Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-04
LONG PEPPERED
WITH HOT SHOT
RATE BILL SPEECH OCCASIONS
SHARP QUERIES
Senators Attempt to Bring Out Facts
Concerning White House Confer
ence-RepubIicans Decline
to Talk
By Associated Press.

by Associated Press
WASHINGTON, April 3.-Mr. Long
of Kansas spoke at length in the senate
today in support of the house railroad
rate bill and his speech was taken ad-
vantage of by number of senators to
make inquiry concerning the recent
conference at the White House, in
which the Long amendment was con-
sidered, if not originated.
The controversy was participated in
by Messrs. Foraker, Allison, Aldrich,
Bailey and Bacon.
Mr.. Long assumed complete RESPONSE
bility for the amendment, but both he
and Mr.. Allison declined to divulge the
proceedings of the conference.
There had been controversy over
the words Just compensation, which
have been frequently heard i'll debate.
Mr.. Bailey was anxious to have an
swered some questions concerning the
White House conference of last Satur-
day These We're:
Was the amendment submitted yes
terday by Mr.. Long agreed to at that
conference, and when did the confer
ence occur?"
He read the newspaper account of the
meeting, which mentioned the names of
those present, including that of Mr.. AL
lison. The Iowa senator arose during
the reading, and turning from Mr..
Long, the Texas senator addressed his
inquiry to Senator Allison.
II went to the White House on invi-
tation," said MIR. Allison. ITO the best
of my knowledge" he went on. this
important question of just cOmpensa-
tion was not considered at that time"
Mr. Bailey then turned to Mr.. Long
and asked him to state whether his
amendment had been agreed on at the
conference.
"This amendment" responded Mr.
Long, was prepared by several gentle
men not at the White House,"
Mr. Bailey remarked that this ad-
mission had had the effect of clarifying
the situation. He then indulged in
brief criticism of the president for his
participation in the conference, say
ing that the constitution provided for
a way the chief executive might COM
municate with the senate, and that it
did not contemplate that he should
merely invite a few friends, all of his
own party, TO consider the contemplated
legislation.
Mr.. Allison interrupted. saying
II was not invited to a conference.
I was invited to the White House."
"Was the senator invited there to
take ulllQef. asked MI. Bailey.
whether [ was invited there to take
dinner or discuss legislation is a ques-
ton of so much Importance that 1 de-
cline to discuss the subject" said Mr..
Allison, sInilingly.
Mr.. Foraker came to the front with
an inquiry addressed to Mr.. Allison.
THE senator from Iowa has told us
what was not considered at the confer
ence," he said What we want to
4 1nt
the senate enlighten us on that point?"
Il may say in brief" replied Mr.. Alli-
son, that L decline to say what trans
pired at a private meeting at the presi-
dents home"
Mr.. Bacon then quizzed Mr.. Long
concerning what happened at the White
House meeting.
Merely Suggestion
'"The amendment is nothing more nor
less than suggestion" said Mr.. Long
in an effort to dispose of it with SEN
tence. The opportunity was not af-
forded, however, for Mr.. Bacon de-
manded to know the source of the
amendment.
"A suggestion from whom-from the
PRESIDENT" he asked.
From myself" answered Mr.. Long.
"Ahi" replied Mr.. Bacon, with evil
dent disappointment
Recurring to the merits of the con-
troversy. MI Bacon referred to the
newspaper report of the conference and
said the fact that Mr.. Long had intro
duced in the senate the amendment
as the papers had said he would had
completely corroborated the account.
'"This," he said, "shoWs that the
amendment originated in the White
House conference and not from the SEN
ator from Kansas. with those who have
no right to propose amendments"
1.-The senator" replied Mr.. Long, has
been long enough in public life not TO
believe all which he sees in public
print. / may also state that while.
cannot say what took place at the
White House, the amendment was not
prepared at he White House confer
once"
He would not admit as was sug-
sested at this juncture by Mr. Aid
rich, chat it had been found neces-
sary to get the sanction of the White
House"
Mr.. Bailey said he was reasonably
sure that the newspaper accounts or
the conference had been given out at
the White House, and he repeated his
complaint that only Republicans had
been invited to participate.
"The senator from Kansas knows,
he said, that without the aid of the
Democratic members of the committee
on interstate commerce the bill could
never have removed out of the COM
lnittee and that without the aid of the
Democratic senators it would be inn
possible to pass the bill. Therefore
/ want to publicly complain of the
course taken"
Mr.. Long reiterated his assurance
of his own sole responsibility for the
amendment and was proceeding to en-
large upon the assurance when Mr.
Tiliman came to his rescue by suggest
ing that the Kansan should courteous
" suggest to other senators as Sen
ator Spooner had done with him re-
Gently in another matter that what
transpired at the White House was
"none of their business"
Mr. Long said that when the rate
bill was out of the way he would move
TO discharge the committee on the Phil
ippines from further consideration of
the bill.
Relief for Sufferers