The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-31
RAILROADS HAVE
COUNTER PLAN
Do Not Want the Powers Of the
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Increased.
PROPOSE A SPECIAL COURT.
Strength OF the Railroad Sena tors
Is Guaranteed for Bill Along
These Lines to Be Intro
duced by Elkins.



Washington. Dec. @o-Railroad inf :ences
are backing tho plan to settle the rate
regulation agitation by the creation of a
special court to deal with cases of the
Kind, the findings Of which shall be final
| That this is the policy o. the railroad IN
terests is stated upon the authority OF an
official ut the Department of Justice. who
! oo'.rersed to-day with New York railroad
attorneys on the subject.
In the Interviews given out by him re-
latirg to the question. Senator Steve q
Eikins OF West Virginia has spoken in
general terms the choice Of the railroads
But he has aynounceh only the idea
Heads Of the legal departments of the
roads are framing a bill to cover the sub
)ec;. The roads mentioned in this con-
nect!on are the Pennsylvania. the New
York Central and the New York, New
HPvea and Connecticut.
The bill. according to the present pro-
FrapEne. nill be sponsored by Senator Ell
k!ns. The strength Of the railroad sena-
tors is guaranteed to it But IL Is known
'fa1 Senator Cuilom. representing an ele-
mont among the Republicans. and Senator
i''l!.ey, representing an element among
the Democrats, 90 not agree to such a
chanFe OF the original plan. AS far as
has been intimatcd. the President stands
pat on TIE declaration of his message.
senators and Representatives Of their
persuasion declare that special court IS
reither logical nor necessary: ana some
ut them 90 further and assert that ii is
4 scheme TO defeat the Presidents clean
cut recommendation. which was a plank
IN the last Democratic national platform,
that the powers OF the Interstate Com
inerce Commission should be eStende! TO
specifically INCLUDE rate regulation
SHARP FIGHT EXPECTED.
The obvious fact Is that the plan for a
court IL not accepted as the equivalent Of
eliarEing the towers of the commission.
II would seem that the differences are so
material that an issue exists upon which
a sharp fight Will be based
IL IN an interview on Wednesday Senator
E.kin5 declared that the United States Su-
prefne Court has decided that the fixing
OF railroad rates is Il legislative and NOT
a juoicial power. This. he said. was rea-
son for not delegating such power to a
commission. That argument is used
against the proposal 10 establish a court.
but II Is maintained that il does not ap-
ply to a commission.
When the matter was first discussed. the
railroads were belllcnSa. Sentiment was 50
strong that Congressman would not stand
In itS way. Then the court plan developed.
Railroads were not regarded friendly
to this. Hearing that they were opposed,
Speaker Cannon is understood TO have ex-
Claimed that they would get this iegisia-
ton or something moro drastic. So they
are getting together. and. as one railroad
attorney recently stated IN friend at the
Department Of Justice. they are drafting
their own bill.
Several bills from various sources prob
ably will be introduced in both branches
OF Congress when It rcconvenes. 1t Is an
nounccd that no distinctive administration
measure will be put forward. Attorney
General Moody denies that he has any
such measure in preparation. and. while
one phase of the court proposition, It was
an individual suggestion and does not have
the Presidents Endorsement. Action on
any bin can hardly be looked for at this
session. though the lines for the future
fight will be drawn. 1t is the matter up
perInost just now.