Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-06
.FLATLY CONTRAD|CTED
Representative Mann Takes
E. P. Bacon to Task.
DENIES HIS STATEMENT
HEARING OF THE HOUSE INTER.
STATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE.
-Four Members Charged With obstruc-
ton OF Bil1s-Names Not Given
Action Of Senate Committee.

Inc meeting of the House committee on
interstate commerce today was replete
win sensational incidents. A hearing was
peihs given to persons interested in the
Cooper-Quarles bill. E. P Bacon of Mil
"aukee, chairman of the interstate com.
merce convention, was first heard. From
the moment he took the stand until he left
1T Mr.. Bacon was subjected to scathing re-
Duke by Mr.. Mann of Illinois. for certain
statements made by him in a publication
known as Freight as well as in public
addresses. Mr.. Mann quoted from state
ment alleged to have been made by Mr.. Ba-
con that owing to the opposition of the
majority Of the two committees of Con-
gress there was no possibility of legisla-
tion to further restrict the carriers
DO you think that was true?" inquired
Mr. Mann.
Mr. Bacon answered that he believed it
was true at the time
Declares It a Slander.
Il know" angrily retorted Mr.. Mann,
that was a libel and SANDER. l know it
was false, and l believe you knew it was
false
Mr.. Bacon calmly replied that he did not
want to be classed as a falsifer, which only
served to further anger Mr. Mann, who
be held responsible for what they write.
Again reading from the publication re-
fefred to, Mr. Mann said it was stated in
Mr.. Bacons address before the st. Louis
convention chat over three-fourths of the
representa- in Congress owed their pres
ence there to the influence of the halroads," "
and he asked Mr. Bacon if that statement
was his. Mr.. Bacon answered that his re-
marks had been eXtemporaneous, but he
had no recollection of making the state
ment.
Il believe" said Mr.. Mann, 'you thought
any man in the country could go out and
libel any member of Congress. 1t fortu-
nately is true that people generally pay
no attention to such statements
Mr.. Bacon insisted he never made the
statement, but admitted saying that four
of the members of the House committee
had declared they would permit no action
on the part of the committee upon any bill
until definite action was taken upon the
CoOper-Quarles bill.
1--WE want to ascertain who those four
men are?" demanded Mr.. Mann.
Refused to Tell Names.
The witness, however, refused to answer,
sayingit would not be proper for him to
name them.
Mr.. shackleford of Missouri then indig-
nantly inquired: Il ask you, sir, if Mr..
Shackleford was one of them?'
mo, SIR was the reply. ..--
You went over to the Elkins BILL" said
Mr.. Mann, and because the committee will
not follow you fast enough you say we are
under the influence of the railways
Mr.. Bacon denied making the statement,
and added that he had kept back certain
elements and interests in regard to the pro-
posed legSla ton.
The witness admitted that after the re-
vised Elkins bill was agreed upon he had
endeavored to have it become law.
Mr.. Mann then spoke of a banquet given
at the Union League Club in Chicago, at
al hn a ot 10 t..
fuence him in favor of the Elkins bill. Il
laughed at them,'' said Mr. Mann. when
they read the pooling clause of that bill.
and said 1T had as much chance as snow
flake in hades."
Action Of the Senate Committee.
The Senate committee on interstate COM
merce today agreed to take up all bills re-
lating to railroad rates and kindred SUBJ
jects Friday, January 13. 1t is expected
that hearings will be had on some of the
bills and that others may be referred to
subcommittee for investigation.
The committee today gave hearing on
bill to authorize the interstate commerce
commission to relieve narrow-gauge rail-
motives with power driving-wheel brakes,
whenever, in the opinion of the commission,
the safety Of employees will be better pro-
NOTED by the application Of some other
safety appliance.
J. F. Vaile, attorney for the Denver and
Rio Grande railway, addressed the COM
mittee in favor of the bill. The bill was re-
ported favorably at the last session of Con-
gress, but application was made to have
the case reopened and the bill was opposed
at a recent hearing by III. r. Fuller, repre-
senting the locomotive engineers. Mr.. Vafle
answered Mr.. Fu1ler's arguments, and de-
clared that without any law on the subject
narrow-gauge railways in Colorado have
tried the driving-wheel brake and found 1t
ineffective. He declared that the add1-
tional cost of the driving wheel brake is in
significant, but that the water brake had
proved the more satisfactory method.