Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-08
What Is Being Done Regarding a
Coal and Oil Inquiry.


The Washington correspondent OF the
New York Evening Post writes az fol-
lows:
President Roosevelt regards the joint
resolution of Congress recently transmit
ted To him, requiring the interstate COM
merco commission ''inmo,liatcly to inquire
into. investigate. and report to congress-
upon abroad diScrimina ton and monopo-
lies, with particular reference To the car
riers' interest in any Of the coal or oil
shipped over tneir line+, as futile piece
of business and mere buncomhc. lIc will
return the resolutions. with his sigma turo,
but accompanied by a brief message con-
aiming an expression Of his belief that
Congress acted unadviseuly and too hasti-
Is, and pointing out why in his opinion
the commission cannot properly perform
the work required to be done "immcd
lately"
This joint resolution was fathercd by
Senator Timan and Representative Gil
! lcspie in the first instance. When the
House interstate commerce committee
considered the subject, Representative
Townsend of Michigan was authorized to
prepare report to accompany the reSo-
luton to the floor Of the House. The
whole proceeding WAS one of haste and
intended to strike a popular chord
The Interstate commerce commission is
loaded down with work. The la Dor thrown
upon it by the resolution ordering it to
investigate Immediately all sorts of mat
tiers connected with the ownership which
the railroads may have in coal and oil
fields will he close to overwhemink
There is not the slightest chance. APP
/ mar he T1D m S ca II,
work adequately for months and posi-
bly, for years. It must not only look into
the question Of a railroads. ownership
Of stock of any coal or oil fields but it
must investigate "immodiatcly' some six
or eight other matters, any one of which
presents in itself mountain of trouble
and OF work.
Whom the railroad rate measure Incomes
a law the Increase of the membership of
tho commission may make it possible TO
carry on the coal and oil inquiry with
something like CELEBRITY. but Judging by
precedent in other cases much coal will
be mined and much oil will flow before
the investigators get through with the
first paragraph of the long list of isl
Structions.
The department OF commerce and labor
for a year or so, and the great oil com
pany, tho chief in the oil ticids. is still
in command Of the situation. MI Met
Calls department is not slow in dcclar-
ing that Congress is OVERRIDING the resolu-
ton business 1t is limited broadly that
! the more resolutions Congress adopts, the
| better the corporations will be pleased.
| for with these congressional matters
treadng one upon the heels of the other.
| the progress of each individual invcsti-
CATION is cioGged.
The interstate commerce commission is
not only required. by the terms Of the
| last resolution passed, to investigate
mat tiers of railroad determinations and
monopolics, but it Is ordered practically
| to draw morals from tn" results and to
transmit the moralizing to Congress.
The Presidents messaG" to accompany
| the resolution has been dra fled, and he IS
going over il carefully to-day before trans
| lifting it to congress.
| Charles T.. Hughes. whose conduct of
/ the Insurance investigation in New York
drew national attention. his abilities. Will
| be summoned /" appear before a House
committee /" tell what he knows about
contributions 10 campaign funds made By
| insurance ana other corporations.
| The House committee ON election of
| President ana vice president and repre-
! sentatiVes in Congress- met and To the
general surprise decided To consider the
many bills now before it relating TO
publicity Of campaign expenses and con-
trbutions from great corporations. Hear
| ings will he given on the various meas,
! urCs. On motion of Representative Eia rd-
wick of Georgia. the committee decided
| 10 summon a,r. Hughes and ask him to
! bring to Washington n copy OF all the
| testimony taken before tue Armstrong
committee, pertinent to the present IN
quiry. II is hoped TO begin Ia" hearings
| next Morday, and have Mr.. hughes pres
cnt to TESTIFY at that time.