The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-05-16
ROOSEVELT
SPEAKS OUT
MAKES A CALM STATEMENT OF
FACT, IN ANSWERING THE
CHARGE OF HYPOCRISY.
SUBMITS HIS SIDE TO SENATE
Refutes Statements Said to Have
Emanated from Ex-SenatOrs
Chandler and Tillman.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE SEN
sational rate bill incident in the SEN
ate Saturday, during which Senate;
1illman, on the authority of TO me-
Senator Chandler made statements
regarding the presidents course in
connection with the pending rate leg
islation, some of which statements
were denied by Senator Lodge in be-
half of the president. had its sequel
this evening when a statement was
issued from the White House, giving
an account of the matter, on the part
Of the president and Attorney Gene
raj Moody.
The statement comprised two let
tiers, one from the president to Sena-
tor Allison, and the other from the
attorney general to the president,
both dated today.
The president says: "In no case,
either in the case of Chandler or any
one else, was there the slightest op-
portunity for any honest misconcep-
ton of my attitude, or any belief
that l pledged myself specifically to
one and only one amendment or set
OF amendments, or that / would not
be satisfied with any amendment that
preserved the essential features of
the Hepburn bill, 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 to have
them in the bill, and suggested modi-
f1cations as to other amendments; but
That "as to none of the amendments
did | ever say, either to Chandler or
anyone else. that should insist upon
having them in the bill as a condition
of my APPROVAL" and that, on the con-
trary. he (the PRESIDENT was careful
to state that he was not trying to die
tate any particular program of &C
ion.
The president says that the state
ments made to Senator Chandler
We're the same in substance as those
made to Senator Allison and to other
senators of both parties. He says he
was aske! to see Chandler as the rep
resentative of Tillman in charge of
the bill, and that the conferences At
torney General Moody had with SEN
ators Tillman and Bailey were such
as had been held with many other
Senators to determine the phrase
ology and discuss the effects of the
amendments proposed by them.
The president states that he be-
came convinced that it was impossi- (
bic FOR senator's with advantage to
use him as an Intermediary, and that
he suggested to all with whom he
spoke that they communicate with
Senator Allison, whose purposes and
the presidents were identical" He
SAYS his own opinion is that the Ali
son amendment in no way changed !
the court of review feature as pro-
rided in the original Hepburn bill. +
and that this is also the opinion of |
Attorney General Moody and Secreta-
ries Root and Taft.
The attorney generals letter gives
an account at the presiden 5 request
Of The conferences which Moody had
at the presidents direction with Sen
ators Ttllman and Bailey regarding
the court Of review feature He SAYS
ne advised The president that lie
should no a amy stage become final |.
by committed beyond recall to any
form of language il any part of the
bill. and thar the president affirmed
the wisdom Of hat course. He re-
views the discussion of interlocutory
injunctions, and concludes that there
was nothing in the conversations"
between the senators and himself
which bound the president 10 any
particular amendment.
Senator Tillman talked freely with
a number of callers tonight about the
statement issued hy President Roose-
welt. He expressed a preference. not
70 be quoted. pointing out that what
ever he wished to say on the subject
Of the statement he would say on the
floor OF the senate He expects that
question 10 be brought - the front
IN some way tomorrow H discussed
the presidents statemen- with form n
Senator Chandler, and urged Chaad-
ier 10 Issue a statement giving a fui
history of the matter.
Senator Tillman wanted the fact TO
80 into the newspapers that ne I'D
not in any way initiate the negotia
tons with the president regarding
Democratic support of the railroad
rate bill, and that he did not ask
Chandler TO go to the White House.
Former Senator Chandler refused
to discuss the statement. He indi-