The San Francisco call., 1909-01-10

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-In the prep
aration Of HIS report in reply TO the
presidents charges, Senator Tillma n
has failed to ind a number OF papers
bearing upon the Oregon land case In
connection with which the present con-
tr0versy arose. These papers were in
closed in large envelope and left in
his private desk I'm his committee room
al the capitol when he left Washington
last March on account OF his illness.
but they can not be found.
The senator does not charge that the
papers have been abstracted by q gov
ernlnent detective who may have been
shadowing him. but does say that It
would be possible for such an official
to gain access TO his room and to his
desk, both of which were fastened with
only ordinary locks and the papers,
ne says, are very important In the
preparation of his case and would go
far TO subStantiate his defense. Not
withstanding the loss. Tiilman ex-
presses confidence IN his ability TO
make satisfactory reply TO the prssl-
dent He win be hoisSsd by hts own
petard," declared Tillman.
POsTMAsTER PRESENTS BILL
Senator Tillman is arording an Illus
tratlon OF the old adage that troubles
never come singly" In addition TO
the dificplty about the Oregon lands.
Postmaster Barnes OF Washington rs
trying TO collect from him & bill Of
Sl0 for carrying through the mails a
government typewriter which the SEN
ator had franked from his nome IN
South Carolina to Washington. Barnes
insists that the senator should pay
postage at letter rates The postTaas-
ters notification TO Tillman was con-
tanned in letter in which he said:
Inasmuch as matter Of this char
acter is not entitled to transmission
through the mails under the frank pro-
vision, it is being held for the postage.
The box weighs so pounds and as n
Is sealed, it IS chargeable with postaae
al the first class rate. which amounts
to Sl5. Kindly remit the amount due
and have the package removed at your
earliest convenience"
TILLMAN REFUSES TO PAY
AS the typewriter is government
property, Senator Tillnnan replied TO
barhes by saying IN effect that he
should collect from its owner. Follow
ing Is the fun text OF the letter:
L nave your letter notifying me that
the typewriter mailed at Trenfo,, q
- under my frank and addressed 10 me
Here Is held for postage. During my
5erN'ce IN the senate typewriters have
place as public documents. ana / was
not aware OF any law or ruling on the
suoJect. The typewriter belongs to the
senate and not to me, and has been
used IN my public correspondence. En-
der the circumstances l decline to nav
the 80 demanded. because it IS not
justly nine You may see the type
writer or deliver 1T to the sergeant at
arms OF senate, as you see fit Had I
known =
could have shipped 1t by express or
freight. but in this case it would be
one department of the government
sending the property OF another part of
the government for the collection OF
postage on matter that has always
been franked heretofore"
PREPARING HIS REPLY
Tillman devoted the entire day TO the
preparation of his reply to the nresi-
dents charge against him, which he
VIII make in the shape OF speech
in the senate Monday He has found
himself embarrassed TO no small degree
by the loss Of number of documents
bearing on the case, but tells his
friends that, regardless of the dtsap-
pearance of the papers, he will make a
showing that win satisfy them and that
he had no wrong intention in connec-
tion with the Oregon lands.
Tillman has talked freely with visi-
tors regarding the line of his defense.
but has requested the newspapermen to
refrain from quoting him because of his
desire not TO present his case piece
meal. His speech will be about 1000
words IN length and will be delivered
from manuscript. Tillman is a rapid
talker, and 1t is not believed that he
will consume more than an hour of
the senate's time.
Comparatively few senators called
on him today. but their failure in this
respect, say the senator's friends, has
been due rather to desire to afford
him an opportunity to get out his state
ment without interruption than to a
lack of interest in him.