West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-07-26
OUR washington LETTER
Vacations for Government officials
How the Blklns People Ruined
The Pullmer Coal Com,
paDy.
From Our Regular Correspondence.

lue rullntf COdl C0Ul-
paDy.
From Our Regular Correspondence.
The de facto capital of the nation
having been removed to Oyster Bay
where our peace loving but siren
uous President is trying 10 hold
down the lid on foreign and domes-
tic patriots, the chiefs of depart.
men,s have about left for their Sum
mer holidays. While the average
business man is content with a
couple OF weeks vacation and the
farmers and wage earners with an
occasional days holiday, the higher
officials here consider themselves
entitled to two or three months.
Even the government clerks and
messengers have thirty days leave
with full pay and those who remain
on duty quit work at IL O'Clock on
Saturdays. This average absence
OF thousands of officials from Wash
ington at this season makes but Lit.
tie political news stirring.
The Democratic Congressional
Committee has its headquarters
here, Congressman Bowers of Mis-
sissippL a very efficient political
manager, being In charge in the
absence of Chairman Griggs. The
preparation of the campaign book
and the printing of documents on
the tariff and other issues are prlnci-
pally occupying the attention of the
committee. The election of Con-
gressmen in Maine on September
OH Is looked on hopefully, espec-
tally in the second district. where
there is strenuous fight being made
against Congressman Littlefield by
Organized Labor, who will vote al.
most solidly for the Democratic
candidate, Mr.. Gillicuddy.
Your correspondent has just pro-
cured copy of the testimony of
A. c. Fulmer of Morgantown, w.
Va before the Interstate Com
mission in the coal and oil Investi
CATION last spring, Mr.. Fulmer was
a coal operator on the M. & K,
railroad and was financially ruined
by the Vaccinations Of Senator Ell
kins, who bought the NJ. & K.
railroad from the people with whom
MIR. Fulmer made his original con-
tract to ship coal. In his evidence
before the commission Mr.. Fulmer
stated that "Senator Elkins said
he bought the road and the B,&O.
railroad wanted to buy it from him
several times. The evidence shows
that Fulmer was squeezed out by
the refusal of the railroad to furnish
him cars to save himself from ruin
he agreed to arbitrate with Senator
Elklns. Judge nayton who was
the arbitrator suggested by Senator
Elkins and agreed upon by Fulmer,
decided that Fulmer must transfer
his lease to Davis Elkins, the presi.
dent of the railroad company.
Fuimer swore he was cup to it"
and had to go into this arbitration
and in reply to the question: What
do you mean2 Well, the foundation
OF this being -efused cars, when we
got the last cars my recollection of
our accounts was that we had from
seven to ten thousand dollars in the
bank and the company (Fulmer
Coal co.. did not owe a dollar.
That all went and all | could yet
from my friends. Fulmer also. in
reply to a question by the attorney
OF Senator Elkins if the agreement
LOT arbitration was not approved by
him; eyes, Sir. You drew it up
and you were doing it for the men
squeezing me to the wall and 1 was
satisfied for you to do it and talked
with you several times. They had
accomplished what they were after,
to squeeze me out"
This financial ruin of tulmer
hardly COMFORTS with the speech Of
Senator Elkins before a bankers
convention, which he RECALLED with
The old and tiresome homilies on
the burdens and sorrows of great
wealth, for the long struggled to
squeeze out Fulmer could have had
no incentive but to add to the al.
ready great wealth Of Senator Ell.
kins.