New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-10
TO AID R. R. INQUIRY.
More an House to Give Commission
Pozcer President Suggested.

Washington. March "a resolution ana DIN
designed to cure the defects President RooSe'e"
pointed out in the Tillman resolution FOR the III
yestigation by the Interstate Commerce Co'"
mission of railroad determinations ana mohopo-
lies were introduced to-day In the House. ih'
resolution was introduced by Representative
Townsend of Michigan and the bill by Represeh-
+.+,,,e c,iIIesn,e Of Texas Mr. Townseud's reso-
tuition proyidee an appropriation of 100000 to
carry on the investigation. and the Gillespie Dill
makes an appropriation Of 100000 for the same
purpose.
The Townsend resolution provides that the
Interstate Commerce Commission shall have
under the Tillman-Gillespie resolution all the
powers to subpoena witnesses. to compel them
to testify and to produce documentary evidence
which it enjoys under the Interstate Commerce
Act. II also provides that witnesses shall enjoy
the same rights and immunties in this investi-
CATION that they enjoy under the Interstate
Commerce act. Similar provisions are made IN
the Gillespie bill
Under the Gillespie bill the Interstate Com
merce Commission is permitted to avoid the du-
plicaticn Of Investigations by the following pro-
vision:
Should the said commission be informed that
any of the matters inquired about In the SAID
above described resolution have been invesu-
gated by any other department. and should the
said commission be Of the opinion that the In
vestigation of such other department OF the gov
eminent has been thorough and complete and
that such other department Is In possession OF
all the facts reasonably obtainabie then In such
event the commission 10 authorized to procure a
statement OF such facts and adopt the same as
findings Of fact upon such matter
In explanation of his bill and In reply to OBJ
jeotions offered by the President to the Till
man resolution. Mr.. Gillespie said to-day:
am glad the President signed the resolution
and that the same has become law, although In
WILL 1 fear, defeat the quick results that other
wise might have been reached by the commits
sion in the investigation which the resolution
provides His message conveys to the guilty
parties doubt to its power to compel the
production of books and papers. OF course they
will take advantage of this doubt, and urge IT
against every step the commission may take
or the Presidents objection that If the in
vestlgation we're carried on to the full extent OF
it's provisions 1t might cause immunity from
punishment to those guilty of the unlawful con-
spiracy. Mr.. Gillespie said:
I must say that do not think any of these
high criminals trembling in their boots from
fear of Imprisonment things are now and
il all of them should escape imprisonment oy
rushing the commission and unbosoming
themselves would see just as many frenzied
fnanciers In jail as If no investigation had been
held Besides we ought to give the commits
sion the benefit of the doubt on the question
that they as officials of the government, are IN
terested in the enforcement of the criminal
laws and that they would not willingly take any
step that would turn any criminal loose unless
1t was necessary to do to get the truth The
truth the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth is what Congress and the country demands
of this investigation.