The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-14
SENATE POSTPONES
INQUIRY IN70L. & N,
Resolution Is Laid Aside and
May BE Modified or
Sidctracked.
OFFICER DENIES VIOLENCE
Vicc-Presidcnt Of Road Rcscnts
Espionage Of Commits
sion Agents.

Espionage Of Commits
sion Agents.
W,siilSuroS. Feb ia resolution
directed against officials Of the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad which was ro'
ported In the Senate this afternoon by
Senator Williams OF Mississippi from the
Committee on Audit and Control OF the
Contingent Expenditures provoked one Of
the liveliest debates heard In that body
for many days. Tho resolution provided
for the appointment OF a special commit
tee of five Senators to investigate the
activity OF the Louisville and Nashville
railroad in politics.
After nearly two hours of discussion
the resolution was laid aside and IL is
believed II will be modified or sdetracked
entirely as the result of attacks made
upon II from both sides of the chamber.
Senator Lea of Tennessee introduced
resolution in the Senate several weeks ago
directing an investigation by tho Inter
state Commerce Commission OF the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad and its
kuDSlularltS, tine oIJttt DtlIlE W tSNtittiii
whether the Louisville and Nashville had
violated the Interstate commerce act by
issuing free passes whether II maintained
lobby and whether Il had destroyed
competition by purchasing competing
lines.
DiscOurtesy L. Charged.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
sent a report to the Senate yesterday
charging that Vice President W. l.. Ma
pothier of the Louisville and Nashville
had not only refused access TO his letter
files but had forcibly elected the agents
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission
from his Office. The report suggested
that the Louisville and Nashville officers
had men at work destroying records and
correspondence
Chairman Clark OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission pointed out that lac
believed II advisable for the Senate to
appoint "A special committee to cooperate
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion which would have authority to com
pei witnesses to testify and produce rec
ords under penalty OF being imprisoned
for contempt.
70 lowing these recommendations.
Chairman Williams reported the resolu-
ton to-day.
In commenting ON the resolution SEN
ator Lea explained that the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad WAS the last com
mon carrier in th. country TO adhere to
the old order OF things and defy public
opinion.
at still adheres to the policy "the pub
lie be damned. said Senator Lea.
Courts Have the Matter.
senator Hitchcock OF Nebraska. another
Democrat. asked senator Lea II IL would
not Ice wiser to leave the matter to the
courts where the lnterstat" Commerce
Commission had taken it by applications
for wrlts Of mandamus.
Senator Lea replied that n" did not be-
lieye the Louisville ana Nashville officers
would dare show the same contempt for
the United states Senat" that they had
shown for the agents OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
A long telegram was read III the course
of the debate signed 10y W. l.. Mapo,hscr
Vice president OF the Louisville and Nash
Vile in which he denied that he had
forcibly elected the agents Of the Inter
state Commerce Commission or used pro-
fan. languag. IN CharaCt.rizing them. lie
asked the Seuat. not TO act upon the
allegations made by the agents Of the
commission He said NJ. objected to
.
Commission stand over him Will" he
was nj work at his desk and read his
correspondence.
He said he was willing TO surrender 10
the agents Of IA. Interstate Commerce
Commission ANY letter files or correspond
cnce or records, cXcep. such as Were
privileged. particularly letters passing he
tween the railroad company and It's at
torneys Nico-I'resident Mapothier said
the system OF espionage by the agents Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
partool, OF the Russian spy system and
added that he was ian American citizen
and not "A Russian serf.'
Extraordinary, says BrandeGec.
senator Brandegee of Connecticut
| characterized the resolution introduced to-
day as a most extraordinary proceeding,
an attempt TO "sCarc the railroad com
pany into surrendering papers by threat
of Imprisonment for contempt while they
| are in court trying to have "A judicial de-
termination of what their rights are in the
matter"
Senator Works OF California. who for
merly served In the Supreme Court of
that state, said that the resolution was an
| unusual and high handed proceeding,
Senator Sutherland. member OF the
! Judiciary Committee said he was pre-
pared to hear OF the Senate und, rtaking
| almost anything in the way of an in
vestigation. He said II was getting fash
! ionabl. to order an investigation into
| the acts of the Standard Oil Company,
American Tobacco Company steel trust
, or any OF the larger corporations.
1--WE are continually passing resolutions
| involving Investigations of these corpora
| tons simply because they are unpopular.
said Senator Sutherland yet II We were
asked to investigate the same charges
against an individual the Senate would
| refuse to order the investiga ton, though
we have no more power to investigate "A
| corporal ION than we have to investigate
| an indiNdua
says senate Would Appear Foolish
This is a proposed investigation to
determine whether n statute has been
| violated That Is beyond the power of
| the Senate 1t il the work Of the EN-
| ecutive Department. If the SENATE made
| a demand for the papers and the rail-
road company refused to give them the
position OF the Senate before the country
would be humiliat.ns. We have made
| the interstate commerce act and its
| amendments II statute and clothed the
| Interstate Commerce Commission with au-
4 thority to determine by Investigations
| whether a crime has been committed. but
| the Senate itself has no power or juris-
! dictiOn over such matters"
Senator Lea insisted that the Senate