The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-08
PROSPECT IS GOOD
For he Passage of the Inter
State Commerce Amendment.
CHAIRMAN E. P. BACON
Informs Mr. ]. E. Howard of
the Progress of the Bill.

There are good prospects for the mass
age OF an amendment to the interstate
commerce act as suggested in President
tioosevelt's message giving the commits
kioners fuA power 20 enforce their orders.
Mr. Z. Howard Of this city. has re-
oeived letter from Z. p. Bacon. Of Mil
waakees chairman Of the committee. who
has in charge Of the campaign Tor the
passage Of the amendment and who Is
nov in Washington. in which he SAYS:
! arrived here YESTERDAY morning ana
have been at work yesterday ana today.
together with Mr. Barry, whit Commits
sioner Prouty in revising Afr. Proutv-s
draft Of the proposed new Hi for intro
duction to congress. IN which We have
made several charges Of greater or less
importance. and think we now nave it.
IN excellent shape from every point of
view: that is. with reference TO its ef-
1ectiveness in accomplishing the desired
purpose. ana III its acceptability 70 the
various elements who are in sv-npa.b,-
with the movement for the strengthen
ing Of the Interstate commerce act. and
also for its securing the necessary SIM
port on the part Of members If con
Gress Of bot hhouses. / hand vow here
with copy Of the revised draft for ,-ol5r
examination and criticism.
Mr. Prouty has had considerable in
tercoUrse during ths past few preslTe
with representatives, Of the railroad in
terests. more particularly the Penns,-l-
Nania. New York Central and Santa Fe
companies. and is confident that the bill
as II stands. VIII not be Opposed bv those
rnf Asrr
Influences IS likely to be thrown in its
favor. provided by so doing they can
secure their long sought desiderat,In
The lesalizing Of pooling. The position of
our committee in relation TO such pro
vision being Incorporated in the bill has
been, ana in my Judgment. should con-
tinue to be. neutral. Some Of our con
stituents are strenuously opposed to
pooling in any form whatever. while 9th
ers believe that it would be the most ef-
fective means of preventing the evil of
discrimination. and for this reason would
like 10 see il legaIized. 1t would be i'm
polite TO divide our forces by either fav-
oring or opposing provision of this
kind in my opinion. There are some
comercial organizations that are very
DESTROYS 10 have traffic associations au-
are decidedly opposed to it. although the
Chicago boar dof trade. as 7 understand
il, or at least a number of its influential
members. woald prefer not to afford the
railroad companies even that measure OF
combination. There are some organic
tions. however, whose support We cannot
secure without such provision. Mr..
Prouty mas drawn up a section author
S-r ..4s
with restrictions that seem to me to be
very judicioGs and to afford The public
ample protection against any possible
abuse Of the power. q cory o. which (
send to each of the members Of the com
mitsee separate fro nithe~bH itself. and
would Ike 20 have the opinion of each
Immediately as TO the eApediency of
making il . part II the Bill
THE members from whom 7 have re-
ceived replies from my recent circular
letter in which I ask their opinion in re-
gard 10 the incorporation of such pro
vision. nave responded favorabIy. but /
there are -FOUR members from whom T !
have not yet heard. ] would like the /
opinion of each member iu relation to
this particular draft covering such pro-
vision, and also ans suggestion as to any
OF the provision.
4 shall remain here probably a week /
longer and as soon as have received
replies from most Of The members Of the !
committee giving their views rs 10 the
draft of the bill herewith submitted and
particularly in relation to the traffic as
sociau7n provision I VIII have the b5ll /
printed IN proper form for general dis /
trnution and VIII mail a COPY 10 each /
Of the commercial oreaniza tjous % whom /
J have addressed the circular of Novem- /
her o. in behalf a. the committee. and /
VIII also scud such numter OF copies 1
thereof 70 each member of The committee /
as he may request for such use as he /
may he able 70 make Of theni
II haze had no tine rs yet 10 confer I
with any Of the senators il relation 10 /
the aroirt7ne rents to 30 made 20 nn ex-
isfinr vacancies in The interstate COM
nerce committee Of the senate. to which
shlil 'oN 1-F1'eli''rty 1lles' my e.