The Topeka state journal., 1905-01-07
RAILROAD NEWS.
President Ripley Of Santa Fe
VIII Take Witness Stand.
VIII Tell What He Knows OF
C. f. g. 1. Rebates.
MAY NOT PROSECUTE.
Santa Fe Has Discontinued the
Payments Of Rebates.
Gossip and Matters Of Interest
I'm Railroad Circles.
MAY NOT PROSECUTE.

Washington, Jan. THE interstate
commerce commission has telegraphec
President Ripley OF the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe railway that it would
give a rehearing in Chicago Of the Colo
rado Fuel & Iron case, probably on
Friday or Saturday OF next week,
though possibly not until later.
This is the case in which charges
were made of granting rebates by the
Santa F'e railroad to the Colorado Fuel
& Iron company
Washington, Jan. 7.-The meeting OF
the house committee on interstate COM
merce Friday was repete with sensa-
tionaI incidents. A hearing was being
er-Quarles bill. E 0. P Bacon, OF
Milwaukee, chairman of the interstate
commerce commission, was first heard.
From the moment he took the stand
until he left 1t Mr.. Bacon was sub
1ected to scathing rebuke by Mr. Mann
of Illinois, for certain statements made
by him in q publication known as
Freight" as well as in public address
ses. Mr.. Mann quoted from a state
ment alleged to have been made by
Mr.. Bacon that owing to the opposition
of the majority of the two committees
of congress there was no possibility of
legislation to further restrict the car
riers.
DO you think that was true?' in
Quired Mr.. Mann.
Mr.. Bacon answered that he believed
ft was true at the time.
7 know angrily retorted Mr.. Mann,
that was a libel and a SANDER I
know 1t was false and I believe you
knew it was false" Mr.. Bacon calmly
replied that he did not want to be class
ed as a falsifier which only served to
further anger Mr.. Mann, who said that
people who write articles must be held
RESPONSIBLE for what they write.
IN q ions
referred to Mr. Mann said it was stat
ed in Mr. Bacon's address before the St
Louis convention that over three
fOuTthS of the representatives in con-
gress owed their presence there to the
influence Of the railroads. and he ask
ed Mr.. Bacon if that statement vas
his. Mr.. Bacon answered that his re-
marke had been extempOraneouS, but
he had no recollection of making the
statement Il believe" said Mr.. Mann,
you thought any man in the country
could go out and libel any member of
congress. 1t fortunately is true that
people generally pay no attention to
such statements"
Mr.. Bacon insisted he never made the
statement, but admitted saying four
OF the members of the house committee
had declared they would permit no &C
ton on the part of the committee on
any bill until definite action was taken
upon the Cooper-Quarles bill.
I'VE want to ascertain who those
four men are" demanded Mr.. Mann.
The witness however refused to ans
wer saying it would not be proper for
him to name them.
Mr.. Shackelford CMo.) then indignant
ly inquired:
T ask you sir. if Mr.. Shackelford was
one of them?''
mo STR" was the reply.
You went over to the Ellxins BILL"
said Mr.. Mann, land because the com
Tnittee won't follow you fast enough you
say we are under the influence of the
railways
\ Mr.. Bacon denied making the state
ment and added that he had kept back
certain elements and interests in re-