Attorney General Moody
and Secretaries Root and Taft. The
attorney generals letter gives an &C.
count, at the presidents request, Of
the conferences Mr.. Moody had at the
presidents request with Senators
Tillman and Bailey regarding the
Court review feature. He says he ad-
yised the president that he should not
at any stage become finally commit
ted beyond recall to any form of Ian
president affirmed the wisdom of that
course. He reviews the discussion Of
interlocutory injunctions, and con-
cludes that there vas nothing in the
conversations between the senators
and himself which bound the president
10 any particular amendment.
"A Tiilman Confers With Chandler.
Senator Tillman talked freely with
q number of his callers about the
statement issued by President Roose-
welt. 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 discussed the presidents state
ment with former Senator Chandler,
and he urged Mr.. Chandler to issue a
statement giving a full history of the
whole matter. Senator Tillman
wanted the fact TO go into the newspa-
pers that he did not in any way init.
ate the negotiations with the presi.
dent regarding the Democratic support
for the railroad rate bill and that he
did not ask Senator Chandler to 20 to
the white house.
Former Senator Chandler refused to
discuss the statement from the white
house. He indicated that he did not
expect to issue a statement at this
fine hearing IN the cuhiect 10 alec