Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-24
HOUSE WANTS INFORMATION
Tillman-gillespis Resolution is Adopted
Without Opposition,
REFERS TO COAL AND OIL TRANSPORTATION
Interstate Commerce Commis n
asked 10 Tell what Relations
Esist Between Railroads aud
Producers Of Commodities.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Preccdcd by a
debate which indicated no hcsitdncy. but
rather n relish In taking action against al
legged railroad combinations, the house
agreed without opposition today to the
Tillman- Gillespie resolution directing the
Interstate Commerce commission to make
an Immediate inquiry and report regarding
alleged restraints of trade on the part of
certain railroads in the handling of coal
and oil. The resolution was not In the
form in which It passed the senate and
will go back To- that body for its second ac-
tion. The debate occupied an hour and
consisted of a succession OF speeches in de-
nunCiation of alleged practices and an en-
dOrsement of the proposed investigation
The only note of apprehension was from
Mr. Mann ullD who called attention TO the
law which exempts from prosecution per
sons who may testify in the inquiry. In
this manner. he said. the guilty of1cials
II any such were found. might be able 10
escape punishment 1t was explained that
the resolution in no way changed existing
law on this point and the belief was ex-
pressed that in making the inquiry the
commission would exercise discretion in
getting it's informant ton from sources which
would not exempt possible guilty parties.
Townsend Explains Resolution.
MI townsend tMichD presented the reso-
luton with a unanimous report from the
Interstate and Foreign Commerce com
mission. Explaining the resolution, Mr.
Townsend said:
This resolution was born Of a settled
conviction among tho people as reflected IN
congress that injustice and wrong Is being
done to them bv certain interstate carriers
of coal and oil. As members OF the ma.
tional legislature 1t seems to me that "
is the duty of congressman when great
complaints presented by numerous
citizens of high character against condi-
tions which are alleged to in1udiciously
affect consumers of the necessities OF life
to nt least investigate the complaints with
a view to determining. first whether the
complaints are well founded, and second
II wrongs are found to exist. to discover
II possible whether existing laws are
being violated. and third IL any new legis-
lation is necessary.
II has been confidentially alleged that
certain railroad companies have large
holdings of coal and oil lands, that they
buy and sell coal and oil: that in other
cases officers of these roads own sufti
cient Of the stock OF oil and coal companies
when used in connection with tho stock
owned by the roads to enable them to con.
troll such companies: that by reason of such
ownership, dealings and collusions the tive
great necessities of modern life, coal anC
oil, are made more expensive to the con
sumner and at the same time independent
owners and dealers in these products are
injured IL not ruined.
supply Curtailed.
1t Is alleged that hundreds of owner!
of coal and oil mines and fields are ore
vented from operation for the reason tn,
roads, which under the law should serve
them, either fail entirely in furnishing tn,
means OF transportation or else furnish
them so inadequately as to make opera
rho result OF This can only be that ever,
consumer OF coal and oil is subject to tn,
prices OF monopoly, which are those of eX
I tortion and injustice. II Is possible tina
/ reach these evils ii they are found to eN
| ist, but there can be no doubt that tn
| government is strong enough to proteC
| its citizens against any of its law-mad
| creatures and when publicity reveals al
| evil congress will be able and willing {,
| apply a remedy. The resolution as orig
/ inally presented to the house contem
plated only an investigation in relation 4
| bituminOus coal The senate resolution In
| Cluded all other products.
| The gentleman from Kansas Mr.. Camp
/ bell, most ably presented reasons, backe'
/ by facts, showing that oil should be i'm
| cluded. The committee believes that car
/ riers Of all kinds of coal and oil should b
| terstate Commerce commission shoul
\ make II. This investigation should be mad
/ promptly. fearlessly and well.
| The house devoted the remainder of tn
day TO minor matters and passed seveTa
| bills. among which was the famous Musse
/ Shoals dam bill. which was before the hous
from the president. who returned 1t wit
| suggestions from the secretary OF war a
to amendments The bill permits the ere
alton Of an immense water-power in tn
/ Tennessee river in Alabama and has bee
pending before congress for several year: