The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-05-18
STATEMENT FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE
CALLED OUT BY THE RATE BILL
CONTROVERSY.
TWO LETTERS MADE PUBLIC
IA President Denies rrying 60
Dictate Any Particular Pro-
grnmme with Reference to
Rate Iegisla tton.

-
Washington, May l5.-The sensation
al rate bill Incident in the senate sat
urday. during which Mr.. Tillman. on
the authority of former senator Chand-
ler, 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 its sequel. Monday evening. 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, one
from the president TO Senator Allison
and the other from Attorney General
Moody to the president. both dated
Monday. The president says:
In no case, either in the case OF Mr..
Chandler or anyone else. was there the
slightest opportunity for any honest
misConceptiou Of my attitude or any
belief that I pledged myself specifically
I ~ IL AAAA AAAAr &AAL RAAAA AA& Va -
Of amendments. Or that | would not be
satisfied with an amendment which pre-
served the essential features OF the
Hepburn. bin as it came from the
house"
The president SAYS that as to many
Of the amendments. including the so
called Long. Overman. Bacon and
Spooner amendments, he had said he
should be entirely satisfied 10 have them
il the bill, and suggested notifications
Is 10 other amendments. but that "as TO
zone (of the amendments) did | ever
say either 10 Mr.. Chandler or 70 any
one else that | should insist upon hav-
ing them in the bill as a condition OF
my approval and that. on the contrary.
he (the PRESIDENT was careful 10 state
that he was not trying 20 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.. ALI
son and other senators OF both parties.
He says he was asked to see Chandler
as the representative Of Mr.. Tillman,
in charge Of the bill. and that the con.
f~erences Attorney General Moody had
with Senator's Tlllman and Bailey were
such as had been he'd with many other
senators to determine the phraseology
and discuss the effect Of amendments
proposed by them. Tho president
states that he became convinced that il
was impossible for senator's with ad-
vantage TO use him as an Intermediary.
and suggested 70 all to whom he spoke
that they communicate with Senator
Allison. whose purposes and the presi-
dents were Identical The president
says that his own opinion that the AL
lison amendment in no way changed the
court review as provided in the original
Hepburn bill Is also the opinion Of At
torney General Moody and Secretaries
Root and Taft. The attorney generals
letter gives an account. at the presi-
dents request, Of the conference which
Mr.. Moody had, at the resident's d.
rectiCn. with Senators Tillman and Bal.
ley regarding the court review feature.
He says he advised the president that
he should not al any stage become
firally 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 inter-
locutory injunctions and concludes that
there was nothing in the CONVERSE
ticns between the majors and him.
self which bound the president TO any
particular amendment.
senator TiIIman Talks.
Washington. May Ex-senator TIL.
man talked freely with a number Of
his callers about the statement issued
by President Roosevelt. He expressed
his preference however, not to be quot
ed, 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 cues
ton Will be brought to the front in
some way in the senate. He discussed
the presidents statement with former
Senator Chandler, and he urged Mr..
Chandler to issue a statement giving a
full history Of the whole matter.
Chandler Declines TO Talk.
Washington, May 15.-Former Sen
ator Chandler refused to discuss the
statement from the White House. He
Indicated that he did not expect to issue
a statement at this time bearing on the
subject He also indicated that he was
anxious to have railroad rate legisla-
ton enacted. Regarding his visit 10
the White House. Mr.. Chandler said
that previous to his invitation to call
to see the president. on March 81. fol
lowing which he conferred with the
president regarding the pending rate
bill, he had not been at the White
House for about a month.
To Force n settlement.
Cleveland. O.. MAY 15.-Coal opera