The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-03-10
zsBURa, VA, SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1906.
.OIL-COAL PROBE SIGNED
President Approves Resolution
Passed BY Congress.
ASKS $4,000 BE APPROPRIATED

ASKS $4,000 BE APPROPRIATED
tsys Little Can Be Achieved BY Inter
State Commission Unless Changes
Arc Made-Likcly to Interfere With
Criminal Prosecutions.
Washington. March S-President
Roosevelt sent message TO the con-
.ross Announcing his signature to the
Joint ro.ontIon recently passed In
mupfue the interstate commerce COM
mission to make examination into the
subject CT railroad Determinations
lad mor0poli-s in coal and OIL.
ne saws frankly that he has signed
IL with hesitation. because il may
achieve Ituc or nothing lie indicates.
too that If the investigation proposed
bv the resolution is conducted thor
oueh.v. t viii result in giving I'M
munly from criminal prosecution to
all nareons who ate called and sworn
as witnesses.
In the nnin'on OF the president, tho
direction contained ia the resolution
Will remain practically imperative un-
less money boz authorized 20 carry on
the investigation. and the commission
be authorized 10 take testimony under
its provisions. he suggests. therefore
that congress give serious considera-
tion 20 just what it desires the inter
state commerce commission TO do, and
thai the sum ~ $4,000 be- placed at
fhe disposal Of thr commission TO de-
FRAY the expenses Of the proposed IN
yesticatlon
The MESSAGE in part is as follows
.1o The senate and house OF repre-
sontat!ves. have signed the Joint reso-
lrtion lns'ructiug the interstate COM
rerre commission 10 make examina-
tion into tho subject Of railroad dis
and ou and report o. the same from
time To- time
II have signed 60 with hesitation, be-
cause. I'm the form in which 1t was
naesed il achieves very little and may
achieve nothing. and it is highly un-
desirable that q resolution OF this KIND
shall become law in such form as to
Give the impression Of insincerity;
that if is of pretending 20 10 some-
thing which really is not done. But
after much hesitation. concluded 10
sien the resolution because It's defects
can be- remcdied by legislation which
7 hereby ask for. and 70 must be under
stood fhat unless this subsequent leg
islation IS granted. the present resolu-
ton must be mainly. and it may be en-
ure'r noperatiyo.
before specifying what this legls-
lation IS wish to call attention to one
or two preliminary facts. In the first
place. part of the Investigation re-
oucstod by the house Of representa-
uves i'm tho resolution adopted Feb
ruorv r.. le05. relating 10 the oil In
dustry. and a further part having 10
Ia with the anthracite coal industry.
has been for some time under inyesti-
ration by the department Of commerce
and labor. These Investigations. | am
Informed. are approaching completion,
and before congress adjourns ] shall
submit TO Won tine preliminary reports
Of these investigations.
Until these reports are completed
tho Interstate commerce commission
could not endeavor 10 carry ont so
much OF the resolution Of congress as
refers 10 the ground thus already COW
cred without running the risk OF see
ing the two Investigations conflict and
therefore render each other more or
less nugatory.
"But the direction contained In the
ioint resolution which I have signed
will remain almost imperative unless
money is provided to carry out the
investigations in question, and unless
the commission in carrying them out
IS authorized to administer oaths and
compel the attendance of witnesses.
AS the resolution now IS. the COM
mission. which is very busy with Its
legitimate work and which has no ex-
ira money at its disposal, would be
able TO make the investigation only
in the most partial and unsatisfactory
manner: and. moreover, IT is question
able whether II could. under this reso-
luton. administer oaths at all or COM
pei the attendance of witnesses.
Taccordingly recommend tocongress
the serious consideration Of just what
they wish the commission to do, and
how far they wish 1t to 90. having In
view the possible incOmpatibility OF
conducting an investigation like this
and also Of proceeding criminally in
court Of law: and furthermore. that
sufficient sum. say $4,000, b at once
added to the current appropriation for
the commission. so as to enable them
TO do the work indicated in a thor
ough and complete manner, while at
the same time the power is explicitly
conferred upon them to administer
oaths and compel the attendance OF
witnesses in making Investigations In
gneslion. which covers work quite
mart from the usual duties.
" II seems unwise to require an In
testigation by q commission and then
Tot to furnish either the full legal
power or the money, both Of which are
necessary to render the investigation
effective"
$4,000 Ransom Boy Returns.