The Washington times., 1905-11-18
RAIL WAY MAGNATES
LAYING NEW LINES
Playing With President to
Name Commission.
OLD PLAN OF CASsATT
Rockefeller Influences, However, VIII
Fight RoOsevelt's Proposition to
a Stern Finish.
OLD PLAN OF cASsATT

That the railroad interests are be-
ginning TO devote q share OF their at
tention to efforts TO make sure that if
rate regulation law passes the person
nel OF the Interstate Commission shall
De as friendly disposed as possible TO
them, IS now accepted by the supporters
of the Presidents policy.
fhis situation is rather pleasing than
otherwise to advocates OF legislation.
who say that the roads would not he
concerning themselves about the com
mission II they had rot been brought 10
realize that there Is a strong chance of
legislation being enacted.
Present Commission Objectionable.
The present commission is pe.,liar,,,
Objectionable TO the railroad rnaxpates
They always refer to It In terms OF con-
tempt or disgust. and they particularly
insist that Il has been a body for the
promotion Of agitation. Commissioner
Ffouty and Secretary Moseley have
been Objectionable on this score
ana SO far as known neither C. Thorn
mas ever entered denial In fact Corn
missioner Prouty, when accused before
the House committee last winter of
having I,,eS s devoted himself largely to agitat-
iHs Tor more power for the commits
Wei. gentlemen. If that be treason
MAKE AZ. the most Of H. I'm guilty"
Ihe pest Information TO be had is that
there IS no particular intention aroop,-
the senate and House leaders or ar Tbe
" hite House. TO legislate the present
commission out Of existence BlIf the
very men who discIai1n anv intentfon
o. do!ng such a thing admit that they
expect, In the mixup of legislation. To
see this very thing hapnen.
II The President gets his law snassad
- IS pointed out, the revivlfied comrnis-
SION VIII have large powers. But these
VIII be Of two kinds 'rhera is frs+ ~
power to hear and decide cases Hbtnb
Is important. and there is second the
power 70 initiate proceedings to seel,
OUT ana correct abuses, to enforce
equity even though no shipper bring a
complaint.
An Important Feature.
This latter is by far the more i'm
portant feature Of the duties. Now. ii is
urged the railroads might yield in the
matter OF the law, IF in return they
should be permitted their kind Of a
commission. II might be a good enough
commission of fair-minded and candid
men. skilled in traffic and railroad ar
fairs, perfectly competent 10 do tho
work; aid yet If il were indisnosed To
initiate proceedings. TO Took for
trouble" ard merely attended to the
business that hunted it up, il would moi
be very Objectionable 10 the railroads
y is lnuimated that some OF the big
railroad influences already see This
point ana are getting ready to take
advantage OF it, Presidents Cassatt ana
Mellen have taken positions distinctly
friendly 10 the President. Indeed Ii il
known that as long as three years ago
the former WIS disposed 10 yield 10 the
demand for such q law as the President
now asks but was overruled by his col
Leagues among rilroad managers.
fs-
Cassatt-Hin railroad interests are in
ciined to yield omething 70 the Presi-
dent, i'm the hone that they may 50 far
establish themselves in the good graces
OF the White House as to be permitted
4 considerable influence III determin.a.
who shall be placed on the commission
other hand. IS expected 10 make an un-
compromising fight 90 finish against
the whole Presidential proposal.
Whether the present cOrrrnfssi0rl ig
legislated out of Office or not if is
certain that practical Feorga MIA ton
VIII take place. The President and MS
advisers. IL aud out OF Congress. want
a commission of seven instead OF fivc
member. AT present there is pending
the resignation Of one member, Cornnis-
sioner F1fcr: If two are .acded 10 fbe
places 10 be filled, and by the time the
law could be passed and fairly put into
effect a fourth vacancy would have been
created by the expiration OF Commits
siOner Clements term.
Would Please Railroads.
Mr. Clements is only less objectionable
to the railroad interests than Co.na,is-
sioEer Prouty and is not expected To ba
Thus. within very sbort
time after n new law could be passed
there would be four vacancies in ~
seven memberships; and onIy a vear
after the Clements vacancy the Torn, |
of Commissioner PTouty would eSpIre
This would leave only Cockreu and
both of these have been appointed bss
the President and are not objectionabl bic
10 railroads.