The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-14
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
TO THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
ACT ATTRACT ATTENTION.
It Is Probable That the Railroad l,,.,-
es's win Not Be Bitterly Opposed
to Its Adoption.

Washington, January l3-The prescnta.
'ion IN the house Of representatives Of the
new Dill proposing amendments to the I'm
'efstate commerce act has attracted wide.
spread attention. The measure was offered
by Congressman John b. Corliss of Nichi.
gan who is a member Of the house com
mitlee on Interstate commerce senators
ana representatives. and students Of tue
railroad question who have examined the
new Ulll. generally commend the form that
this legislation has taken. They assert thar
the bill Is mauiIestly a fair one moth 10
shipper hnd carrier. ana tuat - any 81 the
features so SuenuouSiy opposed hy the car
ii a. VI tns Cullom nill are not embraced
III the pending measure.
me modiDcd form Of the legislation pro.
poslus amendments To the interstate com.
melce act, as embodied in the new ia, mas
dccentuated public interest d the suticci
ms apples particularly TO the BUSINESS
world. IL Is noteworthy, too tnit I've
criticism IN railroad quarters rega' Gtps the
measure Is not az hi ter IA its nuSI.iIly rs
IT has been Ia the past, whi,n .urtlcs wei
congress.
he known as ine Cornss an. d'n',s in
many respects ION che tulllm ut'l of the
last congress, An au4ivsis OF The i,>pcc-
':re measures Is rouvlu ing that q sincere
D.
connnc tho amendments % pril ,iul4s Of
veal Importance. The .lev hut b. sim
pic, The tullom bin was ruau 5nl .ain
preheuSiyC ia it's scope ami solgl- 10 lp.
stitute reforms whirl, 'hpu.l ,csirablp. arc
regarded by some ds of sesp tGlry 'uiptr
lance.
IN, In addition TO making effective tho
rulings OF nc Interstate con Werea commits
SION the tullom MI pr ridci for "a NJ.
tlonal freight installations IL alnei led
the fourth section Of he at hl rcf1cuce
% nm uu nd Gl4.. hon o.. Q.
rler from the operation Of ,li, IroNsio ion,
under conditions urt> ..Ibci by he inter.
ate commerce commission. 1t 1ltuor-
l4ed the commission 10 closely sCrutiLize
ton lines. which feature was regarded by
the carriers as iuquisitorial aud therefore
was was, opposed ny tdem with oi ter hostility.
Inc ne" hill, which consists If hut thrive
sections aims 10 restore to tho Il Interstate
commerce commission the powers which
II was supposed to possess and which it
exercised for some years otter The act
eIeallhE II was passed IL SIMPLY makes
the ratings Of the commission effective
untiI reversed by the courts II couftrs
no r9te-making power. bur docs authorize
TIE commission 10 correct a rate which has
ueen found. after full hearing. .o he UNI
lu.S or discrlmlnittYe. and gives ample
protection, through appeal, from an posi-
Die injustice.
hllet synopsis Of the lill is rs follows.
Section / Of the bill amcrds section 10
Of the acJ. so that the transportation % ~.
o, upon any utayr terms or conditions than
.2use stated co. the published tariffs. or the
payment of any rebate or departure. bt
any device. from published rites. or the
transporjati ion Of trafGc. wi holt having
INST D. ued a tariff applicable 10 the
same shou be deemed m.sleu,dpot. pan.
l-habe by tnc of not less tlau SbulG nor
more than $4,000. That the making OF
any false representation as 10 weight or
description 0i property by shipper shall
he punishable by a line cf frol S1pOO O
$500. All Imprisonment penalties pre-
Scribed by the existing act are eliminated
Section . amends section 10 Of the act
so that H. shall he tne duty Of the com
mission when, after q full hearing II Is
found tina any rate. relation Of rares.
classification Of freight. or other practice
of the carrier is in violation Of an, pro
vision OF tuc act, 10 order such change
to be made therein rs it tine commISsion
may determine 10 be necessary, in order to
correct the wrong. The commissions or
dcrs shall AXE effect in not less than
{ 1uty days after service unOu the carrier:
but the carrier may apply 10 a Circuit court
Of tie nitcd states for review Of amy
Sucn order within that time which shan
OF itself suspend tae order for thirty lays.
II 1t plainly appears that tho order Is D.
/ lawful. or is unjust and unreasonable upon
the facts. the court may suspend itS opera
tion during the pcudency OF proceedings.
/ IT, upon hearing the court finds The RIDER