Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-05
OTHERS MAY BE SUMMONED
The Presidents Callers Reticent Re-
garding the Interviews.
CONFIDENCE OF MR.. OvERMAN
Not Inclined to Believe That the Long
Amendment to the Hepburn Bill
VIII Be Adopted.

Four democratic senator's, by invitation
OF the President, have conferred with him
about railroad rate legislation. Two Of
them were at the White House today and
two yesterday. and it is understood that
several others may be asked to talk the
matter over. Today's visitors were Sena-
tors Daniel of Virginia and Overman of
North Carolina, and yesterdays were SEN
ators Clay of Georgia and Foster of Louis
lana.
Although all four men are reticent It is
known that rate legislation was the sub
ject of the discussion. Senator Daniel,
when asked the point blank question wheth-
er rate legislation had been under consid-
Grafton, replied: You attend to your bust
ness and l will attend to mine" He re-
fused to answer any question bearing upon
his conference with the President Senator
Overman was equally uncommunicative
but not so abrupt. admitting nothing and
denying nothing.
Under such circumstances II is difficult to
comprehend what phase of the situation the
Iiesiaent mas taken up with his democratic
friends in the Senate The men who have
talked with him have had relations of cor
diaifty with the President for some time
several OF them have been styled by fellow
democrats Roosevelt democrats hut that
has not prevented them from occasionally
consulting the President about matters in
winch they were interested or from intro
ducing constituents who have been in WASH
lngton on business. or pleasure They have
not considered 1t worth while to resent tho
lnslnuation that senators should refrain
from consulting the President abo,lt Ieeis-
iative matters. the Senate being able to
ieglslate to suit itself.
Mr.. Overnaan's Belief.
senator OVerman. when asked the ques-
tton what he thought would be the out
come of the rate fight in the Senate said:
NO, am not inclined to believe that the
amendment considered at the White House
conference Saturday will be adopted by
the Senate. My opinion is growing
TALLY as it is. will be passed. There will
be at least few amendments that will
AFFECT the measure in a material degree
Senator Daniel has one measure that L
favor. 1t provides that the record of the
commission in each case shall be trans
mitted to the upper courts"
Senator Daniel remained with the Presi-
dent long time after Senator Overman
had departed, and it was supposed that
he would present to the President the
names of some southern men to be ap-
pointed upon the commission 90 represent
this country at the Rio conference. His
statement that newspaper men should at
tend to their own business and he would
attend to his precluded the possibility Of
information that could be relied upon.
Nearly an Hours Conference.
Senators Foster and Clay remained with
the President nearly an hour yesterday
afternoon. The President did not go to
his luncheon until far beyond the time
he usually goes that he might have oppor-
tunity to talk the rate question over with
the callers.
The fact that some OF the democratic
leaders of the Senate have declared that
the President was attempting to make the
rate bill a partisan measure by comforting
with republican senators last Saturday and
agreeing upon an amendment may have
led to the invitations to the democrats to
talk over the prospects. Judging from the
attitude of the democrats of the Senate,
there will be sharp criticism of the confer
ences with democrats, both democratic and
republican senators being inclined to insist
upon the Senate handling the rate bill
without advice or suggestion from the
White House or elsewhere Predictions
were freely made today that Senators
Bailey, Tiliman or others would ask some
questions of the democrats who have been
with the President.