The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-07
VERY LIVE PUBLIC BUSINESS

There are a few questions coming up
during the present session Of congress
which cannot very we'll be adjourned and
which are likely to make the proceedings
OF unusual interest. The division Of SEN
timent on the subject of canal routes Is
becoming more distinctly marked every
day since the Panama canal people began
to gravitate toward acceptance of the es-
innate of the Walker commission as to the
price which ought to be paid for the COM
pleted work of the company On the
isthmus and it's working outfit. A long
discussion of routes can hardly be
avoided. 4..
The Philippine tariff will also consume
much time, for the proposition to reduce
the Dingley tariff rates so per cent is GER
tain to be pushed in the senate. The
shipping subsidy bill, the further reduc-
ton of revenues by cutting down war
taxation, and the amendment of the inter-
state commerce law and the question
whether long-term bonds or annual APP
preparations shall be used to pay for the
construction Of the ship canal, are other
matters which will have to be settled.
Certainly, one of the more important
measures to come up is that to amend the
Interstate commerce law so as to enlarge
the scope Of the act of 1887. The measure
was agreed upon by the Interstate Com
merce Law convention, which met in st.
Louis last November and represented over
forty leading commercial organizations
throughout the country, the western inter-
ests preponderating. There is neither a
pooling nor traffic association clause.
Provision is made that the decisions of
federal circuit courts shall issue on
the decisions of the commission, I'M
less appeal is filed at once
from the decision, when it is sus-
pended thirty days for a hearing and
the evidence before the commission is to
be evidence before the court. The bill
provides that fines for violation of the law
shall be substituted for Imprisonment,
and the commission is empowered to fix
just rates in cases where the tariff of a
road shows excessive rates. Rather it is
given authority to determine whether a
rate is just or unjust, and, as the circuit
courts are to give judicial effect to the
commissions determinations, the latter
practically has the power to fix rates,
which is giving the commission a some
what dangerous power over the control by
corporations of their own property. This
feature Of the amendments will no doubt
be sharply antagonized by some, as an
unjustifable advance step in centraliza-
tion.
In 1897 the federal supreme court denied
the power of the interstate commerce COM
mission to prescribe railway rates. Judge
Knapp Of the commission declared in 1897
that the interstate commerce act would
have little validity if the commission were
not given authority to determine what is
the reasonable rate or just relation of
rates by hearings conducted with all the
Formally of judicial inquiry. Without
this, the commission would only be an in
vestigating body, the public being left
without remedy or. redress The proposed
amendments give the commission all the
power claimed by Judge Knapp, which is
judicial power, the circuit courts enforcing
the commissions determinations.
If this bill becomes of statutory effect it
will be long step toward government
control of the railways of the United
States. The discussion in congress will
necessarily be Of very great Importance.