Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-04
QUIZZING Mr.. LON G
QUESTIONED ABOUT THE WHITE
HOUSE CONFERENCE.
Origin Of the Proposed Court Review
Amendment to the Railway Rate
Bill Discussed at Length.

posed court review amendment of the rail-
way rate bill and after The Stars report of
the proceedings OF the Senate was closed
yesterday afternoon there was quite spir-
tied discussion of his amendment and its
origin. He read tie newspaper account of
the recent White House conference. which
mentioned the names of those present in
GLIDING that of Mr.. Allison.
Senator Bailey asked Mr.. Long to state
whether his amendment had been agreed
on a the conference.
This amendment" responded Mr.. Long.
was prepared by several gentlemen not at
the White House"
Mr.. Bailey then asked whether ''the
amendment was considered by the confer
ence and MIR. Long responded that 1.-The
conference did consider the amendment
The President Criticised
Mr.. Bailey remarked that this admission
had had the effect of clarifying the situa-
ton, He then INDUCED in a brief criticism
of the President for his participation in the
conference, saying that the constitution
provides way for the chief executive to
communicate with the Senate and that it
did not contemplate that he should merely
invite in few friends, all of his own party
to consider contemplated legislation
Mr.. Allson interrupted, saying: 81 was
not invited to conference | was invited
to the White House"
WAS the senator invited there to take
d!nner?' asked Mr.. Bailey
whether l was invited there to take
dlHner or take tea or to discuss legislation
is question of so much Importance that I
decline to discuss the subject" said the
Iowa leader, with a merry twinkle in his
humor. e0'N
Mr.. Bailey was, however not diverted
from his point, and he proceeded to express
ms ms opinion that, in view of the fact that
the rate phi was considered a non-partisan
measure, 1t was not consistent for the Pres
ident to confine his conferences to mem
berS of his own party
Mr.: Foraker came to the front with an
inquiry addressed to Mr. Allison
The senator from Iowa has told Ms what
was not considered at the conference he
SAID What We want to know is What
did happen? Will not the senator enljehten
us on that point?'
4 may say in brief" replied Mr. ALI
son, that decline to say what transpired
at private meeting at the Presidents
Mr.. Foraker insisted and Mr. Allison
went on: IF the senator from Ohio sbouId
go to the White House and I should chance
TO meet him and ask him, What did YOU
say to the President and what did the
president say to you?' would you consider
IL proper course on my part; wouldn't
you consider it a matter that / should
have no right to inquire about
Yes, responded Mr.. Foraker "but It
would be different if 1 should come In
while you were discussing the matter and
should ask you about ft.''
That replied Mr.. Allison, with slight
show of petulance unusual with him, 'fis
a matter of ethics for the senator from
Ohio to decide for himself"
Origin of the Amendment.
Mr.. Foraker agreed with him, and both
senators took their seats only to afford
an opportunity to Mr.. Bacon to quiz Mr.
Long concerning the White House meet
ing. He wanted to know whether, if the
President has the right to suggest an
amendment at this stage of the proceed
ing, IL would be necessary to refer back to
the White House any possible modifica-
tions of the provision to ascertain whether
it is accepted.
Mr. Long responded that he had no
doubt that this amendment would take
the same course that any other amend
ment should take-that it would proceed
in the usual parliamentary manner. The
amendment is nothing more nor less than
a suggestion" he said in an effort to dis
pose of it with a sentence. That oppor-
tunity was not afforded however, for Mr..
Bacon demanded to know the source of
"A suggestion from whom from the
PRESIDENT he asked.
From myself" answered Mr.. Long:
"Ah." replied Mr. Bacon, with evident
disappointment
Recurring to the merits of the contro-
versy Mr.. Bacon referred to the newspaper
account of the conference and SAID the TACT
that Mr. Long had introduced in the Senate
the amendment, as the papers had said he
would had completely coTroborated the ac-
counts This" he said, shows that the
amendment originated in the "hite House
conference and not with the senator from
Kansas; with those who have no right TO
propose amendments.
.',rhe senator" replied Mr. Long, has
been long enough in public life not to be-
Neve all that he sees in the public prints.
say again that, while | cannot say what
took place at the White House, the amend
ment was not prepared at the White House
conference
He would not admit as was suggested at
this iuncture by Mr.. Aldrich. that 'it had
been found necessary 10 get the sanction of
the White House.
statement concerning the White House con-
ference saying that the Iowa senator had
replied "curtly' 10 Mr.. Forakers inquiries
concerning the conference. and that lac felt
as guilty as MIR. Foraker could be in trying
to wiring the facts from the Iowa senator
MI. Allison's Disavowal.
Mr.. Allison disavowed any intention to be
discourteous. and Mr.. Bailey proceeded to
say that he was reasonably sure that the
newspaper accounts of the conference had
been given out at the White House, and he
repeated his complaint that only repubIl-
cans had been invited TO participate
The senator from Kansas knows. he
said. that without the aid OF the demo-
cratic members of the committee on inter-
state commerce the bill could never have
been reported out of the committee and
that without the aid of democratic senators
it would be impossible to pass the pending
| bill. Therefore. he added, II want TO pub
| liciy complain of the course taken
Mr. Long reiterated his assurance of his
own sole responsibility for the amendments,
and was proceeding TO enlarge upon the as
surance when Mr.. Tillman came TO his res
cue by suggesting that the Kansas senator
should courteously suggest to other sena-
tors, as Mr.. Spooner had done with him re-
Gently in another matter. that what trans