Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-08
DECLARATION OF, REPRESENTA-
TIVE GILLESPIE REGARDING
ALLEGED RAILWAY MERGER
SAYS COMBINE EXISTS
Texas Congressman Declares That the
Coal Carrying Roads Of the East
Have An Agreement AS to Territory
and Freight Rates-TlIIman ResoIu-
ton Is Adopted.

washington, u. e., Feb. 6.-Repre-
sentative Gillespie of Texas, the author
OF the resolution regarding the alleged
pennsylvania railroad combination,
which was answered yesterday by the
President, declared today that the an
swer was an insult and that with the
great machinery at hand complete
investigation of the actual conditions
should have been made. He said that
such an investigation would show that
the railroads carrying bituminous coal
to Atlantic ports are the Pennsylvania,
the New York Central, the Baltimore
& Ohio, the Chesapeake & Ohio, the
Norfolk & Western and the Reading.
Says Agreement Exists.
He asserted that an investigation
would chow that there had been an
allotment to each of the coal carry
ing roads of certain territory to pre-
vent competition in the markets by
means Of rate adjustments, agreements
and combinations. Gillespie has pre-
pared resolution which he will in
troduce, requesting the President to di-
rect the interstate commerce com mis-
sion to make Immediate investigation
Of all these charges.
One Day More For Debate.
An agreement was reached in the
house today to close the debate on the
railroad rate bill at 1880 o'clock tomor-
row afternoon.
viii Investigate Boycott.
The Tillman resolution, directing
the committee on immigration to make
an investigation Of the Chinese boy
colt on American goods was adopted
by the senate today.
Grosvenor Attacks Rate Bill.
Representative Grosvenor attacked
the Hepburn rate bill in the house yes
terday and declared that despite the
rules of the house he would offer an
amendm ent forbidding ANY railroad
president, director, officer, agent, or
employee to become interested directly
or Indirectly in the furnishing
of material or supplies to
such company or railroad in
the business of transportation as the
common carrier of freight or passen-
gers over the works owned, leased or
controlled or worked by such COM
pany"
After the Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe railroad COM
pany and the Southern Pa
cif1c are paying only $175
a mile as taxes in New Mexico, where
as roads in other territories are pay
ing JUST twice that rate. To bring
about tax reform in this direction.
Representative Hamilton, of Michigan,
yesterday introduced a bill for the
taxation Of all railway property in
Arizona and New Mexico according
to the same plan under which other
property in the territories is taxed.
The bill provides that railways shall
be subjected to the changed system of
taxation after Jan. 1, 1907 The dis
elimination in favor Of the railways
has been one Of the chief arguments
advanced in support Of the joint state.
hood bill.
When asked If the introduction of
this railway taxation bill was an ad.
mission that the joint statehood bill
would fail, prominent administration
men in the house said they expect
joint statehood, but that the failure
of joint statehood will not prevent q
readjustment of taxes in the two ter
ritories.