Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-31

dtions, while other lines voluntarily
granted increases in pay. This was the
case with the Pennsylvania and TIL,
Reading. each road increasing by 6 pei
cent the wages of every cmploye earn.
ing less than 5000 Il month.
These grants of better pay were fol-
lowed closely by increases in passenger
and freight rates. The increase in the
Communication rates on railroads with
terminals In New York city met with
indignant protest which in New Jersey
took tho form of II demand that the
governor call an extra session of the
legislature to empower the newly Great
ed public utilities commission to act
in the matter. In November the inter-
state commerce. commission held hear
ings in the matter. where the rates
raised were interstatc.
The increase in freight rates was of
even greater Importance. 1t was esti-
mated by the railroads that the In
crease In wages would aggregate $780,
100000, and that it would be necessary
to meet n greater part OF the shortage
IN net revenue that the increased wages
would cause by advances in freight
rates. The shippers ut once took issue
with the roads on this point, and there
after until near the close of the year
the interstate commerce commission
was engaged In hearing both sides Of
inc tuSt III Ntll'hS llbluDIN Nnl-
cago. ST. Louis, New York ami Wash
,ngton. In September various organiza-
lions Of railway workmen, with mem
bcrship of 100000. indorscd the pro-
posed increase in freight rates.
The same month President Taft an
nounccd the personnel of the now rail
road commission, which the recent
amendment to the railroad act author
ICES to report on railroad stock, bonds
fhnir ;.
may be controlled by the public. Tho
naming of President Arthur 7. Hadlcy
OF Yale university rs head gave great
public satisfaction. Prof. b. f. Meyer
OF the University of Wisconsin. another
member. Is also chairman Of the Wis
consin railroad commission Two
months later, on Nov. 81, the new Penn
sylvania railroad station liz the heart OF
New York city, and the tunnels leading
to it under the Hudson river. were
thrown open to the travelling public-a
gigantic Improvement finished after
seven years OF effort and Mt cost OF
$l5o.C00,C00.
DEEDS OF CONGRESS IN 1910.
Until the fall elections, the most dra-
matte event associated with the spirit
OF political unrest in this country was
the undoing of Speaker Cannon in the
house of representatives. First, the
house voted not to let the speaker APP
point its members on the Balinger-
Pinchot investigation committee. but to
select the members itself. That was in
January. Later, the Democrats and the
"insurgent' and other Republicans to
The number OF 80 united to pass n resu-
hutton authorizing q new committee on
rules much large: than the old COM
mittec and elected by the majority and
minority members of the house, with
the distinct provision that the speaker
shouiG not be on the committee. or
the old committee the speaker was
chairman, and that committee lie APP
pointed. 1t was charged widely both in
and out of Congress that the committee
ran the house to suit itself Since the
beginning OF the first regular session OF
the Sixtytlrst Congress in December,
1909. there had been much discomfort
over what were called the tyrannicnl
ways of tho committee, and finally, on
March 49, after II bitter debate lasting
two days, the speaker was shorn of one
of his time-honored prerogatives.
The BallIngcr-Pinchot investigation
resulted from the controversy begun
the year previous between the two
and their adhercnts over the
secretary OF the interiors fitness to
have charge of matters relating to ma
tonal conservation.
Early in the year Sccy. Ballinyer
asked for Il full inquiry at the hands of
Congress and q joint commission. con-
sisting of six members of each house,
was appointed to attend to the matter.
Before this commission had time to
Senator Dolllvcr OF Iowa rose
IN the senate ana read n letter from
AIR. Pinchot acknowledging th;a some
of his subordinates had been actively
with H., ,,t,,
upon Secy. Ballingcr and the interior
department. In this letter the former
chief forester commended the action of
his subordinates. This WIGS followed
by the removal of Pinchot and his as
sociates, Price and Shaw. and the APP
pointmcnt of Henry S. Graves. head OF
the Yale Forestry school,, in pinchots
pllce.
The investigation began in February.
Both sides were represented by attor-
noys and testimony did not come to an
and until the third week In May. On
sept. the four Democratic members
If the committee made public at Min
leapolis. Mimi, II report of their find
nSs against Secy. Rallinger: Congress-
nan Madison of Kansas. "insurgcnt."
made IL SEPARATE statement, also
against the secretary. Four days later
he Republican members of the COM
nlttee met at Chicago ana denounced
IS unlawful the action OF the Demo-
ratio members. This majority, in De-
embcr. reported to Congress that 'thc
violence has wholly failed to make out
case. Neither has any fact proved ,
,or-all the facts put together exhibited
ir. Ball,nger as being anything but a
ompetent and honorable gentleman,
oncstly and faithfully performing the
utes of his high office With an eye
ingle to the public interest" The com
nittce scored Nh. BallingGrs accuscrs, !
allied the forestry bureau wasteful. |
nd disapproved of Mr.. Rallinger's plan
~ selling Alaskan coal lands, urging |
easing, President Taft's plan.
Probably the most important legisla-
I've measure passed by Congress was |
ne new interstate commerce act. which |
'as signed by the president on June IS. |
nd provided for the establishment of
he long talkcd-of commerce court
'nder the law the powers of the inter- )