February 12.—The Senate passes the resolution introduced by Senator Tillman which directs the Interstate Commission to investigate the alleged discrimination by railroad companies in the matter of the transportation of coal and other commodities; as to whether the railroad companies own stock in coal companies or in other commodities carried by them; whether any of the railroad officers are interested in such commodities; whether there is any monopolizing combination or trust in which the railroads are interested, and whether any of the railroad companies control the output of coal or fix its price. The Commission also is directed to investigate the system of car distribution, and whether there is discrimination against shippers either in the matter of the distribution of cars or otherwise. Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, makes a speech in the Senate favoring a revision by the courts of all rates made by the Commission. This would practically kill the effectiveness of the Hepburn bill. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopt a resolution that the Attorney General be instructed to inquire into the allegations that the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad companies, and their leased lines, are directly or indirectly engaged in the mining of bituminous coal, and if it be found that they are engaged in this business that he proceed against them. Leaders of the United Mine Workers reach New York to hold a conference with their President, John Mitchell. February 13.—F. Augustus Heinze, defeated in the courts, sells his Montana copper mines to the trust, ending the great Montana copper war. John Mitchell and the wage-scale committee of the Mine Workers are working on the schedule of demands which will be presented to the mine operators. The committee to which Thomas W. Lawson has turned over all his proxies of the Mutual and New York Life Insurance Companies agree to employ counsel to aid them in their efforts to oust the new managements of the two companies. Five members of Lawson’s committee are governors of various states. Attorney General Hadley, of Missouri, who is conducting the State’s case against the Standard Oil Co., goes to Iowa and gets testimony from former officers of the Standard’s subsidiary companies. He states that he has made out his case against the Standard. George W. Beavers, of New York, former Chief of the Division of Salaries and Allowances of the Post Office Department, pleads guilty to a charge of conspiracy, and is sentenced to two years imprisonment. Machen and others have already been convicted and are serving sentences.