The sun., 1908-05-24
THE PRESIDENT DENIES IT
NO CLASH, HE SAYS, BETWEEN
HTM AND BONAPARTE.

The story Mere Invention" Says Onacial
statement From the white House-No
differences Over the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad Suit.
WASHINGTON, May 2s.--As was TO be
expected, an official statement was issued
from the White House to-day denying
the report published in The SUN Of to-day
that there had been a serious difference OF
opinion between President Roosevelt and
Attorney General Bonaparte In regard to
The prosecution of the New Haven railroad.
The statement in the Washington despatch
to The SUN, that Mr. Bonaparte had offered
his resignation as the alternative Of fling
The petition against the railroad company. In
characterized as "a mere invention Mr..
Ronaparte has not been heard from.
The statement from tho White House
tails to take cognizance Of several things
IN the Washington despatch. notably the
veracious report that President Roosevelt
told Timothy e. Byrnes. vioe-president OF
the New Haven road, as recently as Thurs
day last that no suit against tho road had
been determined upon by him. This state
ment Of the President to Mr.. Byrnes was
made also on several occasions subsequent
10 May 10, not only ID representatives Of the
New Haven road but to other persons who
called at the White House to inquire about
the matter.
The whole impression made on the minds
Of those interested by what they learned
from official sources was that no action
would be taken against the New Haven
road, and even the most conservative vera
convinced that the case would be, dormant
until after the Chicago convention and
probably until after the Presidential cleo
iion.
1t is stated in the White House denial that
the petition against the road was deter
mined upon three months ago and that the
only question since that time has been
whether the action should be initiated In
Connecticut or Massachusetts,. In another
part Of the same denial IL IL said that the
question Of the place Of fling had arisen
yesterday. upon a reminder that the Massa-
chusetts court had recently decided an
important suit in regard to trolley holdings
by steam roads.
Although IL ;s said in to-day's White
House statement that the suit was deter
mined upon three months ago, President
Roosevelt has within the last month ex-
plioitly denied a report published in certain
newspapers that It had been determined
10 sue the New Haven road.
The White House statement denying tho
report Of differences between the President
and MIR. BonRparte is AZ follows:
The story 10 a mere invention. There
was no difference whatever between the
President and the Attorney General over
he New York and New Haven suit. Yester-
day morning attention was called from
Massachusetts, to the fact that the Massachu-
sets State courts had already acted against
The trolley lines 80 far as Massa achusetts
was concerned. and the suggestion was
accordingly made that the action should be
brought in one OF the other States, inasmuch
AS the purpose Of the suit had already been
achieved so far as Massa chusetts was con-
ccrned
The President put the suggestion before
he Attorney General and asked him to
bring II up at the Cabinet meeting. which
was then but half an hour off, As pre-
cautionsry measure the newspapers that
had the announcement Of the bringing Of
the ~ were asked to hold it up. The mat
ter was then discussed In the Cabinet and
IL was decided that the action of the State
court Of Massachusetts, would make no differ
ence in the course OF procedure by the Govern
ment. and the newspapers were at once
notified that the announcement of the bring
ing OF the suit would stand. There was
no division Of opinion in the Cabinet, and
not the slightest friction or even discussion
Of any kind between any of the Cabinet
officers and the President or among the
cabinet officers themselves. The suit in
question was determined on some three
months ago. The only question discussed
brought.