Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-10
MORE INVESTIGATION
Relations of Penna. and Allied
Roads Subject of Inquiry.
TILLMAN'S INTENDED ACTION
Courts in Two States Looking Into
the Matter.
INTENDED ACTION
AN AMENDMENT Is CERTAIN
In Senate Prohibiting the Control by
Railroads of Corporations Produc-
ing Certain Articles.

Senator Tillman will introduce in the Sen
ate next Monday a resolution to start an
investigation by some branch of the fed
eral government into the relations existing
between the Pennsylvania railroad, the
Baltimore and Ohio, the Chesapeake and
Ohio and the Norfolk and Western rail-
roads, and their alleged ownership or con-
troll of the output of bituminous coal. 1t is
not thought that congressional inquiry
will be made. but that the work shall be
done by the Department Of Commerce and
Labor or the Department of Justice
Representative Townsend of Michigan, one
of the leaders in the movement for railway
rate legislation, will call upon Attorney
General Moody next Thursday, upon the re-
turn of that official to town, and lay be-
fore him allegations presented by T. N Bull
litt of Torresdale, Pa, that there is in ef-
feet merger of the railroads mentioned.
together with other allegations as to the
control of the coal output. Mr.. Townsend
will make formal application to the Attor-
ney General to have the complaints inves-
tigated
Investigations Elsewhere.
In the meantime the United States cir
cult court in West Virginia will be hearing
the suit which the Red Rock Fuel Company
to enforce the ruling of the interstate COM
merce commission requiring the road to
cease Its alleged discrimination against the
coal company.
Furthermore, the attorney general of the
state Of Pennsylvania will probably be in
vestigating the Pennsylvania, the Reading
and the Lackawanna to determine If they
are violating the state constitution, which
prohibits railroads from owning coal prop
critics. A resolution to that effect passed
the pennsylvania house yesterday amidst
scenes OF wild enthusiasm, so the press
dispatches report.
Moreover. 1t is deemed practically certain
that an amendment will be adopted in the
Senate to the pending rate bill which will
prohibit railroads doing interstate business
from controlling corporations producing
articles of Interstate trade. The amend
ment will be proposed and ultra conserva-
tive senators say it cannot be stopped.
Not Ready for Two-Cent Fare.
1t is not believed that Congress is ready
for national 2-cent fare bill, although
such measure has already passed the
Ohio legislature and has been signed~by the
governor. to take effect within thirty days.
Probably the nearest approach to legisla-
tion upon fares will be an amendment, to be
offered, prohibiting the railways from re-
quiring the purchasers of thousand-mile
tickets to deposit SO in excess of the cost
OF the ticket, to be refunded upon return
of the cover. The railroads will fight this
amendment on the ground that its adoption
would make 1t impossible to prevent "scalp-
ing" in thousand-mile tickets.
The railroads appear to be dazed by the
outbreak of anti-railroad legislation. They
are doing nothing In the open to stem the
tide OF opposition, and contrary to popu-
lar understanding, there is no lobby In
Washington of any account looking after
their bridges and culverts and landslides.
The Capitol has seen fewer railroad attor-
neys and special representatives this ses-
sion than for many years past.
Misrepresenting the Situation.
Wall street is misrepresenting the situa-
tion In Washington Hints were freely cic-