Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-10
URGES AN INQUIRY
Mr.. 0'Shaunessy Pleads for
Grand Trunk Case Probe.
BACKED BY A DELEGATION
New England officials Appear Before
Rules Committee.
TELL OF STOPPAGE OF WORK
Members of House Body Doubt if
Anything Could Be Accomplished
by Investigation.
TELL OF sToPPAGE OF WORK

Denouncing the New York, New Haven
and Hartford railway as grinding
monopoly" with one of the richest terri
tories in the world in it's grasp, Repre-
sentative OShaunessy Of Rhode Island
backed by a delegation representing Of
fetal New England, appeared before the
rules committee of the House today to
urge report to the House providing for
the consideration of his resolution to ap-
point a congressional committee to in
vestigate alleged violations Of the Sher-
man law by the New York, New Haven
and Hartford and Grand Trunk COM
panies.~
The committee was told that after
Rhode Island had been torn up and prop
erty ruined by partial construction of the
Southern Net England Railroad, the
Palmer. and Providence extension of the
Grand Trunk, work had suddenly stopped
without explanation or assurance that it
ever would be resumed
Agreement Held Responsible.
An agreement between. the Grand
Trunk and the New York, New Haven
and Hartford was responsible for this,
! Mr.. O'Shaunessy charged
Mr.. O'Shaunessy' statement was, in
part, as follows: 80,
1T is time for complete and thorough
| investigation, not only of the recent ex-
hibitiOn OF an ingrained and vicious prac-
| tice. but of all the transactions on the
part of this railroad company uhe New
HAVEN, which has given to the people
the monstrosity of waterlogged corpora
F! tiOns with a corresponding dlminutiOn of
| effective public service.
| ''The primary purpose of my resolution
for appointment of seven members select
ed by the House is to Investigate the
causes which led to the cessation of work
| in Rhode Island and other New England
states of railway construction on the
Southern New England Railway Com
pany."
i Glad When Work Began.
Mr.. O'Shaunessy declared the new road
started its work amid general rejoicing
and the fond expectation that real rival
| had at last challenged the monopolistic
| supremacy of the New Haven road
1.-The diabolical hand of n.0nomIy
which brooks no interference is revealed
| in an abandoned project on which $14JOp,-
OOo mad been spent, and of which a total
expenditure of 100000 had been con-
tracted by way of damages. condemna ton
suits for involved property and repairs
Mr.. OShaunessy read as a supplement
TO his statement written protest from
l-onsdale. r. L.. against treatment &C
corded that town and vicinity by the
Grand Trunk Lonsdale is on the route
OF the proposed Grand Trunk extension
Telegram From Gov. Bass.
He also read kilograms from Gov. Bass
of New Hampshire and other New Fig
land state officials regretting their in
ability to attend the hearing and declar-
ing in favor of a congressional investi-
CATION. Gov Foss of Massachusetts,
and Gov Pothier of Rhode Island. MIR.
O'Shaunessy added. earnestly favored
the inquiry.
William G.. Bliss. chairman of the Rhode
Island public utilities commission, told
the committee of the chartering of the
Southern New England railroad. the pro-
rosed extension. of the beginning and
declared that all efforts of the state and
local governments to get information
from the company railroads had been
futile: that President Chamberlain Of the
Grand Trunk had declined to say why
work on the extension had been stopped
or when 1t would be resumed.
Mr.. Bliss urged that. while a grand
jury investigation in New York might
result in indictments for violations of
tie Sherman law, the real facts in the
case could be presented to the public
,, only through congressional inquiry.
Others Who Were Heard.
Norman Fl. White of the Massachu-
sets public utilities commission and
enry F. Fletcher, mayor of Providence.
also were heard
Questions by members of the committee
! Indicated feeling that unless it could be
| shown that the Sherman law Is made
quate to deal with the alleged monopoly
| nothing would be accomplished by con-
| gressional investigation, since a federal
grand jury in New York already is in
| curing into the case.
The New Englanders insisted, however,
that the real facts could be secured and
presented to the public only through
hearings before a committee of Congress.