The Washington times., 1905-06-22

officers become necessary must depend
In each instance upon whether testi-
mony is obtained
Mr.: Rosevelt's letter was. a reply to
Moody's statement of his 1position on
the case. In it Mr.. Moody declared
that he did not believe that proceed
mgs ought to be begun against Santa
Fe officers until some evidence is forth
coming that they did. either by act or
connivance, have some relation to the
guilty. conduct. He adds:
Il do not find scintilla of evidence
taken before the Interstate Commerce
Commission which tends to show that
rthe officials had the slightest connec-
ton with the misconduct complained of
istence."
In his letter to Mr.. Moody. the Presi-
dent inclosed a letter from Mr.. Morton,
Gated June o. in which the former Sec
retary OF the Navy explains the Colo
rado Fuel rebate. He admits that the
published rate Of carrying fuel from
the mines to FL Paso was given as s406,
whereas in realty 1T was only $3.50 per
ton. He explains:
Until the investigation OF the case by
the Interstate Commerce Commission i
did not know personally how the mat
ter was being handled SO far as the
publication of the tariff was concerned
My own connection with the case was
to see that the traffic was secured to
the Atehison rails. and, after that.
details were left to subordinates. Thous-
ands of tariffs are published every year.
When the injunction order was issued
by the court positive instructions were
dates TO comply in every respect with
its terms. These instructions were
issued to everybody concerned, in writ
ing, and are matter of record
Mr.. Morton's letter continues:
when the Eikins bill became a law
early in 1903. all of my instructions were
reiterated and the most positive orders
issued that under no circumstances or
conditions would any deviation from the
law be permitted
Practice Corrected.
Notwithstanding all Of these precau-
tions, the old arrangement of billing
the coal and coke at a delivered price.
and not separating the freight rates
from the price of the commodity In
the tariff, was not corrected until some
time last November. It was evidently
not regarded In the tariff printing bu-
reau as an irregular arrangement, and
entirely escaped attention.
L have been a railroad man for thirty
years and railroad officer for most Of
that time, and l have done my utmost
to bring about decent railroad prac-
tees. 1 have always been opposed to
rebates and all kinds Of graft in the
business,
After Mr.. Morton resigned from the
Cabinet and after Mr.. Roosevelt had
SUStdileu MT. MOOQN III MS contention
| with Judson and Harmon, the President
| sent letter to Morton, as follows:
Not shred of testimony. SO far as
know, has been presented from any
source. whether by the Interstate Com
merce Commission or by the special
counsel employed by the Department of
Justice, which personally duplicates you
| in granting these rebates.
Commends Morton.
| 81 do not myself need any corrobora-
ton of any statement you make. but If
| did need it It would be furnished by
| the boldness and frankness with which
three years ago. and before any of the
proceedings with which we are now
dealing took place. you testified TO the
entire truth in connection with the TAX
! Ing of rebates from the railroads; and IL
| is deeply discreditable that this testt-
mony should not only now be quoted
| against you, but with sha ameless perver-
| sion of the truth should be quoted as
having been given by you In this case.
| You at that time enabled the Gov
ernment to accomplish in the interest of
| the public what il could not otherwise
| have accomplished, and you showed
yourself to be. more than any other
| railroad man with whom / came n con-
| tact. Jealous in your endeavor TO see