The Washington times., 1906-03-12
TILLNAN REPLIES
To PRESIDENTS
RECENT MESSAGE
Irregularities in Coal and
Oil Resolution
Denied.
POWER OF COMMISSION
Goes Far Enough in Admin
iStration of OathS and
Subpoena.

- - q tiCiA ~ N<sAtAAC AiANA
Subpoena.
in the Senate today Senator T.uman
took occasion TO answer In one Of hi=
characteristic speeches the contentious
or President Roosevelt on the Tilman-
Gillespie resolution into the alleged ir-
reguiartties IN the shipments OF coal and
oil - contained I'm the Presidents mes
sage submitted TO the Senate q few DAYS
ago
Presidents Contention.
The President contended that the rego-
uiion was weak in fits construction iu
that # did not provide for the deIega-
uon OF power 10 administer oath and
compe! witnesses to appear before th.
interstate Commerce Commission and
also 10 provide the necessary money TO
oei5ay The expenses incident TO the
proper prosecution of the Inquiry
senator Tillman took executions f.
,'isse con mentions in emphatic terms
ne ei-imed that the language IN which
ne resolution was framed was OF surf-
~ie"t character as 70 successfully per
NIT the prosecution of the investigations
necessity Of thus CTiucisinR such an ex-
traordinary message and that as fate
hss made him an ally OF the PresidAzr
III securing a TsuSouab bic rate res71latfor,
law lie did not desire 20 break the an
Qarently amicable relations existing he
t"Geh himself and the White House
IN part, MT- Tfilmau said.
From the language Of the message
1le Efesiueut charges that the Sen
ate has attempted to 30 something iri
was ignorant Of what il really wished
10 accomplish.
Resolution Explained.
The resolution which had The
honor 10 introduce in the Senate. and
which is now d law. deals solely v.itH
the interstate commerce law. and i'm
that particular IS an amendment To
the act upon which the Interstate
Commission was established. The law
under which the Interstate Commerce
Commission works provides specifically
for the administering of oaths aud
compelling witnesses to appear before
the commission to testify It goes
further, anc says that no person suo-
poened shall be excused from giving
direct and specific answers TO cues
tiOns prOpOunded I uCOnducting an in
vestigatton Into any alleged ir1egu-
larit.es or violations Of the interstate
10 testify the law provides shall be
guilty OF a misdt meauor punishable
by fine or Imprisonment.
7 may be mistaken but il seems 10
me that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has absolute power TO conduct
the Investigations relating 70 cases
where charges Of rebates, private privi-
ieges, and such other things have been
given.
Present Investigation.
The investigation now being conduct
ed according 10 the Presidents message
by the Department Of Commerce and
Labor into the oil and coal business IN
compliance with the request Of a Tesoiu-
tion Of the House does not include coal
according TO the terms Of the resolu-
tiOn, and all I can say Is that the Presi-
dent is very much mistaken OF has been
Il-advised Il he contends that the in
vestigatiou conducted by the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor covers the
ground or any part Of the ground that
Ills resolution Is supposed 10 cover.
On the money question. Mr.. Tiiiman
sald mat the interstate commerce Com
mission would have been amply prONid-
ed for in carrying out this work when
;Le regular appropriation bill came up
for consideration.
Returning 10 the investigation that NIr.
Garfield IS conducting, the South Caro-
Hnlan said that Il the Commissioner of
Corporations was iuve estigating the CO
shipment irregularities, he was meddnng
in something In which ne had no busi-
ness TO interfere.
Lodge Answers Tillman.
Senator Lodge answered Mr. TiUInan.s
remarks and said that he could not un-
derstand how any President could have
treated the resolution in any other way
than by pointing out its defects and
calIins the attention Of Congress 10
them. 4 wordy argument arose be
tween Mr. Tillmau and Senator Lodge
as TO the construction put on several
phrases of the President s messa sc. Sen
ator Tillman claiming. as he did liz MS
speech, that il was not necessary 10
amend the resolution providing for the
administering Of Osths and in other
respects. Senator Lodge argued that the
Presidents contentious were correct.
After Senator Lodge had concluded.
Senator Foraker replied to Mr.. Lodge
and took the same view Of the Presi-
dents message as had been advocated
!