Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-02


it commanded them to surrende
under the threat of proclaiming to tn
American people that this great tributarl
of commerce should be closed and tina
not ton of traffic should be freightet
over its road. Should this be done? BE
for one, said never. Congress had poWe
beyond that which belonged to the inter
state commerce commission to brin!
this great monopoly to bay. The Read
ing Company had incorporated lego
! fiction known as the Philadelphia anC
Reading Coal and Iron Company differed
| by the same officers, controlled by thu
same agents as the Reading Railroad
| Company. Under this legal fiction the
railroad company was now violating g
constitutional provision Of the state thai
chartered and created it.
Mr.. GrosVenor of Ohio, inquired why
II the railroad company was chartered
under the laws OF Pennsylvania and had
deViated from the business authorized BY
its charter, proceedings in the nature Of
quo Wsrranto could not be instituted
against it in the stste c5urts.
Mr.. Rayner (sarc8sticslIy)-T courts
OF Pennsylvania are in the habit of grant,
ing Writs of quo Warranto.
Mr.. O'Neill of Pennsylvania, declared
yehemently that the first complaint OF
quo warrsuto ever heard in the United
States had been heard in the courts Of
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. RAyner continually quoted from
the argument made by Mr.. GoWan, coun-
sci for the Read ng Railroad Company,
before the Supreme court in the case of
the State of Pennsylvania against the
Reading Railroad Company in which
he took the ground that the
state had no right to tax
its freight, and that Congress alone could
regulate its commerce. Now" said Mr.
Riynor, "when Congress WAS seeking to
investigate its traffic the company said
thSt Congress had not that power be-
cause 1t was q state corporation"
Mr.. O'Naill-Does the gentleman know
that sny of these corporations are seek,
ing to prevent the investigation?
Mr.. Rlynor-"Yes, sir; we have evil
dence here Of 80, 200 starving men turned
out in the dead of winter with their de-
pendent families" Applause.
Mr.. O'Neill-"I did not ask as to that.
I asked whether you knew that the Read.
ing Railroad Company and the Philsdel-
phis Coal and Iron Company are seeking
TO prevent this investigation. l say fol-
one, they are not"
Mr.. Rsyner-"Then why not allow the
Investigation? Why not adopt the reso,
lutioD2"
Mr.. O'Neill-"We will adopt It," Tap.
plause.
Mr. Rsyner-"Ii you will adopt it l an
done" Loud and continued calls Of
"vote, voter
Mr.. Rsyner-"I wish to add but word.
This reference to the Interstate COM
merce commission amounts to nothing.
You might as veil refer it to the Chinese
embassy or to the public printer,
you will get it back Just as
Soon" Loud laughter and applause.
What is Inc use Of knocking st the door
of the Interstate Commerce Commission?
1t never takes up q case on a mere no.
tioE. You do not direct it to do eny-
thing. You merely request it. By the
time 1t investigates the question the men
will ell have starved to death. Lst US
track the subject to the fountain-hehd, and
let US discover, as l believe we will
That this is sIconspirAcyl)t cs 2ita:snd not
oflsboT, and lei u ! apply the most heroic
remedies legislation can devisl to break
up these internal systems which under
the name of truses are shsdowiDg pros
porous homes and business centers Of the
country. know it is hard fight.
know that monopoly INSCRIPTIONS as
to the methods it employs is an enemy,
terrible to encounter, put in my humble
experience have never yet seen the day
in the halls of legislation when honor
which has not price or manhood which
knows no fear, could not drive 1t like q
skulking coward from the field of battle.
Applause.
Mr.. Davis of Massachusetts commented
on the fact that the petition OF these 50, 900
miners was presented on the same day
that the report of the committee on com
merce WAS presented. While he did not
charge that it had been suggested by any
member, it was g reasonable inference
that it had been produced rather by par
lismentary than by business methods.
He advocated the report of the ms 3rity,
believing that Congress was too much OF
political body TO properly investigate a
purely business matter and because
he did not believe that an in
vestigation by Congressional committee
would be productive of any good results.
what he termed the failure of the Mis-
souri, Psc!fi; investigating committee to
produce any good results or reach any
conclusion.
Mr.. Barnes of Missouri reminded the
gentleman that twenty four hours sfte1
the arrival OF that committee in st.
Louis peace had been restored and COM
merce had been resumed, applause and
he further reminded the gentleman that
the committee had recommended that
every railroad employe should be placed
under control OF the government just as
the sempIoyes of steamboats, carrying
inter state commerce were placed.
Mr.. Davis denied any recollection Of
such recommendation having been made
by the committee and thought it could
not be found anywhere in the report.
Mr. Ciardy Of Missouri said that IL II
appeared to be the desire Of the House to
investigate the question he would with
draw any opposition to the original An
derson resolution provided it was amend
ed so as to create special committee.
Some discussion then ensued as to the
proper form of the resolution, in the
course of which Mr.. Randall of Pennsyl-
vania said that the controversy between
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