Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-02-23
An Open Secret.
To the Spectator.
Washington, d. G., Feb. 10

Especial Correspondence
The railways, especially the Penn
sylvania and associate lines, are in
sore distress. They are In mortal dread
for fear that the morrow may bring
some new tribulatiOn. 1t IL an open
secret here that this condition has
been brought about by MIR. Cassatt s
anti pass policy. For years all Sena
tors who would accept them, all Con
gressmen of like tendencies, and Ell
officials of the gOvernment-includ
judges-who were of sufficient impor-
TANGO to be considered, We're gwen this
precious piece of paste aboard, and IN
addition thereto, their Sons and daugh-
tiers, uncles and aunts, cousins and de
pendent relatives, including domes
tics, We're supplied with tickets to no
hIther and thitheo ad libtum. At tue
beginning of this year Mr.. Cassatt
awakening suddenly to the fact that
such treatment was in violation of the
rules of the interstate commerce com
mission or some other rule-put his
foot down on these privileges and SHUT
them off. There was CONSERVATION in
high places. For a long time toe re.
port that be had come to this "unal-
terabls conclusion was not credited.
Later 1t began to dawn on them that
he really meant what he said, and
when his policy became known to be
fixed there were mutterings both loud
and deep.
Evidences that the Cassatt order
might prove illtimed were not long
wanting. Hostile legislation began to
be more pronounced. The Hepburn
bill began to take on new advocates,
indeed there seemed ia be rush for
that band wagon, and in little while
the seats were more than full. With
minor stabs, Game directly the Gillespie
resolution, little later came the fatal
Dawson letter. West Virginia officials
had seen their pasteboards thrown into
the Cassatt furnace, hence change Of
feeling over there. True Gov. Dawson
is after the shoes of Senator Ekins,
but the Dawson letter was sop to the
Congressman who now wakes where
he used to ride; SO he seized that too,
as club to hit MIR. Cassatt, who had
just dealt him killing blow. Many
have tried to scout the idea that the
taking away Of these passes had any
thing to do with this avalanch which
seems to be certain to Overwhelm tue
Pennsylvania and its subsidiary lines.
But this is impossible. Tue Red Rock
Coal Company has been the starter,
and now all the independent coal COM
panies in Pennsylvania, Virginia asd
West Virginia, are coming TO the front
with their wrongs, a thing they were
afraid to do before, and the current
belief is that Their action will ultimate
ly drive all the railroads in those States
out of the coal business and force them
to do the legitimate work for which
they were chartered, to wit: be COM
mon carriers. MI. Cassatt, it is said
welcomes Investigation. This Is
known to be a gigantic bluff The
evidence will more than make a prinG
.t0cGe case, it is said, ia fact, 1t Will
show condition calculated TO alarm.
But let that be as 1t may. the cause of
this trouble railroad officials admit
was preclpitated by the mistaken wis
dom OF Mr. Andrew j. Cassatt who
had so long ruled the land and sea az
with an iron rod, that he thought him
self lnvincibIe.
The Insurance frauds and populations
sharpened public desire for scrutiny.
There is opposition now to investa-
gate all recepticles of ill gotten gains.
So soon, therefore, as Mr. Cassatt hit
the public functioparies the blow attri.
buted to him, just SO soon did they
resent it, and the results are becoming
apparent.
The friendliness of the press was in
q measure wiped out by the same act.
1t lost its passes. 1t Is noticeable that
columns are printed now relating to
rate bills, coal Investigations, combi-
nations 10 restraint of trade, where
before mere mention would possibly
have been made. The editorials have
thickened calling attention to condi-
tions unknown before by the public,
and the public, whilst it's mind may
not be said to be poisoned, is not al
lowed to lie dormant or foTgetful of
what is going on. OF course no rail-
way official can openly express his
opinion of Mr.. Cassatt 8 awful break, !"
but he can whisper it in your ear, and
lift bis finger and wink tine other eye.
In fine If these officials had Nj. Cas-
salt in front of a kicking machine they
would hold him for good while, at
least until he felt sensibly their indig-
nation and the effect of his own stu
pid and indefensible blunder," as they
choose to call it.