The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-22
MATTER or POOLING,
Interstate Commerce Commission on
Proposed Mills.

Washington, May 2i--rho Interstate
commerce commission has sent to Senator
Cullom of Illinois a long letter in response
TO a request for suggestions regarding the
pooling bin, The letter says in part.
The chief purpose Of those who urge
immediate legislation under present con
ditlons is TO authorisa pooling and undo
the recent decision of the supreme court
IN the trans Missouri ANTITRUST ease. as
provided in the proposed Afth section
which is idtnticsk with a like provision In
the so-celled Patterson hin Of nonsc. No.
SS2', hrst session of the Forty fourth CON
grcss,
This we believe should not be done but
should congress determine Otherwise and
deem II wise to authorize poolinx II should
be done only OH terms which will prevent
the abuse OF the privilege granted. In our
opinion this can not DO done except by
guarantees secured before the authority to
pool is given md before the contract goes
INTO erect Carriers whether by railroad
lake or river. for all are included. before
being allowed TO pool should specify their
rates on traffic or business to be pooled and
a contract with maximum rat.e estab-
llshed ms part OF II. should be subject to
approval by the commission before taking
effect. The provision In the proposed bill
~
ing contract after II has taken effect mud
become operative Is misleading Another
such attempt at aainulling contract by
commission. carriers viii resist as unrea-
sonable and unlawful and will but result
IN roJatiouE, expensive, internlnabIe and
TO tho commission. unwsccessful law suits
The remainder Of the letter relates part
ly To the details of the proposed law. II
continues; ''ln our opinion authority of
commission--now that It's authority Is
questioned-to determine and order roasou-
ahlo rates IN casos tried. wherein rates aro
arranged should be granted and stated in
unquestiunahlo terms and proper means
provided for forcing such determination
ami. as we believe, n provision OF the law
making such determination and order OF
the commission obligatory on carriers al
once and until reversed or set aside by
court of competent Jurisdiction win ur-
ford the best guarantee for the observance
and enforcement of such orders II such
a provision for making orders Of the com
mission effective shall be deemed unjus-
Unable Then other equal means should BIO
provided for carrying such orders into
effect"
rms portion of the letter Is signed by |
William II. Morrison md Judson C. Glenn
enls. To It is appended the following;
We concur in the foregoing suggestions
with the following qualifications We
would not oppose the liasaage OF tho pool |
ing bill provided other amendments which |
are necessary 10 make the interstate com
morcc law elective were made as pIrt of |
Tint bill We are opposed to tho passage |
nj the pending bill or any other pooling |
bin until commission ~ given by suitable |
amendments power In fact winch IT is sup |
posed to have md must have in order to |
carry ont the purposes Of tho law 10 rfRu-
ate commerce. We believe tho questions |
involved In the proposed legislation are of |
Importance and should only be |
actod upon with most mature consideration |
and that any Legislation at tho present
time would be unwise."
J. u. Ycomans.
prau,v