The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-04
PRESIDENT Anglers SENATORS
THEY RESENT INTERFERENCE
WITH THE RATE BILL.
speech OF senator Long in Favor Of Ad.
ministration Amendment stirs Up q
Coroquy Over the White House Con-
f~erence-Fun Poked at Senator Allison.

" wv
fereuoe-Fun Poked at Senator Allison,
WASHINGTON, April s.-An echo from
the conference at the White House on Satur-
day which involved the amendment for
limited court review presented in the Senate
yesterday by Senator Long of Kansas was
heard in the Senate to-day.
Senator Long was in the midst Of a pro-
found and intere sting speech explaining
and defending the amendment when a
sudden inspiration seemed to seize half a
dozen Senators, and for fully thirty miputes
Mr. Long was the object Of a fusillade OF
questions that seemed for the time to be-
wider him.
Mr.. Foraker wanted to know what was
meant by the expression in the Hepburn
hi fairly ~remunerative.' Mr.. Long re-
piled that il was a matter TO determine.
But Mr.. Foraker was insistent. He con-
tended that inasmuch as Senators were in
vited 10 vote for the Hepburn bill, which
required the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to make a rate that would be Justly
rompensatory" or fairly remunerative,'
Senator'S were entitled to know just
what these'expressions meant. Mr.. Long,
however, adhered to his original refusal
Ia define the terms, to the great amuse-
ment of several Senators.
Finally Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic
leader, brought up the subject Of the con-
ference at the White House, and inquired
Of Mr.. Long concerning the details OF 1t.
The Kansas Senator admitted that there
had been a conference. but insisted that
the amendment had not been dra wn at
the White House, but elsewhere.
Mr., Bailey continued his quest for the
details of the conference and brought Mr..
Allison to his feet to explain. Mr.. Allison,
amid much laughter from his colleagues,
explained that he had gone to the White
House Saturday In response to an invita-
ton from the President. He was asked
by Mr.. Bailey II the words Justly COM
rensatory" and the matter OF their meaning
was considered at the conference.
Il will say" said Mr.. Allison. that these
very important words were not considered
at the conference"
Mr.. Foraker became very curious to
know just what was considered at the con-
ference. He pursued Mr.. Allison with
questions, and the latter finally declared
with a slight show of feeling that it would
not be proper for him to discuss what had
taken place, whereupon Mr.. Foraker
dropped the colloquy, but Mr.. Bailey took
it up.
Senator Allison earnestly declined to say
whether he had been asked to stay for din
ner or for luncheon or whether refresh
ments were served. His colleagues EVIL
Identity enjoyed his discontinue, and his
good friend Mr.. Spooner laughed heartily.
He finally asked Mr.. Allison II tea was served
at the conference.
Mr.. Bailey became serious and served
notice on the Republican Senators who had
been invited to the White House that they
had taken a seriou responsibility. He re-
ferred to the newspaper accounts OF the
affair and said he had no doubt the writers
received their information at the White
House. MI. Bailey called ate ntion to the
iact that while the President had selected
his conferees from his own party entirely
he was looking to the Democratic side Of
the chamber for the necessary votes to pass
The bill.
Mr.. Bacon expressed his resentment at
the course the President had pursued and
inquired whether, after the bill had passed
the Senate or had been further amended
it was proposed to carry it to the White
House TO secure the Presidents 90. K"
before the legislative work on the bill was
completed, Mr.. Bacon commented on the
alleged disposition Of the President to in
fuence legislation and objected strongly to-
voting for bills and measures that were pre-
Jared at the White House and sent to the
Senate.
Mr.. Culberson, another Democrat, asked
Mr.. Long il he would be willing, inasmuch
as he could not explain the words fairly
remunerative," to nave them taken out
Of the bill, and the Kansas Senator replied
that it would be agreeable to him.
The incident was expressive Of the deep
resentment felt by a number Of Senators
on both sides Of the chamber on account
OF the White House conference.
After making a short statement explana-
toryo the Administrations judicial review
amendment, Senator Long commended that all
the rights Of the carrier we're amply pro-
tected under the present jurisdiction Of
the court, which would not be restricted
or enlarged by this bill. He quoted from the
speech of Senator Knox, recently delivered
In the Senate, in which Senator Knox ad-
mitted that the friends Of the pending bill
commended that a right to review was recog-
nized in the bill.
He agreed with the Senator from
Pennsylvania that there should be
no question Of the right of the carrier
which had been injured by an or der
Of the commission to sue the commission
in the United States Circuit Court, and
said that while he was satisfied with the
House bill in this particular. yet, in order
to remove all question as to its constitu-
tionality, he offered the amendment giving
the right to sue the commission in the United
states court, and giving Jurisdiction to
the court to hear and determine the ques-
ton whether the order OF the commission
was beyond its authority or in violation Of
the rights OF the carrier secured by the
Constitution. He believed that the courts
would assume this jurisdiction under the
bill as it was passed by the House, and he
did not favor enlarging their present juris-
diction.
While I believe, said Mr., Long, that this
bill would not be held unconstitutional In its
preeentform, for 1t specifically recognizes the |
light Of review and cannot be construed as
an attempt to prevent a review, yet [ am
Wiling to place in 1t provisions that. are |
more definite along this line. But I am not
in fQvbf nj any nrpy;aiop fnr xo.,;nN, ,t-.il.. |