The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-20
MR. ROOSEVELT AND THE RAIL
ROADS.

members to investigate Mr.. hooSeNS lb :
travelling expenses when he was Presi-
dent OF the United states; how mucn,
81 any, of these expenses were paid BY
Mr.. Roosevelt, or by any one acting
for him, the contracts for transporta-
ton made by him, or by any one act
ing for him, while he was President.
or "the demands for transportation
made by Theodore Roosevelt while
President on said road''-"said road
being the Pennsylvania railroad. The
committee is to ascertain the amount of
transportation furnished Mr.. Roosevelt
and It's value and whether or not any
portion OF 1t was paid and when anu
by whom. The committee will be re-
CURED to make the same Inquiry as to
all the other railroads supplying like
transportation and the conditions
under which 1t was supplied.
We 90 not know, of course. what
the House Will do with the resolution,
but we wish that Speaker Cannon could
find somo way to smother 1t. as IL will
great deal of talk, 1t will give a lot
of impostors u chance to kick him now
that he Is down. it might nave the
effect of galvanizing him into life
again, and that would be public mis-
fortune. 1t is reasonably certain that
Mr.. Roosevelt did not spend any of the
public money in his journeyings about
the country and if he was hauled by
the railroads by way of compliment. or
with the hope of favors yet to come.
or under contract, that was matter
wholly between him and the contrfput-
ing lines and systems of INES 1t was
said during the recent campaign that
he obtained 100000 worth of trans
portation, and other things, from the
Pennsylvania Railroad, for which the
railroad company had not been paid.
and that the Southern Railroad sup
piled him with transportation for MIN
self and family and friends to the
amount of about $4,000. or there
abouts for which it had not been paid.
but that, it seems to US, is business
matter between him and the roads and
not between the Congress and the
roads Congress has no power, we be-
lieve, to institute proceedings at law
in such cases. If Mr. Roosevelt owe
tile Pennsylvania or other railroads
for transportation the courts are open
to them and they can sue him for the
owe them without the initiation of the
House of Representatives, and ii Is
certain that there is no court in the
country that is 50 fossllized thar 1t
would NOT give shin and them tair
trial. Mr., Roosevelt is not bank
rupt he is doubtless very well fixed in
this worlds goods, and can sue ana
be sued as the law permits. He should
not be made a victim OF Congressional
action.
If the investigation is 10 be made.
however, We would suggest that its
scope be extended so that The com
mittee shall investigate not only the
Roosevelt account with the railroads.
pul me accounts also Of the MEM
hers of Congress and Senators and
other men in high Offices of trust and
confidence with the railroads. all and
singular SO that the country may be
apprtsed of the libera1ity with which
the transportation lines have treated
It's public servants. Whether SIR.
Roosevelt ever received any favors
from the railroads or not, We do not
know Of our own knowledge; but
there We're others who got their share
OF attention doubtless and whlte
Congress is about IT. it might be web
70 make general examination of the
records Only the other day II wa.
noted IN me newspapers that Con
hfess'nah Mann OF Illinois, in clean
ing 0p' ms desk IN the House, came
sefoss an o4o telegraph frank-book,
"hich he instructed his secretary to
seha D'Eek o the company issuing it,