Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04
RAILWAY ISSUE WAVES
SENATOR EI.KINS PLEDGED TO
VOTE RIGHT ON RATE BILL.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
WHEELING, w. Va, March g. 1905
The railroad issue in West Virginia poll
tics is simmering down considerably. In
Que season. however, the agitation will be
revived on the hostings Repeated state
ments from Washington that Senator Ell
kins will vote right" on the Hepburn bill
have had the effect OF sitting clamor
against him. and the voice raised in his be-
half this week by ex-Gov. White. who was
fresh from a Washington conference with
him, was helpful to that end.
During the breathing spell the curtain
will be rolled up again on the state drama.
The persistent inquiries as to why two IN
vestigations are not Investigating Will be
revived. One Is the Blizzard-CaldweIl af-
fair, now timely, since the United States
Supreme Court held that there was nothing
to prevent these gentlemen from appearing
before a special committee of the legisla-
ture and backing up their allegations that
Gov. Dawson, when he was secretary OF
state, shared the fees of his Office with
Gov. White. This proceeding has hung
fire for almost year.
Judge Dayton Not Ready.
The real reason why time has not been
called is that Judge Dayton has not yet
had the occasion to formally act on the
opinion of the superior tribunal. When he
gets ready, it is believed. the state admin
istration will summon the two members or
the opposite republican faction to toe the
mark But the populace appears to be dis
turbed with the fear that the powers that
be have effected some sort of arrangement
whereby there will be no entertainment.
In other words, that, this being campaign
year. no good can be accomplished, and
possibly some harm may come to the party
through the developments.
The other pending inquiry relates to an
investigation or inspection of the state in
situations by authority of joint resolution
adopted by the legislature over year ago
A committee of five members was named
for this purpose, whose chairman Is Dele
gate Thomas w. Fleming OF Fairmont;
hence it has come to be known as the Flem-
Ing committee. Two attempts to get the
committee together have failed. or the
five members one Is John Sherman Darst OF
Jackson county. He is one of the two
members of the senate on the committee
Since the adjournment of the legislature ne
was made State Tax Commissioner c. w.
Dillon's assistant, and. according to re-
cent ruling of Attorney General May. he is
ineligible This dual position. Either Darst
must resign from the senate or from his tax
commissionership.
Must Act Soon.
Nothing has been heard of this feature OF
his case, but the demand for the commit
tees inspection is so strong that 1t will
have to move soon or present an incident
for campaign oratory. Darst merely re-
piled to the last committee cali that he was
too busy with his other job. He said moth
ing about resigning.
Incidentally Mr.. Darst's official duality
complexities the possible call for a, special
session of the Legislature the coming sum
mer. Gov. Dawson will have to order
special election in Darst's district before
the session can convene. There will be
four other legislative vacancies to fill. two
of them caused by death and one by case
similar to Darsts. Delegate c. B. Scott or
Brooke county is a member of one of the
state boards. which he prefers to the brief
er legislative tenure. and, accordingly, his
successor Will have to be chosen.
The necessity for these Ave special selec-
tons IL understood to be one of the things
lettering the governor from herding the
solons together at Charleston for the crea-
ton of a state railroad commission. his new
hobby. These elections will entail consid-
cradle expense, which,, added to the ex-
pense of the session itself. constitute an
argument against the special-session idea,
particularly as the regular session Is less
than year In the future.
The present railroad laws are being at
tackled fore and aft by the White Dawson
supporters, since they were iauded hrst by
Senator Elkins and later by John J. Corn
we'll The latter II looming up as the dem
ocratfc state leader.