The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-23
Interstate Commerce
Law Convention Called
to Offset Such
Action.
Many Communications
Addressed to PreSi-
dent Upon the
Subject.

President Roosevelt has lately been
receiving a great number Of coInInunl-
cations from railroad and other inter-
ests on the transportation question
which leave no doubt that another
movement against further legislation Is
being organized. To meet il, the IN
terstate Commerce Law convention -
In be called for another session IN Chi-
cago. probably about the middle OF
September. when the demand for FUR
thor regulative legislation Will be voiced
and the effort will be made 10 commit
the commercial bodies OF the country
IN favor OF extending the rate-controH-
inc movers Of the commission and ADD
inc some new legislation giving Federal
control over issues Of capitalization
since the recent visit of Governor
Tarrabee. Of Iowa, in Washington. II
has developed that members OF the
executive committee OF tho Interstate
Commerce Law convention are plan
ninq another meeting OF their organi-
zatIon. Conferences have been held
among some members OF the eAecutiV
committee, and the determination has
been practically reached 10 have an
other convention. =. p. Bacon. OF NH
1vaullee. founder and chairman OF Inc
organization, is to spend the summer
in Europe, but his absence will not N
terfere with the arrangement OF a con
vention. in charge Of other members o.
the executive committee.
Petition From Chicago.
Advocates Of further legislation or
these subjects have recently been con
lot ~ a great ne
titiou sent out from Chicago, aqd bear
ing the signatures Of great nuIaoe'
of business houses which are stated Il
he furnishing railroad supplies This pc
tition sets forth that business IS nov
good but that the Federal and Stat
governments have been agitating legis
Iation on railroad subjects; that tn
railroads are stopping unnecessary bet
terments. improvements and eTpendi
lures, and are making no new con
tracts IN this direction ana, therefore
h is declared that the siguers believe
hat the railroads ought not 10 De EN-
barrassed by further legislation OF agi
lation: that railroading Is, next 10 agrl
culture, the greatest interest OF IN
country: that whatever strikes at !
strikes at the whole business fabric
that hard times are threatened unles
agitation ceases. Therefore, people ar
asked TO write their Senators and Con
gTessmen demanding a cessation or aEi
tatiOn along these lines.
Oppose Rate Increase.
At the same time that this circuIa
came TO town. President Roosevelt re
ceived from the Receivers and Ship
pers' Association, Of Dayton, Ohio,
printed petition demanding in behalf o
business interests that the authoritie
IN charge Of enforcement of the inter
state commerce law permit no increas
Of rates or raising OF classihcatiOns o.
minimum carload weights. at this time
1t was set forth that such Increases
are threatened by the railroads; tina
they would greatly injure business; tina
the railroads are enjoying greater earn
ings than ever before, and that thei
business is already so great that the!
cannot give even fair service: there
fore they have no excuse for an IN
crease Of rates. The President forward
ed this 70 the Interstate Commission 70
consideration.
It can be said that any effort al
general increase Of rates viii receiv
small consideration at the hands Of til
commission. Recently the Illinois an
Indiana roads tried to add 10 per cen
10 coal rates, and the commission start
ed proceedings TO nulllfy it so promptl
that the new tariffs were at once with
drawn.