The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-13
TO PROBE C0AL ROADS
Pennsylvania House adopts Reso-
luton Ordering Investigation.
WANTS EXTRA SESSION CALLED
Attorney General Is Called Upon to
See If Pennsylvania, Reading and
Lackawanna Railroads Are Violating
Constitution.

see " pennsylvania ncduln9 a"N
Lackawanna Railroads Are Violating
Constitution.
Harrisburg. Pa. Feb. 1o.-By almost
unanimous vote the house Of represent
tatives passed the Greasy resolution
calling on the attorney general 10 be-
Gin an immediate investigation OF the
charges that railroads in this state are
violating the constitution in that they
are carrying on a business OF mining
coal besides that OF railroad traffic.
Contrary 10 all expectations, the day
intervening between the presentation
Of the resolution and It's adoption, the
temper Of the house did not cool down,
and when the subject Of the probe was
taken mp feeling against the railroad
COMPANIES ran high, and Republicans
as we'll as Democrats enthusiastically
declared themselves in favor OF an i'm
mediate investigation. Mr. Stroup
CDauphin) even went so far as to pre-
sent a resolution as an amendment TO
the Greasy resolution asking that
committee Of five conatOrs and six rep
reseniatiyes be appointed with full
power 10 conduct the investigation.
To the surprise of many. Mr.. Greasy
opposed this. and after a sharp debate
the Stroup amendment was defeated
and the Greasy resolution carried. This
is the first time within thirty years,
II not since the railroad corporations
have secured the powerful monopoly
which they now possess in this state,
that the legislature has taken such
radical action to compel the railroad
companies to cOnfne their business
within the limits OF their quarters.
The resolution not only empowers
the attorney general 10 make the in
vestgation. but to take legal action
against such companies as are found
70 be violating the constitution. It's
full text is as follows:
Whereas. Article II, Section 5, OF
the constitution OF Pennsylvania pro-
vides as follows:
NO incorporated company doing the
business of a common carrier shall,
directly or indirectly. prosecute or en-
gage in mining or manufacturing arti-
Giles for transportation over its works;
nor shall such company directly or In
directly. engage in any other business
thar ut of common carriers. or hold
OF acquire lands. freehold or leasehold.
directly or indirectly. except such as
shall be necessary for carrying on its
business: but any mining or manu-
factoring company may carry the
prC act Of its mines and manufactures
on It's railroad or canal not exceeding
fifty miles in length
whereas. Il is well known that the
greater part cf the anthracite coal
lands are owned or leased. either d.
rectly or indirectly by the Pennsylya-
mia Railroad Company the Philadel-
phia & Reading Railway Company
and the Delaware & Lackawanna Rail-
road Company. and that said railroad
companies are mining said coal, either
directly or indirectly. for purpose OF
TRANSPORTING the same over their sew
eral railroads thus giving said rail-
roads a monopoly in its transporta-
ton TO market; and
Whereas. II is alleged by the coal
miners that the price of said coal has
been raised since the last anthracite
coal strike 81 to 1926 per ton. yet the
so-called operators are refusing to al
low the miners any increase In wages.
and thus another strike is threatened;
therefore. be 1t
Resolved BY the house OF represen-
tatives. the senate concurring, that the
attorney general be, and he is hereby
instructed to make careful inquiry,
and. If. after such investigation, he
shalt ind any of said railroad compan-
les or any other railroad company in
this commonwealth directly or indi-
rectIy violating the aforementioned
section OF the constitution he shall pro-
coed forthwith in the law or equity
courts of the commonwealth to pre-
vent such violation of the constitution
Of the state
A resolution was also passed calling
on the governor to call an extra ses-
sion OF the legislature for the purpose
Of enacting legislation allowing trolley
cars to carry freight.
Both resolutions will be taken up by
the senate on Monday night, when II
It IS expected an effort will be made
10 have the resolution ruled out on
the point of order that It is not ger
name to the governors call for an
extra session.
EVEN oTOI IN IAN