The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-26
RAILWAY TRAFFIC ASSOCIATIONS
An Expected Proposal by Mr.. Roosevelt
and Certain Oplniens % Judge Cselcy.

An Expected PrOnDeMl nv MP. cit
and Certain onln,en. M -y,ar. Cselry.
~.
| 80 D.IoN OF lhs SuS-Sw. A"o
spatch from chicago printed m n Sun OF
I'm. hro,aA. =. ---sad
90 ~ " men nne'S.
20 p.ns-"" 'us' "eio'o MS u'p@'"
v A."ana' saio'
President Roosevelt In his annual message to
Oonxress next month will two amend
ments 10 the Interstate commerce law.
No VIII propose that tho various railway trafnc
associations. whose standing before the law Is now
ehtremeiy dubious. shall be l~osslized. and mat at
thls same time these shall be shorn Of most OF their
power oy q requirement that all rates made by
.s.n. = % Sonnrmed oy the lnterstaSe JONI
EN-NaS
IN lne esltauon mat attended preceded
Dus Ievens Eecsseins OF the Interstate com,
me.Se Jaw ana wnicn was specially aroused
" 'ne Recommendation OF President hoose-
a.whs. -. - nAoeoas. W SonsseSs -
seAS ~ sum q mooincsLioh Oh 'no isw
1919 Ees'usnI 10 70 recommend was almost
SnsLroIy unconsidered. and yet Thomas M
Sootey' VINO was at the head OF the Interstate
Commission from its hrst estsb-
Iishment In 1887 until he had to retire In oon-
sequence OF i'll health. and who brought into
consideration OF these questions a greater
reputation In Jurisprudence and in practical
action In railroad Affairs than anv othsr man
who has had an official relation 10 than. held
that there .ho,ld ha ooan.n.e,. 800. -
thi. kInA n, : 80 S a--.- -
vnitt.. on rn...s !" !.
..ld. Noe''' A'
ms question tnns presents fsoh whether the
ma so'u'on ior tno railroad problems N NOT 70 DO
s,st., T,nr,..n,,,s ,ha W I'M "a .sn's
interests. with sons senn,,s r.co~n,,.a .n,norI,v
on tina mart ~ those ,mm.a,.,.Iv 100000 Twnich
could DO none other than railway -,racnc assocla-
tons" or poolsl; . someth,nr of the sort
would be neither unphilosoph,cal nor out of accord
with Tho general spirit Of our Institutions. and n 10
therefore likely at some time TO be taken into seri-
Gus consideration by our lawmakers.
In an address delivered before a national
convention Of railroad Commissioner OF
which he was chairman. held at Wa shinston
in March. 1891. shortly before hs retired from
ofioe, Judge Cooley. referring TO the making
Of rate sheets. ssid;
IL IA her, th., w, a,.cov., . Droh,.n ,.., 4. mn,
narrow or temporary and that does NOT touch l,gh,iv
upon the relations between the railroads them
selves. but is seen in nearly all these controverslex
and Misunderstanding and that is the prollno
parent Of nearly all difficulties between the rail-
roads aud those who have occasion for their ser
vices. . . . The railroad problem VIII DO dealt
~ e.eotuaHy Muen u po"er W nA rates LOT
sniosu uensporta'on w puaceo upon sucn a OASIS
wa ING w "ow 70 PROMINENT ana trouDiesohe
snNI U y uro u INC po"er nseiI otougnt under
eHettuu1 'eeMd''0H, we nave sald that
.sery one 0 .nese nve nunaIed operating railroads.
nIOusn " hahaEint oncers' may MAKE Iate
suoeus AZ ploasuIo NC puolo dIHorHes
20 "o' VonSu'ea anu Me'' oo"se'H Is nor asNsa as a
P'e'eH"""o :" pVH'"V "e rue S"eeS W Iorc'
These passages. and particularly those
which I have placed in italics, show that
Judge cooley contemplated that In the max
ing OF rate sheets there would be coopera-
uon between bodies OF men representing the
STATE ana the gers OF the railroads.
me interstate commerce law. OF which
Judge Cooley as the head OF the commission
was the most active administrator. forbade
the existence OF railroad pools. and u would
have been OF doubtful propriety for him to
advocate openIya poole -traric association,
but his sentiment In favor or them, with Gov
eminent cooperation. IL only thlnly yelled in
the above passages.
presented such a view for the regulation
or railroad rates 10 the Senate on
Interstate commerce while the
was holding special sessions in considering
the subject and hearing testimony in May,
1905. my statement being published In its
report. An extract from my statement 10 as
folloWs:
The general ground which I have taken and