Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-13
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.
Globe Democrat.

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Globe Democrat.
The prospect for the passage, by con
gress, of law regulating railroad traffic i
much better than is generally supposed
Two years ago bills went through senate
and house. but they were radically differ
ent, and adjournment was too near at hand
for compromise. In the present congres:
the friends Of the movement obtained ar
earlier start. Senator Cullom introduced
his bill soon after the beginning of the frs
session. He retained in the main the pre-
! visions of the bill which passed the senate
the year before, but made some changes
suggested by The testimony taken during
the summer and fall, when his committee
visited all the important trade centers on
tour of inquiry. The Cullom bill passed
the senate by a strong vote. Indeed, the
opposition to it was hardly worth mention
ing.
A little later the Regain bill went through
the house, as substitute Tor the senate
bill. This action was reported to the sen
ate and then, in accordance with the usual
custom. conferrees were appointed by both
branches Of congress to try and agree upon
compromise of the differences between
the two bills. On the part of the senate
there were appointed Senators Cullom,
Platt and Harris. The house conferrecs
were Representatives Reagan, Weaver and
Crisp.
These appointments were made near the
close of the session, and it is not generally
known that the conferrees held a meeting
at which there were important develop
ments. The strongest point of difference
between the two bills is this The Cullom
bill provides for board Of commissioners
with discretionary powers to regulate inter
state traffic. The Reagan bill consists of
statutory provisions 1t says that railroads
shall do certain things and shall not do
certain other things. To disobey is to VIC
late law and the enforcement of the law
rests with the federal courts.
The Reagan bill passed the house by
such a vote as to make it evident that that
body could not be expected to concede a
great deal to the senate. For time last
summer, after the two bills had passed.
it did not appear as if anything practical
was to come of it. But Mr. Reagan, who
is quite ultra in his views on the subject Of
railroad regulation, is also very much in
earnest il his desire to see something &C
complished Senator Cullom, who has
studied the subject very thoroughly, is a
firm believer in the efficacy Of the commits
sioner system. But he, too, is as earnest
as Mr. Reagan in the desire to accomplish
something.
When the conferees got together it was
found that there was strong disposition
to come to an agreement. Mr.. Reagan ex
pressed a willingness to accept certain por-
lions of the senate bill, which provides for
the board of commissioners, and when the
meeting adjourned there was feeling on
the part of the cOnferees that great deal
had been: accomplished. Nothing more
was done than to discuss this feature Of the
bill, but there was practical unanimity
that the sections providing for commission
ers should form part of the compromise
The conferrees held out but one meeting
before the adjournment, and when they
parted the arrangement was that they
would meet in Washington one week be
fore the opening of the coming session and
resume work on the two bills. There is
still good deal to do before the conferrees
will be prepared to report. The conces.
sions so far made are from the house to the
senate. The senators will, of course, be
asked to yield now to the house bill in
some things In Mr.. Regan's bill are three
features which he will probably insist must
be retained They are:
1. A prohibition of pooling.
2. A prohibition of charging more for a
short haul than for longer haul
3. A requirement that rates shall be
publicly posted at stations, and that no
in the rates shall be made until Il
spebitied time after notice of such change is
given.
Now comes the nice work Of the confer
rees. There must be some modification of
the arbitrary provisions of the Reagan bill
Or the proposed commissioners will be
nothing more than high salaried supernu
To confer upon the board a GER
ain degree Of power, and at the same time
ay down certain inviolable rules for the
regulation of interstate traffic, is the prob
EN- before the conference Senator Cul-
UNI and Mr. Reagan are both reported to
De quite confident that they will be able to
'eport bill back to their respective bodies
But while they are at work the conferrees
lave to keep in mind something beside
heir own views. They have to remember
he difference in temper between the sen
tie and the house upon this subject
# regulating railroads. The senate
S liberal. The house is inclined to draw
he lines taut The conference must ar
i've at conclusions which will satisfy their
respective branches or this work in con-
erence will have to be done over. It is
believed by the friends of this movement
hat the late decision of the supreme court
will have considerable influence on con-
,ressional action. That decision virtually !
avs state cannot regulate traffic carrying
'eyond its boarders; the application of |
tate laws and the power of state commits
toner's cease when the boundary is reached. |
The inference of course is that the consti- |
utional power to regulate interstate com
lerce lies within the federal government. |