The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-30
JOLT TO RAILROADS.
Their Champions in the House Were
Caught Mapping.

Washington. Jan 30.-Monday was a
hard day on the railroads. They were
assailed simultaneously at both ends of
the capitol. In the house, a resolution
was adopted calling for reports to the
interstate commerce committee, which
are said to show that the Pennsylvania
railroad has formed merger similar
to that formed by James A Hill in the
Northern Securities company.
In the senate, Mr.. Tillman Scathngly
arraigned the railroads for diScrimina-
ton, asserting that unless these inter-
ests were curbed. the country will soon
reach the point where the tyranny of
corporation control would become I'M
bearable.
The action of the house was startling
to the railroads. Recently Representa-
tive Gillespie of Texas offered a resolu-
ton calling upon the president to re-
port to the house "all the facts within
the knowledge of the interstate com
nerce committee. tending to show that
there exists a combination arrangement
between the Pennsylvania Railroad
company the Norfolk & Western, the
Baltimore & Ohio, the Philadelphia, Bal
tin1ore & Washington, the Northern
Central and the Chesapeake & ONO IN
violation of the interstate commerce
laws This resolution was Tefer-0@ TO
the committee on railroads and canals
and it was supposed it would not be
heard of again.
1t Bore Reeder's Name.
1t IS the resolution lhdL NEilL Al4to liz
house bearing the name of Representa-
tive Reeder of Kansas. Mr.. Reeder in
some unaccountable way got civil ser
vice bill he had prepared mixed up with
Mr. GilIespies resolution and for a
brief season he was hailed as the lead
or of the anti-railrOad forces in the
house. He modestly disclaimed that
honor and Gillespie came into his own
when the latter called up his reso-
Iution in the afternoon those members
Who are supposed to see that the rail-
roads are not imposed upon by the
| enactment of legislation Objectionable
to them were unprepared. The most
s,rDrised of these gentlemen was the
To5orable John Dalzeil, of Pittsburg,
! one of the house leaders. Before
! coming to congress, Mr.. Dalzell. who
/ is fine lawyer. was q pennsylvania
1 railroad attorney He is warm per
sonal friend of President A. J. Cassatt
! If the Pennsylvania and is generally
/ supposed to feel very kindly towards
/ that railroad
BEFORE he or any other friends of
( the railroads could grasp the situation,
I AR Gillespie had called his resolution
IN and the house had adopted it,
practically without debate. Mr. Dali
! zeIrs predicament was described by
/ one of his colleagues who declared
/ that ssthe Pennsylvania Waterman
] had been caught asleep at the switch.
CaIderhead and Reeder Vote.
] Tt did not take MIN lOl6 70 recover
4 his bearings. however. After the an
] noune ement that the resolution had
gone through he made a motion that
/ the house reconsider its action. Mr..
! Gillespie made a motion that the Dali
zell motion be laid on the table and
On this motion the roll was called.
There were many absentees and a
hare quorum. The RESULT was yeas. 121;
navs. go Among those who voted with
the Democrats and against the rail-
roads was Mr.. Reeder or Kansas. and
Mr.. Welborn and Mr.. Murphy of Mis-
/ souri, Mr. Calderhead of Kansas
voted with Mr.. Dalzell. The other