Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-09
rNrER.sTATE LAW THREATBNED.

INTERSTATE Law THhB4TENED.
There are indications that vigorous
effort will be made during the coming
session OF congress TO repeal the inter
state commerce law and that failing, as
undoubtedly il would, to secure such
modification of its most vital provisions
as would practically destroy its useful
ness. The Investigations OF the senate
committee regarding the operation OF
the law disclosed great deal OF hostil-
lty to it, particularly in New England,
and il is from that quarter that
the most vigorous effort is to De
expected in favor of repeating the law
or changing it in very material re-
spects. Whether this opposition will
obtain any considerable support from
any other quarter remains to be seen.
AS to the result of an attempt to re-
peal the law there can be no doubt.
In the last congress Representative
Morse, of Massachusetts, introduced a
bill for this purpose, only to dis
cover that he could not rally cor
poral's guard to its support. 1t is al
ready understood that another Massa-
chusetts congressman will intro
duce n similar bill in the next congress,
and doubtless with a like experience.
The composition of the Fifty-hrst con-
gress is not so greatly different from
| that of its predecessor as to warrant the
expectation that it will show any ex-
| tensive change of sentiment respecting
| the policy of maintaining the principle
| of the Interstate commerce act, it be-
| ing safe to presume that very large
| majority of the new members are favor
| able to the act.
But with regard to modifying certain
provisions of the act, generally deemed
| the most vital. there may be some dan
ger. 1t is quite possible that PROPOSE
| tions to modify the anti-pooling and
long and short haul clauses will find a
| formidable support in congress. The
| railroad interests quite generally will
| exert their influence in favor of modi-
! fying the former and some will do the
same as to the latter, while there is un-
! questionably public sentiment else
where than in New England favorable
to modifying the long and short haul
clause. We believe, however, that the
| great preponderance of sentiment
in the country is against any change in
| these provisions of the Interstate act
| that will reduce their force, and that this
will make itself so strongly felt as tc
| defeat any attempt to emasculate the
law.
A great deal, however, will depend
upon the character of the report winch
the senate committe shall make. and
| still more, perhaps, upon the views
| which the Interstate commerce com.
mission shall submit to congress. L
the public expressions of Chairman
Cooley may be accepted as rejecting
the Judgment of the entire com
mission there will be no influence from
that source favorable to a modification
haul clauses. Judge Cooley is dis.
tinctly on record as favoring these pro
visions OF the law, and in one of hi:
latest plain and forcible talks to the
railroad managers he said that while It
was to be admitted that the Interstate
commerce act is not perfect, the amend
ments required are such as would
strengthen the principles it embodle
and help to their surer enforcement. In
view of this it is reasonable t.
expect that any recommendations made
to congress by the commission will hav,
reference to making the law stronge
and the provisions for its enforce men
broader.
But, in any event, it will be well fol
the friends of the Interstate commerce
act to be on their guard. There i
every probability that it will be yer.
vigorously attacked, and while there i
no Danger of its being destroyed, ther
is Il possibility OF its being weakened il
its most vital features.