Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-23
HOUSE CALLS FOR
AN INVESTIGATION
TilIman-GilIespie Resolution
Passed Without Opposition.
CHARGES OF MONOPOLY
Allegations of Railway Discrimina-
tion to Be Examined.
MR.. ToWNSEND's STATEMENT
Interstate Commerce Commission to
Ascertain Whether Trade in Coal
and Oil Has Been Restrained.

Ascertain Whether Trade in Coal
and Oil Has Been Restrained.
Without opposition the House
of Representatives today passed
the Tillman-Gillespie resolution di-
recting the interstate commerce
commission to make examination
into the subject OF railroad dis
examinations and monopoies and
report on the same from time to
time.
The Tllman-Gnlosple resolution. directing
the interstate commerce commission to make
examination into alleged railroad discrim-
nations and monopolies, was taken up in
the House rs the first business today.
Mr.. Townsends Statement.
Mr. Townsend (MchD presented the res
oiution was unanimous report from the
Interstate and foreign commerce commit
tee In explaining the resolution Mr Town
send said: This resolution was born of a
settled conviction among the people as re-
dected in Congress that injustice ard wrong
Is being done them by certain Interstate
carriers of coal and oil. As members of
the national legislature, II seems 10 mo that
II IS the duty Of congressman. wnen great
complaints are presented by numerous cit
lzenS OF nigh character against conditions
which are alleged to injuriously affect pro-
ducers and consumers Of the necessities of
life, TO al least investigate the complaints
with view to determining first whether
the complaints are well founded; and sec
ond, Il wrongs are found to exist to dis
cover. IL possible. whether existing laws
are being violated, and if any new legisla-
ton is necessary.
1T has been confidently alleg ID that GER
tain railroad companies have large hold
ings of coal and oil lands that they buy
and sell coal and oil; that IN other cases Of
ficers of these roads own sufficient of the
stock of oil and coal companies when used
in connection with the stock owned by the
roads to enable them to control such COM
panies that by reason of such ownership,
dealings and colusons. the two great ne
cessties of modern life, coal and oil are
made more expensive to e consumer, and
at the time Independent owners and
dealers in these products are injured, If not
ruined.
1T is alleged that hundreds Of owners
of coal and oil mines and fields are pre-
vented from operation for the reason the
roads, which under the law should serve
them, either fail entirely in furnishing the
means of transportation or else furnish
them so inadequately as to make opera
ton Improbable.
Extortion and Injustice.
1.-The result of this can only be. that every
consumer of coal and oil is subject TO the
prices of monopoly which are those of ex-
tortion and injustice 1t is possible that
existing laws may not be adequate to reach
these evils if they are found to exist, but
there can be no doubt that the government
IS strong enough to protect its citizens
against any of its law-m2de creatures, and
when publicity reveals an EVIL, Congress
will be able and willing TO apply a remedy.
The resolution as originally presented 70
the House contemplated only an inVestlga-
ton in relation to bituminous coal The
Senate resolution included all other pro-
ducts. The gentleman from Kansas, MI.
Campbell, most ably presented reasons
backed by facts showing that oil SHOULD be
included The committee believes that car
riers of all kinds of coal and Oil sEouid De
the subjects of investigation and That the
interstate commerce commission SHOULD
make 1t. The commission already must
have many facts in its possession relating 10
this subject; it has an organization for the
work, and information should be immediate
Iy forthcoming.
This investigation should be made
promptly, fearlessly and well. II is for the
best interest of the honest carriers VINO
are striving faithfully TO serve the public;
it is but just to the people that Congress
should have the information In order that II
may know whether it is serving the public
as ii is entitled to be served"
The Resolution Indorsed.
MI Grosvenor briefly indorsed the resolu-z
ton and explained that he believed IL would
accomplish much in showing certain rail-
road managers that Congress was not so
pUerile and ignorant of passing events as
to be satisfied with the explanation of con-
d:tlons made by certain railroad officials
Mr.. Grosvenor referred to his attempts to
amend the rate bin, which he had aban-
doned in the interest of the passage OF that
bill, and had given notice of an Independent
measure he should present to prevent rail-
roads owning industrial properties. He pc
leved the resolution would accomplish the
purposes he sought to effect.
Support TO the resolution was mace py
Mr. williams the minority leader. In a
brief speech, and Mr.. Gaines (W Va) de-
scribed oppressive conditions in his state
in the coal and coke industries because VI
railroad control.
An explanation of the committee con-
sideration of the resolution in which the
united action OF both parties agreed, was
made by Mr.. Adamson of Georgia.
Sentiment Disclosed by Letters.
Mr.. Gillespie of Texas. joint author Of
the resolution, said that since its introduce
ton he had received many letters from
both democrats and republicans. and that
If half what he heard was true there was
a system of commercial brigandage pre-
vailing compared to which the desperado
of pioneer days was child s play. There
was growing demand, he declared, for the
enforcement of national and state laws
which now exist.
Mr. Mahon of Pennsylvania made the
point that the resolution, far as II re-
ferred TO investigating the oil industry,
made no reference to pipe lines and conse-
ouently left crude oil out of the inquiry.
Mr. Mann of Illinois called attention to a
phase of the proposed investigation which
would, he said be heard from later. The
resolution required the commission to make
the investigation, and could compel testf-
inony II II received testimony from any
oficfal that fact under the law prevented
any prosecution of such official.
Mr. Hepburn remarked that the resolu-