Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-11
RENLNE TIE LAM.

While acknowledging the wholesome
effects of the Interstate commerce law
and saying that these have amply iuSti-
fed its enactment. President Cleveland
still thinks the law needs revision and
amendment in order 10 more cffrCtually
reach the evils it was intended to cor
reef. Unquestionab'y this IS the cas-.
and the necessary revision aud amend
ment should be made rs soon rs DOS
siblc, in accordance with the recon-
mvndatiOns of the commission to be
submitted to rongreSS There would
seem TO be no good reason why this
cannot be done ut the present session.
if congress shall give such weight To
the suggestions of the commission as
they ought TO carry.
We not long ago referred TO two very
important questions upon which lpgiS-
lation is urgently demanded. One of
these relates to the power of the com
mission To prescribe rates. The com
mission has assumed authority to do
this only in eases where complaints
have been made of unreasonable
charges. in such cases requiring the
railroads to conform to the rates made
by The commission. \ supreme court
decision has been construed as i'm
plying that tho commission has only
tie negative power to declare given
rate unrcaSOnIbl" ana not positive
power to declare what II should be. y
Il. A.. ts
pending in the supreme court aud II
the decision should be adverse to the
commission congress should confer
upon it power to prescribe rates after
full hearing of complaints of unreason-
able charges.
Another matter of no less mportancn
relates To the discrimination in trans
portation charges in favor of imported
goods on through shipments from for
oign ports to interior points in the United
States. The commission had ruled
against such discrimination, but the su.
pvcme court decided three of It's Nom
bers dissenting this rule was not
justified by the language Of the inter
STATE commerce act 1t was held that
the efforts of the commission to deprive
thn inland coaSumcrs of the advantages
of through rates and thus Ia give an ad-
vantage to the traders and manufar-
turerS of the large Se3boarI cities seems
to create the very mischief which ii was
one of the objects of tn act TO remedy.
In II dissenting opinion Justice Harlan
said that IF such discrimination against
American goods by American railways. |
acting with foreign companies, is con
Sistent with the act of congress. then
the title of the act should have been to |
regulate commerce for the benefit of !
foreign manufacturers and dealers. 20 |,
the injury of American industries" The /
will point out in its report
that the effect of tariff duties at the sea /.
board is thus negutiyed while leaving /
freight charges in the interior ana will !.
urge that the discrimination in favor OF !
import rates opens the door for defeat /!
ing, the Will of congress in fixing protect |
i've duties. 1t Is perfectly Obvious that /
he supreme court decision in this matter ,
)uta ii in the power of the railroads to !
Jlace domestic Industries at the mercy |
If foreign manufacturers.
AS the president said the policy EN-
lodicl in the interstate commerce act !
ms permanent place in our legisla-
ion. If opposition TO il has not wholly
lied ont it is not nj all formidable. But
the law is admittedly defective In I'M