Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-09
IN THE SENATE,

general expectation that today would
witness revival of yesterdays excit-
ing occurrences in the Senate over Mr..
Patteson's caucus resolution, but it
was not realized and the large crowd
attracted to the galleries We're COM
PEELED to leave in disappointment when
at p NJ. the Senate went into execu-
tive session after q day devoted large
~ to ordinary bills on the calendar.
The Indications of the morning were
in the line of the popular expectation,
as several senators expressed a desire
to speak on the resolution. There were
other senators, however, who held the
view that the caucus question had been
sufficiently agitated and they spent
much Of the first hour Of the days ses-
sion in an effort to prevent further dis
cussion. They Were successful for the
time at least and 1t was soon known
that the resolution would not be called
up to day.
Mr.. Scott spoke on this bill giving tel
egram operators of the Civil war
pensionable status and the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Tillman again today made ref
erence TO the charge that the railroads
in West Virginia We're discriminating
against the private coal mines and had
read letter from the governor of that
state charging that the PENNSYLVANIA
Co. controls all the trunk lines in West
Virginia to the disadvantage of the
state.
Tillman opened the proceedings of the
day by referring to a petition previously
presented by him from the Red Rock Fuel
Co. of West Virginia, complaining that
the Baltimore & Ohio had refused to per-
init that company to connect it's tracks
with those of the Baltimore & Ohio, thus.
as Tillman expressed it, "bottling up the
company" He said that at the time
Eikins had said there was a remedy under
the state laws of West Virginia. He then
presented n letter from Gov. Dawson Of
West Virginia, complaining of the diff
Guilty in administering the laws. The gov
crnor added:
1T may be that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Co. does not legally own a controll-
ing part of the Baltimore 6, Ohio Co., of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. or
the Norfolk 6, Western Railway Co., but
I have no doubt that an investigation will
show that the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.
practically controls those three great
trunk lines which traverse West Virginia
and which are the only means whereby
the products of this state, including coal,
can be shipped either to the Lakes. in
the West. or other markets N the East.
Hence it is a fact thai West Virginia
today is in the grasp OF a railroad trust
-t,s,t Of hal
state shall be developed and what shall
not be developed. how much coal shall
be shipped out of the state, to what
points or ports it shall be shipped ami
when it shall be shipped. OF course it
makes its own rates and we are helpless.
The Pennsylvania railroad is very largely
interested in the production of shipment
of bituminous coal. 1t will naturally look
after it's own interest and the interest or
the people along its lines in Pennsyl-
vania and elsewhere first of all, ana
therefore the interests of West Virginia
are subordinate to the interests of those
others and our railroads upon which we
are dependent are controlled by a corpor-
alton practically in competition with us.
The governor concluded by requesting
an official investigation into the state OF
affairs. Tillrnan said that as the letter
came from the Republican governor OF
the state he did not see how an investiga-
ton could be refused and unless the
House should move in the MISTER he
would ask the Senate to order an inquiry.
Elkins said that n state law offered an
adequate remedy by mandamus for such
conditions and those represented but that
shippers hesitated to employ it. He sug-
gested that the governors letter be re-
ferred to the committee on interstate
commerce and 1t was so referred.
Foraker expressed the hope that there
would be an investigation along the lines
suggested by Governor Dawson lie SAID
that the governors complaint went to the
heart Of the railroad trouble all over the
country and he expressed the opinion that
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