Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-05-17
PRESIDENT AND
SENATORS IN ROW
QUESTION OF vERkclTY RAISED
OVER RATE BILL ACTION.

Tlnman Accuses Roosevelt Of Form
ing Alliance with Senate Democrats
and Republican Minority IN Favor Of
a Certain Amendment, then Break
ing Faith and Taking Up Another
Form Of Amendment.--chandler,
the Intermediary, Backs TiIlmsn.--
President Denies Charges, Explains
and Defends His Action.
President Roosevelt and certain mem
bers Of the federal Senate are engaged IN a
controversy arising from confederation Of
the railroad rate bill in that body. Other
high officials are involved. and the ques-
tion Of veracity has been sharply raised as
between the president and the other fac
tion.
Il will be remem bered that by peculiar
turn Of events in the Senate, the Hepburn
rate bin which had passed the House by
an overwhelming majority, was fayoraoly
reported IN the Senate through a eOmbina-
tion Of the Democratic minority on the
committee and minority OF Republicans,
aud the Republican majority, IN It's petu-
lance al defeat, placed the bill In the
hands OF Senstor Tillman.
Now Tillman has no personal relations
I
affronts he claims to have received. The
president has urged the passage a the rate
I bill so hat Tillman vas made % appear
as the champion Of an administration
measure. Mach EN- barrassmeut resulted.
+ The president, il appears, tried to take a
+ hand IN shaping legislation in the Senate
while the rate bill was still before il. The
question OF the jurisdiction OF the subor-
dinate federal courts over railroad rates
{ a h.f a. ffa.tan - aaFr.
sued As 10 whether there should be broad
T or limited court review. There was a con-
+ ference Of senator's az the Waite House,
and an amendment 20 the bill was pre-
sented by Senator Tong of Kansas alter
ward, which closely limited the power OF
review
+ The president desired 10 secure the pas
+ sage Of the bill, with some form OF amend
ment that would not weaken the measure
+ as IL PASSED the House. Being unable 10
eonfer with rillmsn. he got Former Sena-
tor Chandler, ~ ho was mutual friend, TO
+ act as intermediary, and through Attorney
I General Moody an arrangement was
made whereby the president agreed to
+ stand by the Democrats and the mi 7ority
] Repu blicans on the basis OF limited re-
I view. at least this is the allegation made
/ by Ttlman in hie sensational speech IN
1 the senate saturday, and he is cOrrobor-
+ sted ID Chandler. OF sudden il became
+ known that the president had given hls
approval 30 the so-calied Allison amend-
ment. which WAS promoted oy the broad
review faction Ia the Senate, and IihmRn
took tn first opportunity 20 lay the hole
scheme bare in the effort % show that the
I president had broken faith aud committed
/ treacherv. Chandler. who holds a soOJJ
office under presidential appointment,
I backed up Tfllman. Moody rather sides
/ with Roosevelt.
/ The president Monday made q formal
Z answer tothe charge, denying that be had
/ ever committed himself % any particular
I form of court review, but sought 70 secure
Z the most limited review he could, Whne
NAL ing sure that the bill would pass. he
/ claims that the Allison amendment Is
substantially the review provided for oy
the Hepburn bill itself.