The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-07
GOVERNMENT | AL
VISION
industrial Commission Suggests
Strengthening It.
THE COMMERCE COMMISSION
think. Authority Of That Body Should &c
Enlarged practically as Con,em-
plated In tuliom bill
of 1910.
THE COMMERCE COMMISSION
fDy Assecta,ed Press.l

WASHINGTON, -. c., teh. 6-The
induo,rlai commission HAS submitted its
hnal report to Congress. 1t is docu-
nenl of more than LOO printed pages.
lhe first part when has A.en made
public deals with The progress OF ag-
riculture, mining and transportation
Recommendations are made on The SUBJ
jects of transportation ard Agriculture.
The commission recommend as to trans
purtauon:
That the policy OF governmental SUI
pervision and control Of railroads, as
originally laid down IN the Serate Com
mIttee report Of 1856 and embodied in
the interstate commerce act, should be
reviewed and Strsng thened; that the au-
Ihurity Of the Interstate Commerce COM
mission, necessary for the adequate pro-
lection of shippers and clearly intended
by the trainers Of the law. be restored,
and that the powers and functions of the
commission be enlarged practically as
contt mpIated in The SO called Cuilom
bill of 1900. except as to authority to
prepare and enforce uniform classlh-
cation
MORE MEMBERS.
THAT to further the effectiveness of
the Commission its membership should
be directly representative OF the various
interests concerned in the persons OF ship
pers or business men, traffic experts,
rail and water. and men Of legal training.
and the number of Commissioners should
be increased to seven.
"'That legislation analogous to the anti
stock watering statutes of Massachu-
sets be enacted by the several States.
'That railroad companies be prohibited
by law from making lower freight rates
upon imports billed to the interior Of
this country in accordance with ocean
transportation or otherwise than arc
made on similar articles from the sea-
board to the interior or than are made
from one inland point to another when
the distance is not greater
PrefacinG its recommendation regard
ing agriculture, the commission says
that:
Agriculture has derived more benefit
from the establishment OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture and from its admin
istrative work than from any other Fed
erai legislation"
AS TO AGRICULTURE.
It makes a number of recommendations,
including the following:
"For rules and regulations to govern
the importation of nursery stock and
fruit, and prohibiting the importation of
diseased, infected or uninspected MUIR
scry stock or fruit.
"That whatever changes may be made
in the tariff, by reciprocity or otherwise,
adequate protection to the beet sugar
industry be maintained.
''That Increased appropriations be made
by the Congress for building sample
stretches of improved roads in various
sections of the country, so as to encour-
age the more rapid construction OF such
roads at State and local expense.
THAT the system of free rural delivery
be extended as recommended by the Post
ma stcr General in his latest annual report
THAT the policy of setting arid forest
preserves, already inaugurated, be eX'
tended"
The commission also recommends thai
the Secretary of Agriculture be given au'
thority to inspect export dairy products
and nursery stock, to fix S,ndard grades
for cereals and to make regulations prohl'
biting shipment of diseased meat.