The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-10
General Belief That In
quiry Will Bring Start
ling Results.
LETTER OF DAWSON
CREATES SENSATION
Senator Elkins Declares State of
West Virginia Has Laws
Ample to Cover the Stu
ation-Patterson
Resolution to
Sleep.

(From Our Regurai CorieSpo ndent)
WASHINGTON. d. c.. cbruury o.
1t Is a very evident fact ta.t the invcs-
tigaton into the affairs OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad and its control of the
three great coal-carrying lines OF the
two virginias, is going TO develop some
thing startling before the subject is
through with Speaker Cannon wants
the investigation made by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, az is proposed
In the resolution offered by Representa-
tive Gillespie. OF Texas. or to be con-
Quoted by the Department OF Commerce
and Labor. The Speaker is specially
sensitive to the charge, which is being
made, that the activity of the House in
probing railroad affairs Is due to the
.no pass order of the Pennsylvania
through which members and senators
have to pay their fare when they travel
over it's lines. Speaker Cannon has said
he hopes nothing more will be heard OF
this charge, as he does not attach any
Importance to 1t.
Letter Creates Sensation.
This in itself is indicative of the gen
eral attitude of the members OF Con-
gress towards the railroads. There is
widespread demand for an invcstiga-
ton That 1t is not limited to tho Dem
ocrats, who started 1t. Is evidenced by
the face that Governor w. NJ. o. Daw-
son. of West Virginia. Republican OF
the strenuous type has written to Sen
ator Tillman. just as intense In his de-
mocracy as is Governor Dawson IN ms
Republicanisn, asking him to aid in free
ing the State from the thraiooui OF the
Pennsylvania.
The letter of Governor Dawson, printed
In Tie Tlmes-Dispatch OF yesterday.
created sensation. not only on the iioor
of the Senate. but at the other end of the
Capitol as well. Senator Eikips had
told Senator Iill;nan, in the course of II
colloquy the other day, that the laws OF
West Virginia were ample to protect the
people against the railroads. The West
Virginia senator appeared to be as inucl,
surprised as anybody ut the reception
of the letter by the South Carolina sena-
tor, and was ON his feet at once to pro-
test that the laws of his State We're amply
sufficient to protect the citizens against
the alleged oppression of the coal-carry~
ing roads. He asked that the letter be
referred to his own committee, that on
Interstate Commerce. This action was
taken, and the communication from Gov
ernor Dawson is now in the hands OF
Senator Elkins himself. 1t is u REMARK
able state of affairs that Republican
Governor. who owes his election primnr-
lily to Senator Elkins, who holds the
State of West Virginia in the hollow OF
his hand, should have written to Senator
Tillman for aid. The South Carolina sem
ator stands for everything which Sena-
tor Ell<ins opposes, and vice versa.
Mr.. Tillman reiterated to-day the state
ment which he made yesterday. that it
the House resolution for further informa-
tion as to the control of the three roads
by the Pennsylvania, should fail for
any reason. he would take steps to act
in the matter He is in the attitude
OF waiting.
Gillespie Wants Facts.
Oscar w. Gillespie has met the demand
for an investigation squarely and boldly,
and he declared to-day that he would
do all In his power to get all the facts
before the country and then try to PUT
an end to state OF affairs which is too
grievous to be borne ;3onger He stumbled
on the subject. He Is n rather heavy,
square.jawed lawyer of Fort Worth.
now serving his second term in Congress.
He is a man of great mental and physi-
cal vlgor. and he is bringing to the in.
vestigation his training as Il lawyer.
"One OF the things which made mo be-
gin to investigate the affairs OF the Penn
sylvania," !" he said. was the learning
of the fact that Philadelphia had but
one railroad. The fact was astounding
to me, for my town of Forth Worth has
nine, and that the great city OF Philadel-
phia should have but one seemed In
credible.
| studied conditions existing In that
city and the State of Pennsylvania, and
the further | proceeded the moro be-
came convinced that something was
radically wrong. to put 1t mildly. It was
my early conviction that congressional
Inquiry should be made and I introduced
my first resolution. The inane answer OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission to
that resolution, has made ME more de-
termined than ever to get all tho facts,
I believe we will eventually have them,
and am confident that it viii be shown,
that the coal fields OF Virginia and West
Virginia are controlled by the Pennsyl.
vnnia, which divides the territory among
the Baltimore and Ohio, the Norfolk and
Western and the Chesapeake and Ohio,
and prevents too rapid development OF
the Southern mines, which would near
development at the expense of the mines
OF PENNSYLVANIA
Not Force Vote.
The belief is expressed by well-iny
formed senators that the Republicans
will not try to force II vote on thu
Patterson resolutions protesting againA
the action of the Democratic caucus Ia
trying to bind the minority members
OF tho Senate to vote against the treaty.
The resolutions still lie on the tcble. the
motion made by Senator fatterson
Thursday, after Senator Bailey had ad-
mInstered to him probably tho most
severe castigation that has been heard
In the Senate chamber In a generation.
The resolutions may be called up any
day. and 1t is said that several Repub-
lieans have expressed desire 70 speak
on item 81
Senator Spooner is one OF these and
Senator Lodge Is another In ease they
do speak to the resolutions. Senator
n,nlmnn is nnr4 Of the j Democrats WIN