The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-15


in conference with the president. He
then, contrary to his usual practice.
read a statement of his negotiations
regarding the bill as follows:
"On Saturday, March 81, I was in
I formed by ex-senator William E.
Chandler that President Roosevelt had
sent to him a note asking him to call
at The White House that evening; that
he had obeyed the call and had been
| told by the president that he desired
| through him to get into communication
| with me as the senator in charge Of the
, railroad rate bill and, with Senator
| Bailey representing the democrats Of
,, the senate for the purpose Of ascertain
| ing whether there could be such united
| action among the friends in the senate
of the Hepburn bill as would make a
sure majority in its favor and against
| injurious amendments. Mr.. ChaId-
! Ter said the president named various
republican senators who he thought
| were true friends of the bill, but said
| that it might require all the demo
Gratis 70 defeat obnoxious amendments
| Mr. Chandler said the president has
stated that he had come to a complete
| disagreement with the senatorial law
yers, who were trying to injure or de-
| feat the bill by ingenious constitution
al amendments, naming Senator Knox
! in addition to Senators SpOoner and
J Foraker; that the president stated
| carefully and deliberately the basis
upon which he thought there should be
| cooperation, viz, an amendment ex-
pressly granting a court review, but
limiting it to two points; % an in
! uuiry whether the commission had act
| ed beyond it's authority ultra wires and
| (2) whether it had violated the constl-
| tutiOnal rights of the carrier Mr..
Chandler stated that the president re-
peated that he had reached a final de-
cision that the right of review should
! be thus limited; that thus far he
would be unalterable.
| Proceeding he said that Mr.. Chandler
had said that the president had assur-
ed him that he would be in favor OF
restriction against the issuance OF ex-
! parte injunctiOnS to meet the wishes
of Senators Tillman and Bailey.
After informing Mr.. Bailey Of the
purpose of the Chandler interview,
Mr. Tillman said that on the next day
he had told Mr.. Chandler that in his
and Mr. Bailey's opinion there would be
no difficulty in coming to an under
standing on the basis proposed by the
| president "On the evening OF Monday
| Mr.. Chandler told me he had so assur-
ed the president and asked him not
to be disturbed by the newspaper items
| growing out of the talk about Senator
Longs amendment published in the
newspapers as one agreed upon at the
| White House conference on Saturday.
He then said that he and Mr.. Chand-
ler had continued their conferences ana
ON April 5th the ex-senator had gone
to the White House to make favor
able report to the president. On April
8th Mr.. Chandler told him that he had
conferred with Senator Allison, asking
him to intervene in the conferences
then in progress and that the iowa
senator had agreed to do so.
Later Mr. Allison had seen the pres
ident. On April 18th Mr.. Chandler had
advised that he (Mr. Tillman and Mr..
Bailey see the attorney general. Con
seuuently they had met that official on
the 18th, finding themselves in pertect
accord with him except as to smali
difference in the matter OF 1nJunctloh'
There was absolute accord from the
first on the proposition that the court
review should be limited to the inquiry
whether the commission had exceeded
it's authority or violated the carriers
constitutional rights.
NJ. Moody had then agreed to sup
ply the senators with MEMORANDUM
of his views and had done so, "and we
have the original of it," said Mr.. TIL
man.
The next day, Mr.. Tillman said. he
had seen Mr. Moody and had as
sured him nat twenty-six democratic
votes could be secured for the compro-
mise proposed and had told him tna'
it would be necessary to get twenty
| republican votes. ''It was understood
that we should work together to gel
the votes necessary to pass the com
promise. The attorney general had ex'
pressed doubt of getting enough repuD'
lican votes to assure the acceptance O1
the Bailey non-suspension proviso, Du1
had said that he felt sure of the Ove''
man amendment Mr.. Moody had, he
said, assured him that it was the fixec
purpose to insist upon the Long amend
ment and he (Mr. Tillman) had had nc
suspiciou of a change of front until
Nav 4th when the president had his
interview with the assembled neWspa
per men.
The reading of the statement evoked
many sallies and some laughter from
senators. There was especial merrI
ment over a statement of assurance:
by the South Carolina senator that tht
president need not be alarmed Owe
newspaper reports. He had, he sald
told the attorney general that there wa
the danger ofthe result as TO the bill
if the president should adhere to hi'
plan. He then had the clerk read the
Moody memorandum covering tn
points agreed upon as the basis O
| amendments.
Mr.. Tllman's time expired before nt
had completed his statement. He wa;
permitted to proceed by unanlmou:
consent. He said that he and ex-Sen
ator Chandler had been Informed
| the same time of the preSident,S chang: