The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-15

QeDaUe proceeded.
The amendment was finally laid on
the table, but it was not until oil de-
string to discuss had had an opportunity
to do so.
Complains and Threatens.
Later during the day Mr.. La Toilette
announced that he was the only senator
against whose amendments to the bill
motions to lay on the table were being
made, and he announced that If this pol
icy was to be continued he, too, would
unanimous consents. r..
The La Toilette amendment provid-
ing that by 1911 oil railways in the
country doing Interstate business must
provide themselves with the block
signal system was defeated by the Gus
tomary vote, only the democrats and
La Toilette himself supporting it. y.
The third La Toilette amendment to
go down to defeat was that tacking
onto, the bill an employers liability
section. This was freely debated.
1t came out during the debate that
the senate committee on Interstate COM
merce has been for several weeks con-
sidering such a bill as a separate meas
ure, it having been passed by the house
was over the chairman of the commit
tee, Mr.. Elkins, promised that the com
mittee would see that the bill was re-
ported to the senate this week Friday,
following which the La Toilette amend.
ment was voted down.
There was a good deal Of honest op-
position to attaching this proposition
to the rate bill, the ground being taken
that it had nothing to do with rates,
and that it's being attached to the rate
bill might make serious trouble for
that bill.
During the debate La Toilette had
read a history Of the attempts to Sc
cure this legislation since the forty
ninth congress, twenty years ago. Ses-
sion after session, an employers liza
bility bill had been introduced, but only
to be referred to some committee and
there buried.
Nelson in Attacks.
Mr.. Foraker brought forward one of
his amendments relating to judicial pro-
cedure, and it was severely attacked
by Mr. Nelson, who pointed out that it
in effect would make the courts the
rate making power instead Of the com;
by a vote of 10 to Sc.
Mr.. Nelson took conspicuous part
in the discussion of another amend
ment, that relating to the keeping of
books and accounts by the interstate
railways, and providing that they shall
keep only the kinds Of books Endorsed
by the commission.
Several attempts were made to
amend this section Of the house bill by
permitting the railways to keep other
sets Of books, provided they were open
for official inspection.
Mr.; Nelson argued against this, say
ing that If the amendment were made
it would be an invitation to rebates
and other forms Of discrimination. He
said that the provisions of the house
railway corporation as such, and would
not, as had been charged, prevent the
several officers Of the railways from
making their own private or official
notations for guidance in the matter of
administrative detail. Mr.. Nelson s
contention was supported by Messrs.
Lodge, Clay and various others, and
finally 1t prevailed.
1t was against this provision in the
bill that President Mellen, of the New
York, New Haven &, Hartford road,
took such serious exceptions last fall,
and which helped cause temporary
break between him and the president.
PRESIDENT REPELs ACCUsERs
Pitchfork Brigade's Charges Refuted
In Two Convincing Letters. $500
Washington, May 15.-The sensation.
al rate-bill incident in the senate Sat.
urday, during which Mr.. Tillman, on the
authority of former Senator Chandler
dents course in connection with pend.
ing railroad rate legislation, some of
which statements were denied by Mr.
Lodge on behalf of the president, had
it's sequel last night, when an offcia.
statement was issued by the White
House giving an account Of the subject
on the part Of the. president and Attor
ney General Moody.
The statement comprised two letters
one from the president to Senator ALI
son. and the other from Attorney Gen
eral Moody to the president, both date(
Monday. &.
Democrats in Conference. -
After a conference at Senate
Bailey's home, lasting almost an hour
in which Senators Tillman and Bale,
and ex-senator William E. Chandler par
ticipated, it was decided that no state
ment or interview Of any sort should b.
made public last night. l. : =" y.
On his return to his apartments a
the Colonial hotel, Senator Tillma1
presdent that h es Tllan' had Of
Chandler to see the presidents: -
THAT l sent Senator Chandler t.
the president cannot be denied too EN-
phatically, [ did not send him no
even suggest to him that he see tn
president as my intermediary
Saw Chandler az Envov
The following was the president
= letter: -
} My Dear Senator Allison As Senator Tillma
brought In your name in connection with mir
: In the sta tement he had made concerning OF
perhaps due to you that should write you {
the matter. After the rate bill was reporte
from the committee and after by vote Of tt
n committee Mr.. T1llman had been put in chare
of it, many senators and many outsiders can
, to see me with reference to it.
Among others was asked to see former Sci
: ator Chandler as representing Mr.. Tillman, wi
was In charge of the bill. stated in respon,
that was of course entirely willing to 81
Mr.. Ttllman personally, to see Mr.. Chandl
or anyone else who could speak for him, and
accordingly directed my secretary to make 8
: appointment for Mr. Chandler to me-
l My understanding was that he was the repr
/ sentative Of Mr.. Tilman. In this first int
= view he stated to me the Views of Mr. Til
e man, with seeming authority. He called on n
several times. During the same period I So
other gentlemen who protested to give the view
GUS senators, both republicans and democrat
7 some Of them once or twice, some of the
many times. ss.., .s- D.
| also saw numerous outsiders, railroad me
shippers, newspaper and students of trait
regulation, including especially the attorney ge
ora1 Or,H fbo ,horS of tha ir{o