The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-29
Senate Asks for Information
Concerning His Work.
REMARKABLE, SAY SENATORS
Speech In Boston Regarding Rail-
roads ImDresses Upper House with
TO Have Brought About Employ
ment of His College Mate.

interstate Commerce Commission IN ali
probability would be cleared up in the
immediate future.
This was the direct result Of the intro
duction and prompt passage in the Senate
/ of a resolution by Mr. Culberson, of
Texas. calling upon the commission 10
/ say whether Charles 5. Hanks Is employed
in any capacity in connection with il.
and. further, to send TO the Senate full
statement of the facts found by said
Hanks" which show or tend to show that
freight and passenger rates by the rail-
roads of the United States could be re-
duced 10 Per cent without affecting divi-
dends or stocks, OF the wages paid rail
road employees
The first chapter of the story about
Hanks and Hartman dates back several
months Only the elect know all the cir
Icumstances connected with the case. 1t
/ appears that Charles Steadman Hanks,
described by persons in Washington who
know him as rich, was a claSsmate Of
+ President Roosevelt at Harvard. In ad-
dition he has written a book. Mr.. Hanks,
who is alleged TO have been inspired by
/ George ". r. Hartman, also Of Boston,
and by whom he was accompanied. came
10 Washington 10 talk 10 the President
about the railroad rate question in par
ticular and economic questions in general
Mr. Hanks is alleged 10 have informed
I the President that he had given the rail-
road business exhaustive study. had
( reached the conclusion that rates in this
country were excessive, and believed that
Ian.
( Commission would show that rates could
! be reduced without impairing earning ca
Ipacity, disturbing stock values. or dimin-
ishiug the average wage of railroad en-
.ployes. Mr. Hanks was backed up in his
/ assertions by Mr. Hartman. who has had
I more or less 20 do with railway properties.
+ The President is said TO have expressed
great interest. and Messrs Hanks and
Hartman were turned over 10 the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
Conferred with Commission.
/ Prior TO beginning their work IN the
/ offices Of the commission, Messrs. Hanks
and Hartman had a series of conferences
/ with the members OF that body. at which
/ they outlined their plans. From the best
/ information obtaiuable, the experts were
4 unable TO demonstrate TO the commission
/ that they would be able TO make good.
/ They were given access 90 the records of
/ the commission, however. and began their
/ computations. Among other things. they
| are said to have set up the contention
/ that they could figure out with mathc-
NAUTICAL accuracy the cost OF handling "A
given lot OF freight and proceeding along
/ those lines, estimate the cost Of the man
/ agement of a railroad thus affording "a
/ basis upon which 20 fix rates. The pres
/ ence of AIessrs. Hanks and Hartman in
I the offices Of the commission. where they
had access to everything and everybody,
/ is understood to- have been "a constant
/ source of annoyance 20 the Interstate
/ Commerce Commissioners. but on this
point satisfactory information cannot be
obtained owing 90 the refusal Of those
/ concerned to discuss IT,
/ Messrs. Hanks and Hartman remained
/ as special employees of the commission a
number Of months. As far as the Fed
/ eral body is concerned. il is alleged that
/ they failed to make good" They made
a report TO the President. but whether
they succeeded in convincing him that
rates might be reduced. as they indicated.
+ without incouveninecing any one, is an
other point upon which no light has been
I thrown by ans. one in Washington
/ NIessrs. Hanks and Hartman were final
/ ly "let out" a few weeks ago Since
/ then the former has reiterated in a speech
/ before the Boston Chamber Of Commerce
/ his theory on the subject Of rates.
! Upon the passage Of the resolution
/ hurry orders were given, and the instru-
ment reached the Interstate Commerce
[ Commission long before the close of Of
/ fee hours
1T would be manifestly improper for
/ me to discuss this matter in advance of
/ the commissions reply being forwarded
/ to the Senate" said Chairman Knapp.
when questioned about it, He absolute
f ly refused to be drawn into a discussion
+ of how. why, or when Messrs Hanks and
+ Hartman came to be employed as inves-
| tigat0rs in the commission offices.
Caused FURRY in Senate.
The introduction of the Culberson reso-
luton created little furry in the Sen
ate. Mr.. CuIberson regarded the alleged
statement of Mr.. Hanks as "extraordI-
nary" Senator AIdrich agreed with the
Senator from Texas. and suggested that
the scope of the resolution of inquiry
should be broadened so as TO call for the
/ names Of ali employees of the commission.
i do not desire that said Mr. Cul-
berson, who went on to state that his
resolution was based on the speech made
I by Mr.. Hanks in Boston. asserted that
its purpose is TO secure the facts upon
which the speech was based. IF they
have been reported to the commission.
and also, to discover the capacity. IL
any, in which this gentleman served the
commission I wish to know that. in
order 20 see what Importance or author
ity to attach to his findings
But there have been stories floating
about that there was a large force en-
ployed by somebody in examinations OF
this character" said Mr. Aldrich. "and
should be glad TO have not only the
names Of the employees. but the informa-
ton which they have gathered from vari-
Gus sources. ! think it is due to us. who
are engaged more OF less in the work Of
legislating I'm this direction that we
should have all this information. espe-
cally information which is gathered by
govern nent employees for our benefit in
legislation"
Il would have no objection" replied the
Texas Senator TO voting for "A resolu-
tion submitted by the Senator from Rhode
Island covering the point but / trust he
will allow this resolution to he consid-
cred this morning and passed"
The statement made by this man as
Ia what be had been doing and bfe ay
pending of the government money in Ger /
tain directions is quite a remarkable /
statement" said Mr.. Hale, and think
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