The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-07
SANTA FR ILLEGAL REBATES.
HOUSE COMMITTEE WILL TAKE
UP THE SUBJECT MONDAY.
The Baker Resolutions 10 lie Seriously
Consldcrcd--An Opportunity VIII lie
Given Secretary Paul Morton 10 EN-
plain His Alles ed Violation OF Law.

plain His Allcs ed Violation OF Law.
WASHINGTON, Jan 6.--Ihe House Com
mittee on the Judiciary on Monday viii
take up for consideration the resolutions
offered by Representative Baker OF New
York on the subject OF Secretary Morton
connection with illegal rebates made by
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Re Rail
road. There are two resolutions. Inc
first raises the question whether the re-
tention OF Mr.. Morton in the Cabinet is
In harmony with the expressions OF the
President on the subject OF railroad rate
regulation and the enforcement OF the !aws,
and the second calls upon Attorney General
Moody TO say whether, in his opinion, the
making of rebates admitted by Mr.. Morton
does not constitute "barefaced violation
of the Interstate Commerce law. II the
Attorney General is Of the opinion That
the giving of rebates rs violation Of thar
statute. MIR Baker, for the House, would
like to know what, II anything, Mr., Moody
has dono toward procuring tho arrest ana
prosecution OF his colleague IN Tie Capinet.
Ordinarily resolutions bearing the name
of Mr.. Baker are summary disposed OF
by the corumittee-that IS the committee
tables or indefinitely postpones conHdeIn,
ton Of them. But these resolutions VIII
hardly be SO treated. In fact, the mem
DprA OF the committee continent Oh NlbAAi
with a good deal OF respect, because they
realize that public feeling has been aroused
by the publication of the testimony con-
corning rebates given by the santa Re TO
the Colorado Fuel and iron Company and
the packing houses Of Kansas City.
An opportunity Will DC given MIR. Morton
by the committee to be heard on the sub
ject, IL he should desire 80 as TO give the
committee reasons for adopting report
setting forth that when ne gave rebates
Il IL.
competing roads from getting the share OF
the business that naturally should have
gone to the Atchson.
The part of the resolution that gives
greatest reason for serious consideration
il that which quotes the letter written in
November by Secretary Loeb, by order
81 President Roosevelt, suggesting TO the
local authorities OF the District Of Column
bia that the way TO suppress the local smoke
nuisance was 20 arre~t the head OF the
electric light company, whose stacks were
pouring forth volumes OF dense black
smoke in the vicinity of the White House,
as often as q case could be made against
him.
In following up the President s suggestion
the manager of the offending plant has been
arrested seventeen times in less than two
weeks. Mr.. Bakers resolution suggested
that Secretary Morton should be treated
in the same way.
Secretary Morton win also have an op-
V.
the story concerning his alleged violation of
the nnt-rebate law at a hearing 10 be given
by the Interstate Commerce Commission in
Chicago. Announcement was made by
the commission to-day that at the request
of President Ripley Of the Sapte Fe system
it had decided 70 give representatives Of the
railroad another hearing on the charge
that IT paid rebates to the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company amounting, TO about
S4O0 OoO q wear. The hearing will be held In
(fhipn On tho laftpr "a of naVf weak
Secretary Morton has 80 far had no
CORES pondence with the commission. He
has not asked 10 be heard, nor has
tho commission any information. official
the hearing next week. IL has been
suggested that Mr.. Morton might re-
quest leave 10 file statement, but az
this is unusual no such action on his part
is expected. II SECRETARY Morton has any
thing TO say on the subject, the commission.
It is understood. will have him follow the
usual course in such matters, that Is, TO give
his testimony orally.
The SANTA Fe case has attracted great
interest in Washington on account of Mr..
Morton's supposed connection with the al
legged discrimination. and for this reason
the hearing in Chicago will be closely
watched. 1t is understood here that Mr..
Ripley will go on the stand. as well as
Traffic Manager Biddlc, who admitted
at the hearing held in Chicago last week
that the Santa rs had paid u rebate TO
the Colorado Fuel ard Iron Company,
which amounted to Il discrimination
against the Caledonia company and other
competing concerns.
1t developed to-day that this fact was
first brought out at meeting of the com
mission held Mt Albuquerque, y NJ. At
that place the commission produced
secret order OF the company. but Mr.. Bid
die refueed 10 identify 1t until he had OPP
portunity 70 examine his papers ia the
Chicago Offices of the Santa 70 For this
reason the commission adjourned to meet
10 Chicago. At the hearing held there
Mr.. Biddle attested TO the commences
OF the secret order.
an Chicago the commission Is charged
with trying TO shield a member of the Cabi-
net of alleged wrongdoinR. and in Wash
ington IL is abused for trying TO get said
Cabinet member in a hole said an officer
Of the commission to-day. THE commits
sion gets It going and coming. Out in
Chicago they say there is an African in the
woodpile, that we are really not trying
to push the case because it might involve
the Secretary Of the Navy. in Washington
commission, which IL getting IL from all
sides, but is obliged 20 look pleasant and
continue 20 hold the bag
The determination to reopen the case
will delay final decision for several weeks.
There is a possibility that the inquiry may
DO extended beyond Chicago The case
is regarded rs one Of the most important
since the passage Of the Elkins act, and
If the evidence obtained at Chicago last
week is substantiated at the coming hear
ing, the Acknowledgement will be asked
by the commission to institute proceed
ings in the courts.