River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-05-21
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREkR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS-, 10Th DISTRICT

Washington, May 19.-Another
sensation in railroad exploitation
now occupies public attention.
The management of the New Ha-
ven Railroad Company is on the
gridiron. During recent years we
have been frequently enlightened
as to skyrocket fi~nanciering. 1t
has occurred in every branch OF
industrial activity from the rail-
way rebates given to Standard Oil
for it's destruction Of competitors,
down to Wrecking Of the New
Haven Railway by its WI offic-
ials. Somebody gets the money
contributed by the public toward
stock jobbing and stock watering
ventures, whether exploited by the
steel trust, suger trust or tobacco
trust. Few railways have entirely
escaped the influence of captains
of industry, but no breath of us
picion ever attached to the New
Haven which for many years own
ed legislatures and gObbled up all
competitors including trolley lines
and steamboats,.
Ex-president Mellen of that sys-
tenn has been on the witness stand
for several days before the Inter
state Commerce Commission eX-
planning how the Company was
wrecked by it's managers. For
years he had been made the goat
for all the trouble, but he is open
ing up the books with a prospect
of fixing responsibility. Among
other charges he claims that one
trolley railway vas bought by the
New Haven Company for which
ST. 200, 900 was passed on stock not
worth 'ten cents a pound"
When railway companies and
other industrial companies get rid
Of water in stock, IN which pro-
fits are now demanded, the pub
lie will have confidence in their
arrangements. A lack of conf
dence is expressed by depressed
stock prices and in various other
ways largely arising from frequent
OF mismanagement. Then
the officials race for the immun-
ity bath hoping that prosecutions
will be prevented if they tell the
truth. That is the situation with
the New Haven Company at the
present time. 1t is a subject of
congratulation that Wisconsin rail-
WAYS as a rule have not been
touched by the magic wand of
Hartman, Morgan or other kings
of high finance.
A program has been adopted by
the House Democratic caucus which
proposes to put through pending
legislation and antitrust law and
then adjourn some time during
July. This plan which ignores
rural credits legislation, has
brought forth a vigorous protest
from Wingo, Thomas and other
Democrats reaching insurgency
proportions, because of the re-
fusal to pass a rural credit law.
For several days the House has
been subjected to numerous roll
calls on this account, a form Of
filbustering, all on the other side
of the aisle. Republicans and
members Of the Progressive party
have little voice in arranging leg
islative programs during the pre-
sent session. They are allowed to
vote, however, which they do
whenever opportunity affords.
Senator Ashurst and Senator
Bristow almost reached parlia-
mentary limits the other day over
the subject of "prairie dogs" As
hurst wanted larger contributions
from the Federal treasury to des-
troy them and Bristow poked fun
at the Arizona Senator, who there
upon used the words Jasmine"
"false" and other lurid expires
sions. With all due solemnity the
Senator was called to order and he
then repeated that ga Senator who
says etc. falsifies." These express
sions serve to enliven proceedings
whether they add to the dignity
of the occasion or not. Two or
three pages of the Record We're
devoted to prairie dogs and arol
call was sandwiched in just to in
sure a full attendance at the de-
bate.
A constituent wrote urgently last
week asking the whereabouts of a
son in Mexico. Forty-eight hours
after notification, the State De-
partment located the relative, an
III O. CrO;~ aD,7n+- hox1 Whn &c