Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-20
Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion Takes Railroad Presi-
dent to Task
OF PREvARlcATIoNs
Commission Handicapped in Its Work
by False Impressions Given Out by
Rail Corporations Relative to Deci-
sions-consressman Mann Put in .
Hole.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Jan. 20.-The interstate
commerce commission is deeply Of
Tended with the Pennsylvania railroad
company. BY way of showing it's re-
sentiment. the commission has issued a
| letter to President McCrea of the Penn
| sylyania, and given it out for publica-
ton, in Which the shorter and uglier
word is applied in somewhat circum-
| locutory fashion to that corporation.
| Some months ago the question OF
railroads issuing school tickets was
brought before the commission. These
constitute a special variety of commu-
tation fare, available for children at
| tending school The commission found
| that the conditions imposed by some
! of the roads were in violation of the
law against discrimination, and re-
quired that uniform regulations be
applied 1t was alleged that pupils
attending some kinds of schools were
permitted the privilege, while those at
! tending others We're not. The commits
| SiOI HGlu ItdL OH luuSI W StSeSeSN
alike.
The Pennsylvania road Withdrew
the school tickets. and advertised in
the Washington and New York papers
that it did so because of the commits
sion's ruling that they constituted vio-
lation of the law.
Comes now the commission, an
nouncing that it decided nothing OF
the kind; that it made ruling which
would not have retired school tickets
from use, but would have placed them
on a lawful basis. The commission
tartly observes that most criticisms
of the commissions decisions and rul-
ings are not accompanied by any pre-
sentation of the facts or questions
passed upon in any form to clearly
present the facts In issue The adver-
tisement herein referred to is one of
the Instances in which the statement
Of part of a truth or a part OF a
fact is entirely unfair
This case is one of a good many in
which the commission feels that the
railroads have gone out of. their way
to make odium attach to the new law
for regulation of railroads There has
displeasure with this habit Of railroad
managers, but President McCrea is the
first who has been publicly called to
account for alleged unfairness.
ees
Representative Mann, of Chicago,
whose voice on the floor is the voice Of
Cannon, and who is known as a pro-
fessional chairman because the speak
er finds committees almost without
number for him to head, had narrow
escape from being lined up squarely
with the insurgents.
Gardner, OF Massachusetts, insur-
gent, was making speech in criticism
Of the rules. Mr.. Mann broke in and
ridiculed the suggestions of changes,
and was beautifully played by Card
ner, who finally induced him, in mo-
ment of evaporation, to say that IN
certain conditions he would he willing
to give his vote to aid Mr.. Gardner in
effecting some sane and sensible
changes.
..Then I gatherv said Mr. Gardner,
chat while the gentleman from Hi
nois don't approve my particular pro-
posals, he is in sympathy with my
general purpose to revise the rules.
am glad to welcome so distinguished a
convert"
Mr.. Mann was stumped. He didn't
know Just how to explain that he could
favor any possible changes of the rules,
without admitting that the present
ones are not perfect; and nobody SO
close to the throne as Mr.. Mann would
think of making such confession.
while he was foundering and seeking
a way out the chair pounded the desk
and announced that Mr.. Gardeners time
had expired, which saved the neces-
sity of proceeding with further answer
to him.
Considering the condition of reve-
nues. the proposal, which Senator HOP
kins has fathered, to increase from
ss1s5, O0O, 900 to $500,0oO,O00 the authorl-
zation for issue of Panama canal bonds,
has caused a shock. The significance
of the matter is that Hopkins is looked
,non as the spokesman of the admins
ira ion in canal matters, because ne leo
the fight for the lock canal as against
the sea-level ditch, and won II IN q
hard and close struggle in the upper
house. It is explained that the $lso'-
900 900 originally intended to be de-
voted to the canal is already shown 10
be utterly inadequate. 1t Is expected
the ditch will cost from $500, OOo,ooo 10
$500 10000, and the desire is to nave
ample provision made for 1t. OF course,
no more money would be spent than
necessary; but with big bond issue E
authorized, the administration could
resort to it in case any general imam
cial stringency should arise in future.
The proposal however is going TO BRING
I'm an animate debate about the pro-
gress of canal work and the probable
ultimate cost, date of completion, ana
other features The possibility or a
change to the sea-leyel type OF canal
is also brought more clearly into view
bv this suggestion. The increased sum,
il is thought, would be ample to meet
the cost of the sea-level ditch II the
present plan were found impractlcaple.
Knew His Book.
she-Did you forget to-day Is my
birthday?
r:l.,& .,o,, want mo fC?