The Washington times., 1906-05-29
COMMISSION AGHAST
At RAILROAD GRAFT
Startling Revelations in
Coal and Oil Investigation.
BLAME MEN "HIGHER up"
One Member Deplores Fact That Penn
sylvania Is Honeycombed With
Questionable Methods.
BLAME MEN "HIGHER UP"

A conference will be held Wednesday
or Thursday between the Interstate
Commerce Commission and its at
tOrneys conducting the coal and oil in
vestigations, in accordance with the
Tillman- Gillespie resolution to decide up
on further procedure. Dates for future
hearings in both subjects will probably
be set at that time. In the meantime,
the attorneys will prepare their recon-
mendatioas for the commission.
Other Graft Levied.
Startling as have been the revelations,
the commission is inclined to believe
that coal is but one of the many items
upon which the grafters have levied
their tax. Representatives now in
Washington OF a company that manu-
features car couplers. declare that they
cannot sell to certain lines Of sys-
TEN that elsewhere uses it's coupler. be-
cause a director of the lines has been
taken into a rival firm. The commits
sion has heard the story.
1t is pointed out as significant that
on many railroads officials higher up
have taken way from their purchas-
ing agents the authority TO buy lubricat-
ing oil. 1t paid them to watch the oil
trade personally. IL is pointed out.
These conditions. the commission con-
siders. must be left largely TO investiga-
tion and remedy within the various com
panies.
The members Of the commission de
plore greatly the conditions of the Penn
sylvania railroad revealed at the Phila-
delDhia hearings
Pennsy Is Honey combed.
ITO think that the Pennsylvania" "
said one Of the commission. which We
had proudly pointed to as the greatest
and perhaps the best-manc sed railroad
system in the world should be honey
COmbed with graft. and practically at
the mercy Of subordinates."
In the Chicago and Cleveland hear
ings the commission believes that It
has covered the oil situation in the Mid
die West and East, II the facts it has
revealed are considered in connection
with the Garfield reports on the Stand
ard Oil Company. This concern has
asked for the privilege Of presenting
testimony TO the commission, and the
request will be granted. In fact further
testimony in this branch of the inveSti-
cation will be largely that of the de-
fenSe-
II is barely possible that a report OF
the relations OF the railroad to the oil
business viii be made to Congress be-
fore the close Of the present session.
B. & o. Gives In.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad has
at last complied with the request of the
commission for a copy of the contract
by which it transferred, during the
course Of the investigation into the coal
situation, its holdings In the Consolida-
tion Coal Company of West Virginia to
the Watson syndicate of Baltimore. TIL,
commission viii on Thursday. or pos
sibly before that time. consider the ad.
visibility Of making public the terms ot
the contract, together with the price.
Chairman Knapp said today that tn,
commission had not had time to ex
anime the contract. although il wa.
submitted some days ago. Baltimor,
and Ohio officials may be recalled anC
questioned further about the sale.