The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-06

showed itself several days ago when
western newspapers, apparently in
spired by certain railroad interests
Savagely attacked the secretary of the
navy on the ground that he was re-
sponsible for the alleged rebates
granted by the Santa Fe road when he
was vice president of that company.
Today New York paper whose roots
are we'll planted in Wall street, printed
q characteristic onslaught under the
/ caption. THE Atchison Scandal" in
which Mr.. Mortons name was not
mentioned, but in which the yelled al
/ fusion to eminent railroad men who
ought to be prosecuted and put behind
the bars was plain enough. This. at
tack, considering the source and the
associations. elected much comment in
political circles here today.
The serious aspect of the conspiracy
against Mr.. Morton appears to lie in
the fact that certain powerful men con-
nected with the railway world are try
ing to make life uncomfortable for him,
presumably because he dared to pro-
pose a rational scheme of compromise
between the shippers and the railroads
in the matter of government regula-
ton of rates. Nevertheless it is be-
lieved the whole affair will quickly
blow over. As long as President Roose-
welt treats it with silent or laughing
contempt Mr.. Morton and his friends
have no cause for worry.
One outcome of the crusade is like
" to be both interesting and impor-
tant. 1t is understood that both the
Atchison company and Mr.. Morton
are much dissatisfied with the evil
dence recently brought out before the
the aspersiOns upon them which re-
suited. Hence within few days it
IS probable the interstate commerce
commission will be asked to order a
new hearing in which the whole affair
of the Santa Fe rebates may be thor
oughly ventilated Paul Morton him
self viii take the witness stand. He
will tell the whole story. His friends
declare that when the whole story is
brought to light the shoe will be on
the other foot. They assert it can
be tablished that, instead of the
Caledonia Coal company having been
sinned against, it was really attempt
ing to hold up the Santa F'e and
got nicely beaten at its own game.
Mr.. MOrtOn's friends say he is deter
mined not to permit the matter to
rest and that he intends to clear his
skirts of any suspicion.
Meanwhile it has become apparent
that all is not harmony between Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Morton
on the method of securing railway
reforms. The president has permitted
it to become known that he favors
sticking by the proposal which he
made in his message. That is he
wants a new grant of power to the
interstate commerce commission, and
does not think it advisable to have the
effort complicated with a scheme of
compromise involving the legalization
of pooling The president is not
against pooling and is inclined to
think in time that it may be a neces-
sary step. But he is unwilling to adj
vocate it. He wants the two PROPOSE
lions kept apart, each to stand or fall
on its merits. If congress gives the
interstate commerce commission the
power asked for and afterwards con-
cludes to legalize pooling, very good.
But one step at time is fast enough,
in the presidents opinion.