Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-06
Nothing Unusual in Consulting with E1eou-
tive About Legislation.
VEERS OF OPPOSITION RESENTED
Speaker Says Some of His Critics Consulted
Railroad Presidents,
FORAKER AND BAILEY ARE AROUSED
Demand for Names of Senators Re-
ferred 20 Refused-Incident Ends
Pleasantly After Explauation
by Ohio Man.

WASHINGTON, April 5.--In the senate
today there was a re-echo of the White
House conference OF last Sunday relative
to railroad legislation and while the dis
cussion resulted in good nature. the< was
time when the feeling was quite fntense.
The incident occurred at the md OF a
speech by MIR. Stone
Mr.. Dolliver took the floor and in a brief
speech devoted TO a defeSse OF the right
of senator's to confer with the president
charged that other senators had been In
consultation with the presidents of rail-
road companies. The intimation contained
| I'm the charge was resented by both Mr..
Bailey and Mr.. Foraker and they de-
manded the names OF senator's referred TO.
These Mr. Dolliver declined to give, but he
justified his course in making the charge
by saying that he and other senators who
had participated in the conference had
been sneered at and ridiculed in the dis
cusson of last Tuesday. This avowal OF
his motive brought about an explanation
from Mr. Foraker and the incident ended
pleasantly. Mr.. EISins has given notice
of a speech on the rate bill Tor tomorrow
and Mr.. Bailey for speech on that sub
ject Tuesday. The Texas senator will
reply especially TO the criticisms made
by Messrs. Spooner and Knox OF his plan
for the limitation OF tho powers OF the SUI
perior courts in granting injunction in rate
| litigation.
Rate BIII Taken Up.
! The rate bill was then taken up and Mr..
| Newlands continued his argument in sup
port of his proposition for the national in
corporation of railroad companies. When
Mr.. Newlands concluded Mr. Stone took
the floor in support of the rate bill
| Mr.. Stone dealt especially with tho
amendment suggested by Mr.. Long. con-
| tending that It gives the railroads all they
| can possibly ask for but before taking up
that branch of the subject he discussed
the general question at some length. say
ing among other things that. as the bill
stands. It provides sufficiently for Judi
! cial review OF the order of the proposed
coWmission, Hesstated his substantial en-
dorsemont of MT EAtIesss s position In favor
of the restriction OF the power OF the in
| ferior courts in the matter of suspension
of orders of the commission.
Regarding the Long amendment" ne
said that while II was proposed by the
senator from Kansas, the president Of the
United States is it's author
sharp Reply from DoIiver.
When Mr. Stone ceased speaking Mr..
Dolliver took the floor to reply to the Mis-
souri, senator's criticisms of the house bill.
He said that the Long amendment neither
enlarged nor abridged the jurisdiction OF
the circuit court. yet he was willing to
make the concession Mr.. Dolliver also
commented on the criticisms OF the presi-
dent. He did not consider that in the pend
! ing legislation the president had shown
| partisan spirit. nor that he had departed
| from the customary methods of the execu-
tive. The question was difficult and COM
! -
disparaged by any sneering allusion to the
| president, because he considered it just as
consistent to consult with the president on
this subject as with the presidents of the
railroad companies as the opponents of the
bill were doing. He warned the opponents
of the measure that the friends OF the rate
| legislation had on their fighting clothes,
adding that failure at this time would
! create the largest issue that congress had
ever to deal WITH In sharp language he
opposed any stronger court review than
that proposed by the Long amendment. say
ing that the opponents of the bill would re-
duce the presidents Recommendation to a
practical and legal absurdity.
Response by MIR. bailey.
Mr. Bailey responded. Outlining his own
position In opposition TO the practice OF
| comforting with the president. he said that
the present situation presented peculiar
reason why the president should not inter-
fere with legislation. He expressed the
opinion that not a third OF the republican
senators agreed with the chief executive.
Mr. Bailey then turned his attention to
Mr.. Delivers assertion that some senator's
had been comforting with railroad oficials
on the subject of railroad legislation and de-
nlanded that Mr.. Dolliver name them, say
ing the country at large had right to the
information Mr.. Foraker endorsed the
statement by Mr. Bailey. declaring that the
Texas senator had anticipated what he
wanted TO say.
II shall take the liberty OF not pursuing
that counsel" said Mr. Doliyer, dellbsE-
ately rising from his seat.
The senate has a right to know Mr..
Foraker insisted.
Mr.. Dolliver then said that he had never
dreamed Of committing any improprlety in
his statement because he did not see any
reason why senators should not confer on
! this subject with men who are experts On
l the subject. indeed he considered it un-
fortunate that the railroads were devotlng
their time and resources in an effort to
influence public opinion against legislation
! instead of cooperation in framing proper
measure. He said that railroads had spent
$4,000 In their efforts 10 antagonize the
legislation. He did not believe that sen
ator's right to confer with the railroad men
should be questioned; no more did he be
ieve that senators who confer with the
president OF the United states should be
made the subject OF ridicule.
Mr. Foraker did not dissent from the
last proposition. but" he continued.
there is only one inference to be drawn
from the senator's assertion, and that Is
| tha senators who do not agree with his
assertions are here representing the rail-
roads"
skies Begin 60 Clear.
Mr. Dolliver again discaimed any in
tention 20 impute Improper motives TO Mr..
Foraker or any other senator, saying that
he would probably not have raised she
point II his visit 10 the White House with
otbsr senators had not been made thu sahs