Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-15

sdlleueu Win Any amenumeDts WHICH
preserved the essential feature Of the
Hepburn bill as it came from the House
You will doubtless recall that in the
course of the several visits that you per-
sonslly made me We discussed a number
Of these proposed amendments, trying to
find out for which one there could be OBJ
tanned sufficient:body of assent to Sc
cure its passage and the passage of the
rate bill.
$50 almost every amendment pro-
posed by anyone found that there we're
other excellent men who objected or
who at least wished TO change it, and !
finally became convinced that it was inn
possible for Senators with advantage to
use me as the Intermediary in coming to
an agreement with their colleagues,
especially when they only communicated
with me through another intermediary,
and earnestly suggested to all to whom
| spoke that they should communicate
with you. whose purpose and mine were
identical. About this time Twas informed
by various democratic Senators that they
could not come to an agreement upon
any amendment aud that the best chance
for success lay in passing the Hepburn
bill substantially unchanged. | was iu-
formed, and believed, that this was Sens-
tor Bailey's view, and number of the
republican Senators who favored the
bill express the same opinion. Shortly
after this you, in company with Senator
Cullom, called Ipon me with the amend
ment which is now commonly known as
the Allison amendment. | told you
that while should prefer the Long and
Oyerman amendments, yet that your
amendment was entirely satisfactory.
Your amendment does not 10 the slight
est degree weaken or inju"e the Hep
burn bill 1t merely expresses what the
friends of the bill have always asserted
was implied by the terms of the bill.
al may add that my own opinion,
that your amendment in no way chang
ed, whether by diminishing or enlsrgin
the scope of the court review AS provid-
ed in the original Hepburn bill, is also
the opinion OF The Attorney General, OF
Mr.. Root aud Of Mr.. Taft Their judg
ment is that the amendment merely
avoids the criticism that the Hepburn
bill would be conslilulionaliy invalid 10
not expressly providing the court re-
view which its supporters have always
conlended WAS plainly implied III the
original language.
"The original Hepburn bill stated
that the venue tor certain scliOus WAS ia
certain courts; the amendment states
that these courts shall have jurisdiction
TO consider such actions. To my mind
il seems difficult to assert that this
works any change whatever ia the prin-
ciple OF the bill Yours sincerely,
Theodore ROOSEVELT.
"Hon. William b. Allison, United
States Senate. "
The Attorney Generals letter gives an
account at the Presidents request OF the
conference with Mr. Moody had by the
Presidents direction with Senators Till
man and Bailey regarding the court
review feature. He says he advised the
President that be should not at any
stage become finally committed beyond
recall to any form of language in any
part OF the bill, and the President at
firmed the wisdom of that course. He
reviews the decision of interlocutory in
functions aud concluded that there WAS
nothing in the conversation" between
the Senators aud himself which bound
the President to any particular amsnd-
ment.
When Senator TiIlman was seen last
night he had already read the letters
OF the President and Attorney General
Moody. 81 did not send Mr.. Chandler
to the President, said Senator Tillman.
''If the President intends by his rather
involved statement to insinuate that /
did, he is beside the facts. | think
the record of nv relations with the present
occupant of the White House would alb
solve me of the suspicion of seeking negO-
tiations with him over this or any
other matter. The letter of the Secre-
tary to Senator Chandler sufficiently
answers the insinuation-if it eau
he called thqt-that Mr. Chandler was
sent to him by me. have Mr.. Chand
ler's statement of how the negotiations
were begun, aud have full confidence
in every statement Mr.. Chandler makes
to me. The fact is | was very chary
about entering upon any such uegotia-
tons | smelled at the meat long time
before took hold of ii.
Discussing the merits OF the Presi- |
dents statement in the letter to Senator
Allison, Senator Tillman said "Of
course, IL does not at all meet the issues
that have been raised. The question of
yeracity is mere side issue, but the
charge of bal faith toward those with |
whom he was negotiating Is something |
which think the peopl, of this country
will feel should be met AS for Mr..
Moody's statement that he did not as
sumo to bind the President, that may be
said to be a question of opinion. After
the change had been made in the origi-
nal draft of the amendment that had
been prepared rs setting forth the basis
of agreement il was clearly understood
on the part of Senator Bailey and myself
that we were all to go ahead
Mr.. Chandler, when seen yesterday
evening, said he Islands psl' on the
written statement he has given TO Mr.
Tillman concerning his share In the me-
gotiations. He added In connection
with that portion ofthe Presidents letter
which declared by inference that Mr.