Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-01-09
.TILLMAN SAYS
IT Is UNFAIR
Senator to Make Reply to
the President in a
Speech Monday.
APPEAL FOR JUSTICE
Only Tried to Get Few Acres
in Oregon for Self
and Family.

Washington, Jan. 9.-Denouncing as
unfair" the charges made by Presi-
dent Roosevelt that he had been en-
gagged in deal for public lands in
| Oregon and had used his influence as
a senator to coerce railroad into CIV
ing grants, United States Senator Ben
Tillman of South Carolina said today
that he would make complete answer
to the charges in the senate on Mon
day and that he would appeal for Jus
| tice.
| He admitted that when he had
learned the facts concerning the rail-
road grant he made an effort to obtain
portions of land In the names of him
self and members of his family, but
declared that as at most he could have
| got possession of only few hundred
acres his efforts were after all In be-
half Of the public and not especially in
| his own interest.
| Immediately after the conclusion of
the chaplain's prayer Monday. Mr..
Tillman will ask the recognition of the
chair on question Of personal privi-
lege. Departing from his custom of
extemporaneous speaking. he will read
his statement, thus insuring more care
full adherence to what he desires to
say than he would be able to give to
an offhand speech.
| Among heeexhibits sent by the pres
ident with his message are copies of
letters written by Senator Tillman and
his agent, William e. Lee, alleging
that they did make an effort to secure
several quarter sections of the Oregon
land and the reports Of the postoface
inspectors who investigated the trans
actions Of the land agents.
Several of the exhibits are copies Of
the envelopes in which letters from
Senator Tillman and his agent, Lee,
were sent. 1t is shown that the let
ters written by Mr.. Tillman were
"franked" and that letter written by
Mr.. Lee was upon senate stationery
and inclosed in a senate envelope.
The controversy over the use of the
secret service was begun by congress
when, at its last session. 1t passed a
law to the effect that there should be
no detail from the secret service or
transfer therefrom. According to the
president, this amendment has been
Of benefit and could be Of benefit only
to the criminal classes" and has ham,
pered the government greatly In wag-
ing war ON hand thieves, lottery men
and other malefactors. "The chief ar
gument in favor of the provision was
that the congressman did not wish
themselves to be investigated by Sc
cret service men," said the president.
These statements in the annual mes
sage set congress ablaze The house
passed resolution asking the presi-
dent TO explain his message and de-
clared that 1t wanted evidence. In re-
lply the president sent his recent spe
cial message, In which he defended
aggressively his position and declared
that his utterances had been misin-
terpreted.
The house, by a vote Of 212 to 35,
rebuked the president by tabling so
much Of his messages as reflected on
members of congress In connection
the secret service detectives and also
declaring 1t to be the sense Of the
house that 1t shall decline to consider
any communications from any source
which were not In its own judgment
respectful
Another rebuke to the president was
administered by the senate, which, by
vote of AZ to IA. refused to table the
Culberson resolution instructing the
judiciary committee to report as soon
as practicable whether President
Roosevelt exceeded his authority when
he approved of the absorption by the
United States Steel corporation of the
Tennessee Coal and Iron company.
Among the senators who voted to
have inquiry made into what Mr.. Cul-
berson called 'lawless act'' we're Mr..
Lodge, the presidents personal friend,
and Mr.. Warren of Wyoming, an ad-
ministration supporter.
Secref Cervice AnpronriafiOus