Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-21
'DOLLIVER RATE Bill
The Senator Introduces Measure
Simplifying Railroad Regulation
COURT PROCEDURE IS ELIMINATED.
COmmissiOn II Increased 10 Seven
Members at salary Of $4,000
Each with Power to FIX ana
Enforce AHinimum Rate.

Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Dol
liver introduced q bill designed to sim
plify the railroad regulating measur
proposed by the Interstate commerce
commission. 1t authorizes the commits
sion to fix and enforce a maximum ant
reasonable rate to go into effect 81
days after notice. The court procedure
of the commissions bill is eliminated
land railroads are left free to follow
their constitutional remedies in the
courts. The commission is increased
to seven members at salary Of $40 900
leach.
1t had not been the intention of the
senator to introduce the measure until
after the holidays, but 1t was agreed
at conference at the White house
Monday night, participated in by the
! president, Senator Dolliver, Secretary
Of State Root, Attorney General Moody
and Judge s. H. Cowan of Fort Worth,
Tex, that It would, be more effective
to have the measure referred to the
senate commission on Interstate COM
merce Immediately. In statement
Senator Dolliver says:
1.-THE bill which have introduced is
intended to correct some of the abuses
which still exist in the matter Of rail-
road rates. It is not drawn in a spirit
Of hostility to the railway system of
the country, but in the interests Of
harmony and good will between the
railways and their patrons. 1t provides
a public tribunal impartial in its at
tltude before which the shipper may
present his complaint against an ex-
listing rate, and the carrier his defense
Of the rate. So that controversy aris-
ing out of disagreement between
the two may not be left without an ef-
fectlve solution.
THE bill avoids comforting upon the
commission dispensing power or any
authority to disturb commercial con-
ditions where separate markets are in
volved or competitive ports or indie
pendent railroad systems. The juris-
diction is confined to the carrier COM
planned Of and in the case Of a joint
rate to the carriers participating there
in. The power is given in such case
to the commission to investigate the
subject fully, hearing all parties and
in case the rate complained of, or any
regulation affecting 1t is found to be
in violation Of the Interstate COM
merce act, to correct 1t by an order re-
quiring the carrier to fix its rates with
reference to reasonable maximum
prescribed by the commission.
'The bill proceeds upon the theory
that such an order Of the commission
should &c into effect at the end of 80
days unless in the meantime 1t Is mod
flied by supplemental order Of the |
or suspended or vacated by |
order or decree Of the circuit court |
Of the United States exercising ju-
in equity which will not be
limited or In any way abridged by any
act Of congress- If such an order Of
The commission Is found by the court
10 be unfair to the carrier or unjust
10 the public we have the authority
II the supreme court for saying that
L is the duty Of the supreme court to
gacate It. The bill is framed on the
.heory which the supreme court has
held to be sound, that q
we'll constituted commission is better
lble than the courts to deal with the !
question Of railway rates and with tho
understanding that no Jurisdiction
ould be conferred upon the courts
o pass judgment upon the order of
he commission, with a view to modi-
ying its terms.
THE commission is enlarged to sew
n members and their salaries made
early equal to that Of d justice Of
he supreme court OF the United States.
THE bill provides for a thorough
Inspection Of railway accounts with q
lew to bringing to light those in
qualities which have crept into the
usiness Of transportation through the
reed Of influential shippers. or
through the competitive pressure of
conditions" r