Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-12

Mr.. Tillman To-Day addressed the oeiidte
in reply to President Roosevelt's message
concerning the T1llman-Gillespie resolution
instructing the Interstate commerce COM
mission to make examination OF railroad
digcriminat tons In the matter of hauling
coal and oil. The message, which con-
demned the resolution on the ground that
its purpose was not specific, was sent 10
the desk by Mr.. Tillma1 and was reread
The President after signing the resolution
asked that additional legislation be entered
into to make II effective. Included In THIS
request was a recommended ton that ap-
preparation be made to carry on the invesl-
cation and specific authority be given TO
the commission to administer oaths AMI
compel the attendance of witnesses.
Resented Executive Rid1cule.
81 deprecate the necessity of crIticising
this most extraordinary document said
Mr. Tflman as a preface to his remarks
Fate has enlisted me as an ally or the
President In getting an adequate railway
rate bill. and l regret very much to have
anything come up which would occasion
any disruption of the amicable relations
that now exist or appear TO exist between
us This statement was greeted with
smiles and chuckles from other senator's
Continuing. Mr.. Tillman said:
But there are some things that as
senator l cannot put UP with patiently.
ridicule of the resolution seemed to charge
thas he had been ignorant of what he was
doing In Offering the resolution.
Now. that IS going a great way in
very little while. That is a pretty big con-
tract the President has taken on himself
TO Justify such a sweeping charge" ne
said.
Taking up the resolution. Mr.. Tillman
said that It was a joint measure and was
now law He called attention to the ia ct
that both houses of Congress had given
the subject consideration.
Mr.. Hansbrough called attention to the
o.. +1x,4 4In IIa,t Nl,;Y a
oe especially the failure OF Congress
to appropriate money to carry out the pro-
visions Of the resolution.
"Oh, l saw that point last week" replied
Mr.. Tillman. but that Is not all He COM
plains that there is no power to administer
oaths."
Powers Of the Commission
Mr.. Tillman then read the. resolution and
also from the act to regulate commerce and
amendments thereto, to prove his sonten-
ton that the commission has the means and
authority TO carry on the Investigation pro-
posed. The commission has much au-
thority to carry out the instructions of this
resolution" he said. las could give 1t
If we passed a resolution every day for the
next twelve months" Then he added:
There can be no good reason for the
President to scold us in q manner that
almost insulting by charging US with IN
sincerity, pretense and ignorance. The only
reason I can is that he must have been
miserably advised L am not a lawyer
only farmer-but l have better common
sense than that. ..-.-.. . H. -
MIR. Tillman went extensively into the
subject of approprtating money for the pur-
poses OF the resolution, declaring that II
could be taken care of in the sundry civil
bill. He closed with protest against the
President lightly and fiippantly" insulting
the Senate. He said he could pardon many
things on account OF the great burdens on
the President and because of his impetu-
osity.
Mr.. Lodge Replies.
In reply to Mr.. Tiliman Mr.. Lodge said:
II have noticed that those most ready in
criticism are most sensitive when criticised
themselves He then took up the resolu-
ton and said he did not see how the Pres
idcnt could treat it other than he did. He
said he thought the resolution was Of
class passed because of having caught the
fancy Of q moment. He said that from
statements made, quoting from Mr.. Till
man. Il seemed nat Congress had put it
self in the foolish position of re-enacting
legislation. that is. If there was sufficient
law already to larry the proposed ex-
animation.
He took the position. however that the
resolution demanded of the Interstate CON-
merce commission, body of five men,
task that would tax the capacity of the
census bureau. Mr. Lodge thought there
was no occasion TO resent criticism OF Con
gress. because no one could question the
what IS a veto except the severest kind of
criticism he asked and continuing. said
that the President had acted with Congress
in signing the resolution.
The position was advanced by Mr.. For
aker that after the passage of the resolu-
ton the interstate commerce commission,
through the President, could ask for the
necessary funds to conduct the investiga-
ton II it had not the funds within its con-
troll He resented the statement by Mr..
Lodge that the resolution was In a class
of legislation adopted because of popular
fancy and without any sincere purpose.
He said that the Senate committee report
ing the resolution had treated the measure
seriously for the reason that he thought
there was demand that railroads cease
their ownership OF coal and oil lands.
Mr. Lodge said that he agreed with Mr..
Foraker on that proposition.
Spooner Supports the President.
Mr.. Spooner said an examination of the
resolution proved that 1t had been hurriedly
dealt with. He said there should not be
discourtesies shown by the President and
the Senate to each other. but he believed
that the Senate had been the more ready
offender The Wisconsin senator supported
the Presidents message criticisiug the In
directness OF the resolution.
Mr. Spooner thought the resolution de-
fectiye in that II did not give the commits
sion authority to send for witnesses and
administer oaths In connection with the new
investigation II has been requested to make
and which Is one In addition to the duties
imposed by the interstate commerce act.
Would 1t not be a redundancy and idiocy
TO give authority TO send for persons and
papers when II already has that authority?''
asked Mr.. Tillman.
IF the senator had studied law, he he
should have done he would not ask that
question" retorted Mr. Spooner.
Mr. Tiliman said that there were Wit
nesses IA thousand or more of them in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, who were
begging and clamorIng for a chance to tell
the way they are being robbed by the
railroads"
obviously that has nothing to do with
the case" said Mr.. Spooner After pas
sages between the two senator's who oc-
cupy seats directly opposite on the center
aisle Mr.. Spooner said laughingly: The
senator from South Carolina need not try
to intimidate me-"
'Oh. you are only trying TO get off an
old joke. said Mr.. Tfllman
There was confusion in the galleries and
with difficulty the Vice President suppressed
IL. calling attention to the rule prohibiting
applause.
1.-THE galleries did not applaud, Mr.. Pres
ident, they only laughed" said Mr. Spooner
Mr. Bacon took the position that the
resolution was In the nature OF an amend
ment increasing the powers of the inter-
state commerce commission and that IL was
49,