The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-03-26
Themselves and
Their Acts Fully In
vestigated
SYMONDS AND
WILEY BESEIGED
Dne Member Thinks
Mountain Has Been
Made of Mole Hill
~ X. a. sAlLeNesR.

a LANSING, Mich, March Is
Nth The appointment OF joint com
4. 1ktee OF house and senate TO in
E<stixate reports OF the use of 4
( <3oo. 900 'sslush fund by representa-
Urss OF Michigan railroads who are
ktking an increase in passenger
i. hes. the positions OF the opposing
4 5oIeiafire forces engaged 10 the
4 ste battle has exactly reversed.
q Represcntstives Charles ID. SYM
Ids. OF Menominee and Merlin
riley. OF Sauit ste. Marie. Who yes
friday were firing AZ centimetre
6heiIs Ia the general direction OF the
MICHIGAN railroad commission and
Drients az the rate increase in gen
<ral are now In the position CT the
b<sieged.
Az Was the case ia tie startling
+ Ierelopmenfs OF Wednesday after.
+ hooa. 4 newspaper article furnished
\ NE basis OF attack.
E The reversal OF conditions was re-
= 1nlted from almost unanimous pas
6nee of concurrent resolution in.
B t1oduced in the upper house by Sen
oi0r Alton T.. Roberts, or Marquette
ana championed I'm the minor tri-
hlnnI BY Rep. Albert z. Peterman,
q Calumet.
The resolution, after setting forth
that repeated rumors Of improper
y conduct on the part OF railroad rep
(. Sesenfatiyes have been circulated in
~ indirect manner and that en-
article In a recent Issue Of a Grand
Haptds newspaper contained state
nz<nts purporting 10 come from mem
bers Of the legislature TO the effect
that 500. 900 -sIEsh fund" was be-
& ~ used In the interests of fare IN
s erase bill. asks for the appointment
~ committee OF 10 members, iiye
. nom each house. to conduct an in
oestigation or the coaduct OF rail-
r6od Representatives and OF the truth
81 fnisity OF the interview. Under
~ terms OF the resolution the com
1ni(tee A. empowered TO administer
oaths. compel the attendance OK sit
uorses anu 10 conduct hearing in
E The same manner as that in a court
I. ef law. Ths COMMITTEES must report
~ the legislature not later thSR
+ April 4.
Upon introduction OF the resoIu.
hon yesterday afternoon Senate
Rol,crts. "a q lengthy speech. decisr
s "a That ke lid presented Il az 6
11.cAps 81 stopping campaign o'
81 mnnendo. charge 81 indirection and
veit6G sirna4rs which vas being eae
ricd CA Il fhe interests opposed 70
ne fags boost
W. paid particular attention 20 toe
gravity ~ ne charges, declaring
tbat an rsarxe 20 corruption Ia con
ncsrio3 with Legislation was charge
\ a<aina frors Individual member
and as surh ebould receive the
Xo<t careful attention
Senator Herbert T. Powell. Of
4 }onia. Injected title hunor into
4 rather GRIM situation when be de
tiared himself I'm favor of the reso
Ittion. He had ilgured. hs said. that
.n a fund Of 100000 WAS used in
<be iegizlature et least sl5e.0e6 OF it
should have come to the senate. zig.
ptinz on the basis OF % members of
the upper house. he said. bis share
should have been s4.Ss7.50. some
senator. he said, must be walking
around with that sum which belong
"a 10 hiia and he wanted 10 know
Tho u was He objected. he gaid. 70
having -hold ouFr worked on him
Matters were more complicated In
. Tho hous. inasnuch as the two
\ members Involved In the probe we're
\ n that body.
IS : REP. peterrnan vas on his feet i'm.
oicdiatcly after the resolution ~
# tfnnsmitted from the senate was
rad Re declared that he believed
that thc lEEisinture should move
3 .ioNlS IN q case such as this but
that n aes nov confronted with n
Situation which reflected on the hon
4 - or each indi,idua member He
rlcod MN the members 10 forget
whatever preiudiees they might en-.
tcrfkin ON the rate question and 20
nee The situation from an unbiased
. noint OF view.
n aad hoped he said. chat the
members W quostion would explain
,their stand ia fhfs matter. They
q have tailed 10 do so and N Is 70
clear. not only myself. but every
4 <Iembcr OF this legislature from the
ksms which these men have placed
rainst this body rs whole
( n want the members OF this house
undcrstrnd that there are but
>roe persons IN Lansing who can
any way Re considered az lobby.
e. for the railroads. One OF them
~ ofaccr Of q Federal court. The
&er two are personal friends OF
Ine. I have known one OF them
|nrc my youth They hare been
D1>ed 81 serious misconduct They
&11ce appear before this house "a
(>nd themselves believe that
Inellct 10 them. this body
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