The evening world., 1888-02-18

Specihi eounset 10 tonuuct tnc inQuiry-Thc
Examination VII Probably lie Bssun on
Monday-A Preliminary Session ut the
Fifth Avenue Hotei-Thc Three Demo-
cratic Membcrs, ut Least, May he Relied
The fruit of The EVENING WoRLD's cru
SADIE against the iniQuitous combinations and
trusts, those monopolies which would grind
the many TO enrich the few, Is beginning to
mature.
This morning. at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
the Senate Standing Committee on General
Laws met and organized, preparatory to be
ginning an investigation into these gigantic
schemes to control the business of the
country.
I'VE are seven" said Senator Mark b.. Ar
mold. of Unadilla, Chairman Of tho Committee.
One of us in Batavia is, hut still we are
seven-and seven lawyers Ms we'll"
Besides Senator Arnold the members of the
Committee are Eugene f.. O'Connor, of
Brooklyn; Edward G.. Walker of Batavia
Il; j. Coggeshall, of Wateryille; John J;
George +. Langbein, of New York.
The three last named are Democrats. and
Senator Walker is the absentee referred to.
Accompanying the committee are Harris
A.. Corell, the stenographer of the Senate
who took the testimony in the Broadway sur
face railroad INVESTIGATION and testified on
the trial Of Jacob Sharp, and Sergeant-at-
Arms John w. Corning, OF the Senate.
Prominent among those in the corridors of
the hotel were Senators.George Zetubbabel
Erwin, @. p. Vedder and j. Sloat Fassett, ex-
Mayor Wickham and Assemblymen Saxton
and Ainsworth. of the Telephone Investigat-
ing Committee.
The six members of the committee went
into executive session in room o on the
ground floor about 10 A. N. TO discuss the
question of organization and provide for the
details of the investigation, which must be
completed by Feb. AZ.
Although.all the members of the committee
are lawyers, il Is proposed to employ counsel
to represent hem in the examination of wit
nesSes.
At ii. 85 the committee took n recess until
9P. NJ, the members reporting that they had
done nothing and very little Of that in the
morning session. 1t was learned, however.
that sub-oommittees had been appointed to
secure counsel and to provide u room where
the investigation will be held.
From the expressions OF opinion on the part
of members of the committee il is fair to pre-
sumo that the examination of witnesses will
not begin until Monday. After that daily
sessions will be held until the investigation is
completed.
AS to the standing of the committee Oh the
! IhOoitbh VI y ' SSn u. ANop"hA A<bib pa
are both New Workers and members of Tam
many Hall. Senator Langbein introduced an
act for the abolition sof trusts, and Senator
Ives presented the resolution which resulted
in this investigation. They will undoubtedly
be on the side OF the people, which The
EVENING WORLD has so long championed..
Senator Linson, OF Kingston, the other
Democrat on the committee, is also classed
against the m~onopolies, while Senator O'Con-
nor, of Brooklyn, while reticent, if he would
faithfully represent his constituency, could
hardly do other than oppose the trust IN
terests.
OF the other Republican members, Senator
Walker made the first speech he has delivered
in three years, the other day, against the
Saturday half holiday.
OF Senators Arnold and Coggeshall it can
only be said that they did not vote in favor
of the Sloan motion TO delay investigation.
Senator Langbein said he thought the com
mittee a fair one.
THE EVENING WORLD, In stirring up the
trust abuses, is making a gallant fight for the
rights of the people, " he added.