Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-05-17
REPLY BY ROOSEVELT
PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT
REGARDING COURSE ON RAIL.
ROAD LEGISLATION,

Denies Charges Made by Mr.. TiIlman
in Recent Speech in Senate and EN-,
phaticaIly Denies That He Ever At.
tempted to Dictate What Amend.
ments Should or Should Not Be In.
corporated in the Bill.
Washington. May l5.-Thc nsa
tional rate bill incident in the senate
Saturday, during which Mr.. rillman.
on the authority of Former Senator
Chandler, made statements regarding
the presidents course in connection
With pending railroad rate legislation,
some OF which statements were denied
by Nh. Lodge on behalf of the presi-
dent, had its sequel Monday evening
when an official statement was issued
from the White House giving an ac-
count OF the subject on the part of the
president and Attorney General Moody.
The statement comprised two letters,
Il from the president to Senator Al
llson and the other from Attorney
General Moody TO the president, both
dated May II. The president says in
no case, either in the ease OF Mr..
Chandler or any Il else, was there
the slightest opportunity for amy hon
est misconception of my attitude or
any belief that | pledged myself speci-
tically TO one and only one amend
ment or set of amendments or that |
would be satisfied with any amend
ment which proved the essential fea,
ture of the Hepburn bill as it came
from the house"
The president says that as to many
called Long, Overman, Bacon and
Spooner amendments, he had said he
should be entirely satisfied to have
them in the bill, and suggested modi-
tications as to other amendments but
that las to none (of the amendmentS)
did | eve say either to Mr.. Chandler
or to anyone else that | should insist
upon having them in the bill as a con-
dition CT my approval" and that Or the
contrary he 1.-THE president was care
full to state that he was not trying. to
dictate any particular programme of
action.
Chandler Represented TiIIman.
The president says the statements.
made to Senate. Chandler were the
same in substance as those made to
Mr.. Allison and other senators of both
parties. He says he was asked to see
Chandler as the representative of Mr..
Tillman, in charge Of the bill, and that
the conferences Attorney General
Moody had with Senators Tillman and
Bailey were such as had been held
with many other senator's to determine
the ~phraseology and discuss the eff
feet of amendments proposed by them.
The president states hat he became
convinced that it was impossible for
senators with advantage" to use. him
as an intermediary and suggested to
all to whom he spoke that they sam-
municate with Senator Allison, whose
purposes and the presidents we're
Identical The president says that
his W opinion that the Allison
amendment in no way changed the
court review as provided in the oriyi-
nal Hepburn bill is also the opinion
of Attorney General Moody and Score.
taries Root and Taft.
The attorney generals letter gives
an account at the presidents request
of the conferences which Mr.. Moody,
at the presidents direction, had with
Senators Tillman and Galley regard
ing the court review feature. He saws
he advised the president thai he
should not at any stage become final
ly committed beyond recall to n
form Of language in any part OF the
bill and the president affirmed the wis
dom Of that course. He reviews the
discussion of introductory Injunction
n concludes hat there was nothing
IN the Conversations" hctwecn the
senators and himself which bound the
president to any particular amend
mcnt.