The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-19
Senate's Haste and Anxiety
to Probe the Railroad Sets
Washington Thinking
PENROsE SAW ROOSEVELT
PHILIPPINE COMMITTEE BUSY
FINISHING UP IT'S WORK-To
REOPEN SEA GIRTs POST or
FICE.

ives are a DIT mySuned as 10 Will ~
back of the action of the Senate in so
promptly passing the resolution to inquire
into the railroads and the coal ownership
matter. Naturally, no one. will admit
that the mo pass" rule on the part of
the Pennsylvania Railroad has Anything
to do with the sudden antipathy which
seems to have developed against that
corporation, not only in the House but in
the Senate as we'll. It is known that ever
since Mr.. Cassatt, the president Of the
big railroad, was here there has been a
disposition on the art of some Senators
to pillory him and his railroad at every
opportunity, and this disposition was not
confined to Democrats by any means.
When Mr., Tillman was railing against
the railroads the other day, there was
some disposition, at first, to attempt to
check his fiery utterances. 1t was mo-
ticed that, Senator Kean, of New Jersey,
who does not speak often, was uneasy on
account of some of the scathing utter
ances of the "man with the pitehfork,"
and it was with apparent difficulty that
he restrained himself from interrupting
Tillman. However, Mr.. Kean evidently
thought the plan to allow Tillman sto
have his fling" was the better one, and
he retained his seat.
Senator Tillman paid his respects to
Mr.. Griggs, the former Attorney Gener-
al, in vigorous language. He made the
declaration that the President could not
be depended upon to serve the interests
of the people In this connection he re-
ferred to A1r. Griggs, saying that imme-
diately after retiring from office he had
taken the merger case of the Northern
Securities Company against the Attorney
General. The South CaroIinian also dis
cussed former Secretary Morton in the
same vein of sarcasm, and characterized
the Equitable Insurance Company as
sthe stamping ground of as dirty a lot
of raseals as could be found.
Senator Penrose, Of Pennsyivania,
went to the White House to see Presl-
dent Roosevelt He refused to discuss
the resolution directing thorough inves
tigation of the railroads in relation to
controlling the output of coal from Penn
sylyania and other States, The Senator
has not the least doubt, however that
the investigation will reveal that the, rail
roads are engaged in the business of min
ing coal, that they own coal as well as
carry it, and he thinks that they will not
dispute this fact. 1t is predicted, in this
connection, that a result of the investiga-
ton will be the passage of stringent laws
to prevent such ownership in the future.
Just what will be the outcome Of this
crusade against the railroads is a matter
Of conjecture. In discussing the matter
a gentleman who is close to q prominent
railroad official here, said:-''I do not
think the railroads will reveal their iilten-
tions for the present. That there will be
reprisals, however, of such nature as
will surprise the people, am confident.
After Congress is ont Of the way it
would not surprise me from what can
learn, if the railroads at once withdrew
excursion tickets, Communication tickets
and all forms of reduced rates and potif-
ed the travelling public that in the, future
there would be fat single fare rate be-
tween various points, and no reduction
for excursion rates, the same as is the
vogue at present. 1t may also mean the
Withdrawal Of the mileage books, as we'll,
and should plan of this sort be carried
out it would work great hardship upon
the people who are regular commuters
between different cities, say like the cities
in New Jersey and New York, or other
places similarly located.
The ns.ef&estiraony on the Philip
pine bill is aboht concluded The conn
mitteeVbns the Philippines will consider
thesbill early this week, andsit is expected