The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-21
House and Senate De-
termined on Sweeping
Investigations.
ILLEGAL COMBINATIONS
CongreSSmen Charge That
the Corporations Have
Injured Trade.

Il ts now practically certain that the
Joint resolution providing for an investi-
cation by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission of the question whether common
carriers own or control the coal and oil
fields, and whether they discriminate
against independent shippers Of these
commodities will be passed by both
House and Senate.
The Investigation viii be the most
sweeping in The history Of rallroading in
tnA country.
The first sten in this direction was
that taken ny Representative Gillespie
Of Texas in the House. when he intro
cuced "a resolution providing for a re-
port from the Interstate Commerce
Commission. as to whether or not the
Pennsylvania. Baltimore and Ohio.
Chesapeake and Ohio, and Norfolk and
Western had formed a combination in
restraint Of trade. That resolution
didn't worry the railroads much for the
Interstate Commerce Commission was
not able to deliver the goods. 1t could
only show that the Pennsylvania owned
little less than half the stock Of the
other roads, and that the directorship
of the various lines was pretty much
n'erN oven, a sort Of a family matter
house Meant Business.
Then the House. just To demonstrate
thar it meant business. passed the Hep
burn railroad rate biI Practically with
cut division. and listened to speeches
that bTeathed hatred of the methods
hiheFto pursued by the railroad mouop-
olists General Grosvenor of Ohio then
came 10 the 'front.' with a proposed
iJnendmeEt 80 the railroad rate bin. to
prohibit railroads from owning or con-
trolling coal lands, and, although ne
withdrew it. having been assured that
no amendments to the Hepburn bill
were desired he has promised to renew
rhe attack al some future time.
Gillespie took up the Idea. however,
and save ii new form. He Introduced a
resolution calling for an investigation
of the question whether the common
carriers in the bitumin0us coal fields
own ana control these fields aud wheth-
or they are discriminating against the
independent shippers Senator Tillman
gathered the Gillespie resolution TO his
bosom, amended it SO as 10 include
goat. and passed il through the United
States Senate
Developments indicate that the Solons
are In deadly earnest.
VIII Pass This Bill.
The House received the Tiliman reso-
lutiUn, referred it to the Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce and is
now prepared 20 pass it in amended
form, changing the original Gillespie
resolution by including anthracite along
with bituminous coal, striking out Till
mans proposition for an investigation
Of "other prodNts,' and substituting
oil, an amendment urged by Represent
ative Campbell Of Kansas, who has been
the icreconciIabIe enemy OF the oil trust
ever since Standard OH began its en-
croachments on Kansas territory.
Besides these body blows which have
been landed, OF are about - land. both
House and Senate are pre- RED to deal
out a choice line Of les heavy but
quite as annoying troubles. Senator La
Toilette of Wisconsin has introduced a
bill to prohibit the giving and the re-
ceiying of passes. Senator Newlands of
Nevada has introduced a bill providing
for the Federal Incorporation OF rail-
roads. and 10 prevent their over capital
ization.
There is pending in the House Com
mlttee on Territories a proposition to
prepare a bill looking to the revision of
Ine system IN taxation IN vogue in the
territories Of the United States. Should
they fail OF a Statehood, which will de-
prlve the railroads o. the comfortable
system now in vogue there by virtue
Of which the burdens of taxation resi-
lightly on the roads that traverse New
Mexico and Arizona. an employers liza
olItS measure is under consideration
and Congressman Esch of Wisconsin
urges action on his bill that provides
for the Introduction of the lock signal
system.
Grosvenor has also come in with a
suggestion that is now under seSiolls
consideration by the House COMMITTEES
on Post0thces and Post Roads, growing
ahnt1Tfnn hr~F ~
and other roads of passes to rublic r,,ey,
II 1t Is true" he argues. 'lthat the
aboluon or passes win save the rail-
nually. as they claim. perhaDs r. r-oI,id
be we'll for the Postoffice Departmesanrt
10 save some of that ten millions in tbo
amount now paid for the transportation
OF the mails" "a 'Oi'