The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-02-12
RATE REGULATION
A Burning issue

A Wkl llSJ lSSUE
4goHN VALE IS SOM VERY
INTERESTING Ik4isos tlls sun
DAY LETTER.
Below Il the Sunday letter Of John
wallace q III sburg Dispatch oI
yesterday
Raiiroad regulation ha graduated
Into q burning iSstie ID Az est sirgi Lalss
|GbYcrnor pa9sonpfo liinse stns
Itostiie condict thiS 4wea III his letter
u Senator Tiltmda; which the South
Icarolina Senator read in the ehRis.
and against there vas an Ellins: Ttllnan
Ieolloquys over TIE sufaciency Of Tie
West Virginia laws 70 meet the cases g 4
IotSrailroad abuses cited.
Governor Dawson holds the state
laws are adequate Il was Senator g !
IEiiins remark two weeks ago irsthe
red rock Fuel case that the State laws
are suficient that called forth the the
Governors monstrance: set sEsins
Erepeate his assertion when Iillraar
read the Dawson conmunicat iun.
Thns it5has come about that Senator
EFiIiman IS the man Of the hour in West
Virginia. First d coal company aps
pealed 70 him from this State instead
Iof either to Senator Eidns Or to Sem
ator Scott and next a Republican GOV
ernor pats him on the back and tells
him to go ahead.
West Virginia politicians do not
know what to think it. AZ The frat
l.dash, they saw Dawson making tracks
for Elkins' seat, but this the Governor
denies. He feels that Senator Elkns
has reflected on the State authorities
and does not propose to remain silent
under the senior Senator's assertions.
state Commission Wanted.
Those who can read between the
Lines win see thatwhat Governor Daw-
son refers to is the need Of a State
Railroad Commission for West Viz
glnia, champlonedby Governor White
and supported BY his successor, Mr.,
Dawson. Every attempt to pass q bill
creating a commission to inquire into
1.-The numerous complaints from the coal
operators as to unjust Determinations
Iby the three trunk railroads has met
with failure in the State Senate. owing
Ito alleged railroad interference.
Much Of the responsibility for the
success in choking on the RAILROAD
commission measure is charged to-
Senator Elldns blythe State Admins
ration people. Intact, Senator Elkins'I
OPPOSITION TO the measure IS commonly
known. That he should have helped
| toprevent the enactment ola bill held
especially dear by Governors White
and Dawson and clamored for by the
Independent coal operators, was swal-
lowed with more or less grace in the.
past; but when be declared on the
floor of the United states Senate that
the existing laws Of west Virginia pro
vide adequate relief for the abuses
complained Of Governor Dawson rel
fused to remain silent any.longer.
pawson's Challenge TO EIEsins.
10 add to the hiIarftg Of politics
Dawson comes out fiat footedIy for
President Roosevelt's stand son the
rate question. This,is equal to a chal-
Ilenge to Senator Eikfns, whose views
and the President'sare considered an.
tagonistic in westiyirginia. So much,
lis this opinion entertained that certain
Republicans who want to go 70 the Leg.
lslature in counties which the Elkins
machine dominates talk Of going DO.
fore the people as Roosevelt Repub'
leans and hoping by this drawing Of
1.-The lines to connect with seats at
Charleston in easy fashion.
OF course, the Elklns lieutenants are
disturbed serlouslyby the sudden turn
Iof affairs, but they profess 70 believe
Senator RlNns, and likewise Senator
Iscott, will finally support 2 rate bill.
.Isenator Elldns is merely fighting nov
Nor concessions, tits explained. and
That there Is not tte slightest danger
.Iofthere being a break between him
lima the President on the finals in the
Il H . 1 ~