Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-20
NEW RATE Bill BY DULLlVER
Measure introduced in the Senate by
Request Of President.
COMMISSION INCREASED TO SEVEN
Provides PubIic Tribunal Before
which shippers May Enter Conn
plants aud for Fixing
Maximum Schedules.

WASHINGTON. Dec Ex-senator Doll-
Yer introduced a bill today designed to sim
plify the railroad regulating measure pro-
posed by the Interstate Commerce commits
sion. 1t authorizes the commission to Tx
and enforce a maximum and reasonable
rate to go into effect thirty days after
notice. The court procedure of the COM
missions bill is eliminated and railroads
are left free TO follow their constitutional
remedies i'm the courts. The commission
is increased TO seven members at salary
of $1,000 each II had not been the inten-
ton of the senator to introduce the meas
ure until after the holidays. but IL was
agreed at a conference at the White House
last night, participated in by the presi-
dent. Senator Deliver. Secretary Root. At
torney General Moody and Judges. II.
Cowan of Fort Worth. Texas, that it would
be more effective to have the measure re-
ferred to the senate committee inter-
state commerce Immediately.
DoIiver Explains Measure.
In statement Senator Dolliver says:
The bin which I have introduced is in
tended t. correct some of the abuses
which still exist in railroad rates. 1t Is
not drawn in a spirit of hostility to the
railroad systems Of the country. but In
the interest of good will between the rail-
ways and their patrons.
1t provides a public tribunal impartial
in its attitude. before which the shipper
may present his complaint against an eN-
listing rate and the carrier his defense OF
of n disagreement between the two may
not be left without an effective solution.
The bill avoids comforting upon the COM
mission a dispensing power or any au-
thority to disturb commercial conditions
where separate markets are involVed or
competitive ports or independent railway
iiIr iG
the carrier complained of, and in the case
of joint rate. to the carriers parttcipat-
ing therein. The power is given IN sucn
the subject fully, hearing all parties and
in case the rate complained of or any regu-
ton al eCting it is found to be In Nio-
lation of the interstate commerce act to
correct il by an order requiring the car
rer to fix its rates With reference TO
reasonable maximum prescribed by the
Insures Prompt Action.
The bill proceeds on the theory that
such an order of the commission should
go into effect at the end of thirty Gays
unless I'm the meantime II is modlned Dy Il
supplemental order of the commission or
suspended or vacated by order or decree
of the circuit court of the United states
exercising a jurisdiction In equity Wnch
will not be limited or in any way abridged
by an act of congress. If such an oruet
of the commission is found by the cpuIt
to be unfair to the carrier or unjust 10 inc
public. we have the authority or the su-
preme court for saying that II Is the duty
of the supreme court to vacate 1t; Inc
| bill is framed on the theory which the su-
premc court has repeatedly held to De
| sound that a well constituted commits,
| sion is better able than the courts TO dea,
! with the question of railway rates ana
| with the understanding that no 1urlsulc-
| ton could be conferred upon the courts
| to pass judgment on the order OF the COM
| mission with a view to modifying lts
! terms . ..,
| The commission is enlarged TO seven
| members and their salaries made nearly
| equal to that Of justice OF the supreme
| court of the United States.
The bill provides for a thorough inspecI
| tion of railway accounts with a view OF
bringing to light those inequantles wnion
| have crept into the business of transpor.
/ tation through the greed of influential
f! Shippers or through the pressure OF COM
! petitive conditions. t