Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-12
THE SENATE
IS SURPRISED
TiIIman Tells of Negotiations
With Administration.
DISCUSSING THE RATE BILL
Bipartisan Combination Had Been
Formed.
WIN. E. CHANDLER THE ENVOY
President Accused Of Changing His
Attitude Without Notifying
Associates.
DISCUSSING THE RATE BILL
WIN. E. CHANDLER THE ENVOY

During the consideration Of the railroad
rate bill in the Senate today Senator Till
man made an attack upon the President.
He referred to the Long amendment, saying
that he did so with the purpose Of making
an explanation. He said that senators prob
ably would be surprised to know that he
had been in conference with the President.
He then, contrary to his usual practice,
read statement of his negotiations regard
ing the bill as follows:
ION Saturday, March 81, was informed
by ex-senator William e. Chandler that
President Roosevelt had sent to him a note
asking him to call at the White House that
evening; that he had obeyed the call and
had been told by the President that he de-
sired. through him, to get into communca-
tion with me. as the senator in charge of the
railroad rate bill, and with Senator Bailey,
representing the democrats of the Senate,
for the purpose of ascertaining whether
there could be such united action among
the friends in the Senate of the Hepburn
bill as would make a sure majority In its
favor and against injurious amendments.
Mr.. Chandler said the President named va
rtous republican senators who, he thought,
were true friends of the bill, but said that
it might require all the democrats to defeat
obnoxious amendments.
The Presidents Break.
Mr.. Chandler said the President had
stated that he had come to a complete dis
agreement with the senatorial lawyerS who
were trying to injure or defeat the bill by
Ingenious constitutional amendments, NAM
ing Senator Knox, in addition to Senators
Spooner and Foraker; that the President
stated carefully and deliberately the bass
upon which he thought there should be CO.
operation. viz: An agreement expressly
granting court review, but limiting It to
two points: % an inquiry whether the
commission had acted beyond Its authority
Ultra wires, and (2) whether it had violated
the constitutional rights of the carrier. Mr.
Chandler stated that the President repeated
that he had reached final decision that
the right of review should be thus lin
tied; that thus far he would go and no
farther: that his decision would be unal-
terable"
Proceeding, he said that Mr. Chandler
had declared that the President had as
sured him that he would be in favor of a
restriction against the issuance of ex parte
inJunctions to meet the wishes of Senators
Tlllman and Bailey
After informing Mr. Bailey OF the pur-
port Of the Chandler interview Mr.. TILL
man said that on the next day he had toId
Mr.. Chandler that In his and Mr.. Bailey's s
opinion there would be no difficulty In com
ing to an understanding on the basis pro-
posed by the President.
ON the evening of Monday Mr.. Chandler
told me he had SO assured the President
and asked him not to be disturbed by the
newspaper items growing out of the talk
about Senator Longs amendment, pub
lished in the newspapers as one agreed
upon at the White House conference on
Saturday
He then said that he and Mr.. Chandler
had continued their conferences, and on
April the ex-senator had gone to the
20 r,,az ztra Co., ~
the President. On April Mr.. Chandler
told him that he had conferred with Sena-
tor Allison. asking him to intervene in the
conference then In progress. and that the
Iowa senator had agreed to do SO.
In Accord With Mr.. Moody.
Later Mr.. Allison had seen the President.
On April 13 Mr.. Chandler had advised that
he (Mr. Ttliman) and Mr.. Bailey see the
Attorney General. Consequently they had
met that official on the 18TH finding them
selves In perfect accord with him. except as
to small difference In the matter of In
Junction. There was absolute accord from
the first on the proposition that the court
review should be limited to the inquiry
whether the commission had exceeded its
authority or violated the carriers constitu-
tional rights" Mr.. Moody had then agreed
to supply the senators with memorandum
Of his views and had done so, "and we have
the original OF it," said Mr.. Tillman
The next day, Mr.. T1llman said, he had
seen Mr.. Moody and had assured him that
twenty-six democratic votes would be Sc
cured for the compromise proposed, and
had told him that 1t would be necessary to
get twenty republican votes ''It was un-
derstood that we should work together to
get the votes necessary to pass the COM
promise"
The Attorney General had expressed
doubt OF getting enough republican votes to
suspension proviso. but had said that he felt
sure OF the Overman amendment Mr.
Moody had, he said, assured him that IT
was the fixed purpose to insist upon the
had no suspicion OF change of front until
May 4. when the President had his inter-
view with the assembled newspaper men
Much Merriment Caused.
The reading OF the statement evoked
many smiles and some laughter from sem
ators. There was especial merriment over
a statement of assurance by the South
Carolina senator that the President need
not be alarmed over newspaper reports
He had. he said. told the Attorney General
that there was no danger of the result
as to the bill II the President should ad-
here to his plans.
He then had the clerk read the Moody
memorandum covering the points agreed
upon as the basis of amendments.
Mr.. Tillman's time expired before he hal
completed his statement, but he was per-
mitted to proceed by unanimous consent.
He said that he and ex-senator Chandler
had been informed at the same time of
the Presidents change of attitude They
had gone together to Mr.. Bailey, and ali
three had repaired to the residence Of
Mr.. Moody. the fourth conspirator," and
had found him apparently entirely inno-
cent Of knowledge OF the change
He admitted that he had hesitated about
entering upon the negotiation with the
President because Of his '.just indignation
for past wrong, but he had concluded
TO pocket his pride In the interests OF q
great cause. He also said that Senator
Allison had promised him twenty-five votes
on the republican side: hence he had felt
justified In his assurances to the Presi-