Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-23

ers, which was generally regarded aus
a concession to the presidents blg
naval program Authority TO name a
tarin commission ana to appoint OK
pcrts TO gather data, with a view TO
the revision or the tariff at the next
session. was strongly advocated NS
! result resolutions were adopted IN
| the senate authorizing the committee
! on finance. and IN the mouse authoriN-
| ing tho committee on ways and means.
to conduct individual Investigations.
These committees are empowered 10
employ such experts az they need.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE..
Several features we're raised which
! were designed 10 place greater powers
| In the hands of the Interstate commerce
! commission I'm the matter of regulat-
! ng railroad rates Among these was
Il proposition that the COMMISSION pro-
| ceod 10 ascertain the physical valua-
lions Of railroads. that the commission
he given The power TO suspend IN
Crcases in railroad rates pending an
iuvc stigation of the Justice OF such
advances: allowing railroads TO make
pooling agreements. and number of
other questions involving the reeula
tIun Of Interstate commerce. None nt
these bills was passed, but subs,au-
tlal victory for the commission was Won
in the appropriation of $350.00O for
the establishment Of "A statistical and
accounting department of the commits
sion, which appropriation was opposed
" Chairman Ttwney Of The house
committee ON appropriations
An effort was made ana Is still IN
proGtcss In the senate 90 suspend the
uperationf of the commodities clause
OF the Hepburn railroad rate act uu-
Ill Jan l. 1910, but there has been no
general sentiment i'm either body de-
handing this legislation in the interest
OF railroads which own mines ana
manufacturing establishments fun
Their argument against the proposition
has appeared in the fact that there
has been little legislation i'm aid of
other commercial classes or for the
benefit pf labor organizations. The
commodities clause became effective on
May and under II railroads which
transport Interstate commerce produc-
tipns of mines or manufacturing plants
which they own. wholly or in part, are
subject to heavy penalties for each
violation. The Law applies particular
~ to railroads which own coal mines.
There was a faction in Congress who
believed no necessity exists to relieve
railroads from the operation Of this
law, and they were III the opiniOn hat
the law when contes. / v ii; be 'l,cLlod
unconstitutional.
SHERMAN ANTITRUST LAW
Some general revlslou NJ the SEER
man anti trust law in he interest cf
both capital and ldbot was demanded
and a bill was presented by the Nation
al civic federation. 1t was advocated
strongly by Seth Low, Victor Morawet2
and other well known persons, bl'
Samuel Gompers president of the
American Federation of Labor and an
officer of the National Civic federation
as well did not endorse 1t. After
number OF hearings We're held before
the judiciary committee of the house
aud senate 1t became evident that
ii stood no chance of passage.
movement was then started for the dp-
pointuent of a commission 10 consider
/ such legislation during the itecss ~
! Congress, but this met with no en
| cpuragcmenL
| NATURAL RESOURCES.
The question OF conserving the nat
urdl resources was before the session
prominently for many weeks. An ef-
fort was made IN both bodies 10 secure
an appropriation for the creation OF
| the Southern Appalachian and White
mountains forest reserves, but II did
not succeed. As an alternative COM
| mission 10 Investigate was authorized,
! The creation OF a waterways fund
! by making an appropriation of 500
| 600 coo was advocated and rejected be.
| cause among other reasons of The
! condition OF the treasury. AS a sub
! stitute bill was prepared to con
| tinue" the inland waterways commits
| sion which bill was amended to "au-
! tnurlze" the commission. on this sub
! icct there was "A great deal of debate,
! ii being contended that President
! Roosevelt had no authority to appoint
the commission I'm the first place. Great
III. Il. ~.
cause OF the converting by President
! Roosevelt of the conference of COVER
nors during the present month, At
| this conference questions connected
! With the conservation of natural re-