East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-08-21

The new interstate commerce law
passed by the recent congress, and
which some think becomes effective
August 23 next, which others think
is in effect at the present time and
which still others insist does not be-
come effective until January /, 1907
has the railroad men of both freight
and passenger departments greatly
confused. Az stated in yesterdays
Inter-Mounta tain, the Denver G. Rio
Grande railroad, from its headquarters
in Denver, has informed its employees
and agents all over the country that
according 20 the Interpretation of the
act by its legal department, the law Is
now in force, and on the strength Of
that opinion, the Rio Grande refuses
to issue any advertising transporta-
tion, immigration transportation or
transportation at special rates be-
tween interstate points on business
not excepted by the interstate COM
merce law, says the Butte Inter Noun
tain.
The basis of the Rio Grande's legal
department for saying that the law is
at the present time in force, is that
it is stated in three different places
in the act, when it shall become eff
fec;ive and in each of those places
different time is specified 1t is
frs stated that the law shall become
effective January | 1907. Again it
states that the measure shall become
effective and be IN force from and
after the date of its passage. APP
pended is note which states that by
! joint resolution of the house and SEN
ate, the act shall become effective
August 2S, 1906.
The legal department of the Denver
& Rio Grande is doubtless compose
of able legal talent, but still railroad
men are nuzzled TO know why that
road should assume the attitude II
has in the face of the fact that ne
other road has done so, and further
more, because the officials of the rail-
roads met in Chicago only recently
for the express purpose of taking ur
the new law and placing a genera
Interpretation upon it, and presuma-
bly, they did. In the face of thes"
facts the independent attitude of tn,
Rio Glande would seem to be based
upon the opinions of its legal depart.
ment alone.
That the Gould road intends re.
naming firm in the stand it has taker
is evidenced by the following letter
circular letter issued by Ed r
Hunt, the local general agent, to the
newspapers in this territory which
have been carrying advertisements fol-
the Rio Grande under an advertising
contract:
Gentlemen: our legal department
IS firmly of the opinion that the inter.
state commerce regulation as regard.
Advertising or immigration transpor.
;ation and special rates, supposed by
many not TO be effective until August
20 or January l, are in reality in eff.
feet today and that we cannot issue
/ any transportation or reduced rates
on interstate business not excepted
under the interstate commerce law
without placing ourselves in violation
Of the law. However embarrassing II
may be to us to have to decline ap-
plications for transportation from pa
pers that have rendered us service. we
feel that we are compelled under the
law to so do. We are confronted by
n condition over which we have no
control and for which we are i'm no
way responsible. I therefore beg to
advise you that we can only issue ad-
vertising transportation locally within
the state of Utah or within the state
of Colorado, but not to be used for
any part of an interstate trip"
The most rational statement at the
present time, is the one to the effect
that tire legal departments of all the
railroads in the country are now en-,
deavorlng to place an Interpretation
upon the new interstate commerce
law, and that the Rio Grande lawyers
arrived at their conclusion before the
others. Certain it is that there will
be more regarding the matter and
from other sources before many days
Butchers National Convention,
NS1u,opIaa WI, Ave-