Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-02
CHANDELIERS BIG COMMISSION
How he Proposes to Regulate Interstate
Commerce
His Bill Proposes Body Too Large
to BE Under Railway Control
His Comment on 1t.

In the support of his bill, introduced Tues
day, in which he proposes to enlarge the
interstate commerce commission, as to
make that body one-half the size Of the
United States Senate
with all due respect to the interstate
commerce commission" said he, talking Of
the bill to a Star reporter. cit is impossible,
I think, for any commission of five men to
stand up against the pressure which the
enormous railway influence, with it's capital
of 5000. 100000, is able to bring to bear
against them. My bill proposes to make the
commission consist of one man from every
state, and have the commission appoint a
chairman and four Of it's members as an
executive committee. That would really
leave the present interstate commerce COM
mission the executive committee, with a
working power extending the year around
as 1t now has. My bill proposes to pay to
the executive committee the same salaries
now paid to the interstate commerce CON-
mission. 1t would thus really amount to
adding to the commission the advice and
cooperation of body of men selected from
every state in the Union. This would make
If the men were properly chosen, a body of
men which could, not he controlled by the
railroads. They might own a few of them
and occasionally one might get ready to go
road corporation attorney, as Aldace r
walker did when he left the commission
out certainly there would be more than a
majority who would be relied upon not to
be controlled by the railroads.
You would not have the entire commits
stcn constantly in session, then, Senator?'
asked the Star reporter
NO., my bill provides that they shall
for their payment at the rate Of $40 per
Day during forty days in the year. That
would mean an average quarter of a ses-
sion OF ten days in which they could advise
Gyrf to ,.-;fI
bringing to its aid the information and
Judgment Of men from every state who
would, fresh from the field of operation of
the railroads of their sections, be able to
give the executive committee, which would
be tho real working heart of the commits
sion, very valuable assistance --. g..
The executive committee you would
have to continue constantly at work,
then?'
"Yes. 1t would practically be the same
commission and have the same sort of
work as at present, except that it would
nave the advice and, cooperation of the
on the other hand. be able to act as q
check upon the work of the executive COM
mittee, should that be necessary"
Mr.. Ell@ins' Interruption.
Just then Senator Elkins, who Is a heavy
owner in railroads, came along and lis
tered moment with smile to Senator
Chambers remarks.
Come on, Chandler" he said, 'Iet's 20
down and have some lunch"
wait till I finish telling the newspapers
how l am going to circumvent you rail-
road fellows with a commission half the
size of the Senate said Senator Chandler,
with sly twinkle Of the eye
YES" said Elkins, smilingly, land Won
warrant"
Not a pass" said Senator Chandler, SOL
emnly: Il haven't had one for twelve
years."
Then come along and will give YOU
one noW, said Elkins, as they turned
away toward the restaurant
Provisions of the Bill.
Senator Chandler's bill provides that the
interstate commerce commission shall be
enlarged to number equal to the states
or the Union, one member to be appointed
from each state. The commission shall hold
regular sessions in Washington four times
annually, and all it's acts and PROCEEDINGS
shall be authenticated by votes adopted
by majority Of the members duly record
ed. 1t Is to choose annually by ballot a
chairman, secretary and an executive COM
mittee Of five, Of which tho chairman shall
De q member. All power and authority
conferred by law upon the Interstate COM
merce commission at present shall be held
and exercised by the enlarged commission,
ana when the said comu.ssion is not in
session the executive committee shall hold
and exercise such power and perform such
duties with the same force and effect as
II the commission were in session. The
members Of the commission are to be paid
$lO per day when the commission is in ses-
sion and their actual travelling expenses.
with an allowance Of s. per day for SUBJ
sistence, the total number Of days of the
session not to exceed forty per annum.
The chairman. secretary and members of
the executive committee are to receive in
lieu OF the per diem allowance the salaries
f1cers of the present commission. All mem
ters of the commission are to be appointed
by the President and confirmed by the SEN
ate, but it remains in the power of the
lorty-nve commissioners themselves to de-
termine the membership of the executive
committee, which would be really the COM
mission itself in most cases.