The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-23
COAL ROADS MUST
FACE INQUIsITION
House Votes to Set Interstate
Commerce Commission After
the Trusts.
Townsend Declares the People De-
nand Curb on Coal and
Oil Trusts.

Washington, Feb. 23.-Without oppo-
sition the house as it's first business to-
day passed the Tillman- Gillespie resolu-
ton directing the interstate commerce
commission to make examination on the
subject Of railroad determinations and
monopolies and report on the same from
time to time.
Mr.. Townsend (Mich.) presented the
resolution with unanimous report
from the interstate and foreign COM
MERGE committee. In explaining the
resolution Mr.. Townsend said:
This resolution was born Of set
tied conviction among the people, as re-
tected IN congress, that Injustice and
wrong is being done them by certain
interstate carriers of coal and oil. AS
members of the national legislature it
seems to me that it is the dhty of con-
gressmen, when great complaints are
presented by numerous citizens Of high
character against conditions which are
alleged to injuriously affect producers
and consumers Of the necessities Of life.
to at least investigate the Complaints
with view to determining first, wheth-
or the complaints are we'll founded.
and, second, if wrongs are found to
exist to discover if possible whether ex-
listing laws are being violated: and
third, II any new legislation is neces-
sary.~ .- 1919
Charges Against Combine.
IT has been confidently alleged that
certain railroad companies have 1aroe
holdings of coal and oil lands. that
they buy and sell coal and oil that in
other a cases officers of these roads own
suH1lclent OF the stock Of oil and coal
companies when used in connection
with the stock owned by the roads to
enaple Them to control such companies,
That by reason of such ownership. deal.
ings and collisions, the two preat: neees-
stiles of modern life, coal and oil are
made more expensive to the consumer.
and at the same time independent own.
ers and dealers in these products are
injured, If not ruined. Nd?
It is alleged that hundreds Of own.
ers OF coal and Oil fields are prevented
from operation for the reason that the
roads which under the law should serve
them, either fail entirely in furnishing
the means Of transportation or else
furnish them so inadequately as to
Consumers Must Pay.
1.-The result Of this can only be that
every consumer of coal and oil is sub
Ject to the prices Of monopoly which
are those of extortion and Injustice
1t is possible that existing law may not
be adequate to reach these evils if thew
are found to exist, but there can be
no doubt that the government is strong
enough to protect it's citizens against
any OF its law-made creatures, and
when publicity reveals an evil, congress
will be able and willing to apply a
"The resolution as originally pre-.
sented to the house contemplated onlv
an investigation in relation to bitum-
nous coal. The senate resolution in.
Guided all other products
Man from Kansas.
40 The senate resolution included al
other products. The gentleman from
Kansas, Mr.. Campbell, most ably pre-
sented reasons, backed by facts, show
ing that oil should be included. The
committee believes that carriers Of al
kinds of coal and oil should be thu
subject of investigation, and that the
Interstate commerce commission should
make it. The commission already must
have many facts in its possession re
lating to this subject; it has an organi
zation for the work and information
should be forthcoming.
s'This investigation should be made
promptly, fearlessly and well. It il
for the best interest Of the honest car
riers, who are striving faithfully t.
serve the public; it is but just to the
people that congress should have the
information in order that it may know
whether whether it is serving the public as it is
Endorsed by Grosvenor.
: Mr.. Grosvenor briefly indorsed the
resolution and explained that he be-
lieved it would accomplish much in
showing certain railroad managers that
congress was not SO puerile and ignor
ant of passing events as to be satisfied
with the explanation Of ! conditions
made by certain railroad officials.
Mr.. Grosvenor referred to his at
tempts to amend the rate bill, which
he had abandoned in the interest OF
the passage Of that bill, and had giver
notice Of an independent measure he
should present to prevent railroads
owning industrial properties. He be
ieved the resolution would accomplish
the purposes he sought to effect.
by Mr. Williams, the minority leader
in a brief Speech and Mr.. Gaines
CIV. Va.) described oppressive condi
tions in his state in the coal and coke
industries because of railroad control