Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-17
NH COMMERCE ACI
CONGRESSMAN Corliss' Bill At.
tracing Much Attention in
AL! the States.
Public Interest in the Subject
Revived by the Proposed
Legislation.
Ruling Of the Commission to Be
Made Effective..The Meas
ure Analysed.

| ed widespread atteHtloH. he iHSaSuts
was offered by Congressman John 81
Corliss, of Michigan, who is member
of the house committee on interstate
and foreign commerce. Senators ana
representatives and students of the rail-
road question, who have examined the
new bill, generally commend the form
that this legislation has taken they as
cert that the bill is manifestly a fair
one coth TO the shipper and the carrier
and that many of the features SO siren
uously opposed by the carriers IN the
Cullorn bill are not embraced IN the
pending measure.
The modified form of the legislation
proposing amendments to the intersea &c
commerce act. as embodied in the new
bill. has accumulated public interest IN
the subject. This applies particularly TO
the business world. 1t is noteworthy.
too. that the criticism in railroad quar-
tiers regarding the measure is not as
bitter in It's hostility as it has been IN
the past. which augurs well for iegisia-
ton at the present session OF congress.
The criticisms that have appeared In
the press thus far with relation TO the
new bill have been confined to the rain
ar trite objections offered to all amend
ments of the Interstate commerce act,
and arise from a desire on the part OF
some that there shall be no legislation
hv congress which will restrict entire
freedom of action upon the part OF the
common carrier 1t is noticeable that
s,,e,t oV yxh
is offered in the press 1t is accompanied
by the statement of the person inter-
Viewed that he has not taken the trou-
BILE to read the new bill and is not ac-
auainted with its provisions.
The personal interest taken IN TINS
subject by thousands of people in varl-
Gus states constitutes an element which
is having a saiutary effect on the atu-
tude OF members of congress. me I'M
preston is growing stronger that the
consumer pays the freight. and as re-
sult the present movement for this leg
islation assumes popular form, which
is certain to Impress itself upon the ma
tional lawmakers.
The new measure, which will probably
be known as the Corliss bill, differs In
many respects from the Cullom bill of
the last congress. An analysis OF the
respective measures is convincing that
a sincere effort has been made by the
shippers to confne the amendments TO
the principles Of vital Importance. The
new bill is simple. The Cullom bill was
broad and comprehensive in Its scope.
and sought to institute reforms which,
tho desirable. are regarded by some az
of secondary Importance
In addition to making effective the
rulings OF the interstate commerce
commission, the Cullom bill provided for
a. national freight classification. 1t
amended the fourth section OF the act
In reference to long and short haul by
relieving the carrier from the operation
OF this provision. under conditions pre-
scribed by the Interstate commerce
commission. 1t authorized the COM
mission to closely scrutinize the books
and reports of the transportation lines,
which feature was regarded by the car
riers as inquisitorial. and therefore was
opposed by them with bitter hostility
The new bill, which consists of but
three sections, aims to restore to the
interstate commerce commission the
powers which 1t was supposed to pos
SECS and which 1t exercised for some
years after the act creating 1t was
passed. It simply makes the ruling of
the commission effective until reversed
by the courts. 1t confers no rate-mak-
ing power, but does authorize the COM
mission to correct a rate which has been
found, after full hearing, to be unjust
or discriminative, and gives ample pro-
lection, thru appeal, from all possible
injustice.
A brief synopsis OF the bill is as fol-
lows:
Section of the bill amends section 10
of the act, so that the transportation of
or offer to transport traffic at any 9TH
er rate, or upon any other terms or con-
ditions than those stated in the pub
lished tariffs. or the payment of any re-
bate or departure, by any device. from
published rates, or the transportation
of traffic, without having first publish
ed tariff applicable to the same, shall
be deemed a misdemeanor, punishable
by a fine of not less than 5000 nor
more than 500, GOO That the making of
any false representations as to weight
or description of property by shipper
shall be punishable by a fine of from
81, 600 to $1,000 All imprisonment penal
ties prescribed by the act are elimin-
ated.
Section amends section Is OF the act,
SO that 1t shall be the duty Of the COM
mission when, after full hearing, 1t Is
found that any rate relation of rates
classification of freight, or other prac.
tice of the carrier is in violation of any
provision of the act. to order such
change to be made therein as 1t (the
commission) may determine to be nee
essary, in order TO correct the wrong.
The commissions orders shall take eff
feet In not less than twenty days after
service upon the carrier; but the carrier
may apply to circuit court Of the
United States for review of any such
order within that time. which shall of
itself suspend the order for thirty days.
If 1t plainly appears that the order is
unlawful. or is unjust and unreasonable
upon the facts, the court may suspend
its operation during the tendency OF
proceedings. If, upon hearing. the
court finds the order not to be lawful,
just and reasonable, it shall vacate said
order Either party has the right to
appeal to the supreme court, within
thirty days: but such an appeal shall
not stay or supersede the order Of the
circuit court.
Section 3 amends section 16 of the act,
20 that the orders of the commission
shah continue in force for two years
only; but. in case change shall there
after be made by the carrier in the rate