The Washington times., 1908-12-29
Interstate Members Aroused
Over Taft'S Plan for New
Organization.
KNOX Is FRIEND
OF PRESENT PLAN
Scheme to Weaken Commerce Bu-
reau Defeated After Hard
Battle in Congress.
By 7. c. WELLIVER.

II would be difficult To ovcrstate the
concern which has been manifested in
various Government departments as a
result Of Judge Tsft's announcement
Of his plan to reOrganize the Govern
ments instrumentaIties for regulating
Interstate commerce. The feeling at
the Interstate Commerce Commission
is that that organization is once more
to be put on trial for its life. It has
been through that experience at least
twice since It was established, and a
new experience, while II is not looked
upon with satisfaction. is yet regarded
as likely to have much the same effect
as the former ones
An official of the commission pointed
out today that it was peculiarly Unfor-
tunate to have such movement in
augurated just at this time, for the
reason that there has been practically
no judicial determination concerning
the powers granted by the Hepburn
act.
Within the next month";" said he.
practically every big question raised
by the new legislation Will have been
submitted TO the Supreme Court. Thus
far we have had just one of them de-
Cided-that being the question Of the
commissions power to summon wit
uesses and require them TO testify,
which wds raised I'm the Hartman in
vestigation and decided against the
commission
Important Decisions Coming.
But there IS a long list Of issues OF
tine utmost Importance to be decided
in the near future. The cases have
been made UP. and in the course Of
six weeks practically everything in the
new law viii be before the Supreme
Court for determination. Then we VIII
know, for the first time. where we
stand: how much has been gained by
the new law, and what changes and
amendments are needed to improve 10.
The grave mistCTtuuC or an attack
on Jhc commission M this time lies in
its erect on the court. Courts are COM
posed or human beings, and 90 have the
head of the Government attacking the
commission and its processes at this
time cannot Ice expected TO Drei iudiCe the
court I'm favor 90 the idea which the
commission represents, or iu favor Of q
law which il is SO seriously proposed to
discard
The commission and the law repre-
sent the results OF about twenty years
Or experiment We think q good deal
has been gained I'm tLat time. most Of
llch would bc thrown away by a
sweeping reorganization of the system
There IS no mincluS of words among
interstate commerce people. about the
suspected inspiration OF the proposal Of
Judge Taft II is attributed TO the
Bureau of Corporations, which wanted
the executive powers of the commission
IIoln the beginning The members and
officers Of the commission are quite
willing, indeed anxious. 10 have a thor
ougn comparison of the results achieved
nF their body and the Bureau of Cor
porations-
Commissions Achievements.
They point TO their work investigating
an kinds of matters for Congress: to
the fact rs they claim. that even in
the Standard Oil investigation the real
work was done by the Bureau of Cor
porauous through the records and with
the aid Of tie personnel of the commits
sion establishments; TO the confidence
commission by ordering it 20 conduct
great Investigations, and finally, no
discussion of the subject is ended with
out alluSlon TO the hascO of The Bureau
Meat trust.
When the bin was pending I'm Congress
LOT the creation OF the Department Of
Commerce and Labor Senator Hale In
upduced All amendment 10 place the In
terStatc Commerce Commission under
the new department. There was an ami
ated debate on the proposal which was
vigorously supported by Senator Hanna.
'' iA'A''t tH|'''AlNA bIPt7fA IT. urging lldL
the commission ought TO be left an in
dependent body entirely non partisan
and u-pOIiticaI
senator Ellius wanted the amendment
adopted Senators Bacon and Money
took prominent parts in opposition 70 K.
The following cOllOQuy took place:
Mr. Piatt Of COuneCticut-Wha does
the Senator think would be the effect
on the efficiency Of the commission If
fl should be transferred from the pres
ent somewhat Independent pOsitlOn2
Senator SDOOner-I think the teudenC
would Dee To destroy IL.
Senator Flatt-I think so, too.
Senator SDOOncr-I think that is the
object No, J viii not say that; but /
think 10 would have that effect
As n result Of the discussion Mr.. Hale
finally rose. acknowledged that he had
been convinced. and withdrew his
amendment He was satisfied that his
amendment would be a mistake
Contest Is ReOpened.
That was not the end Of the contest.
however. When the Department of
Commerce and Labor bin went into
conference the same question arose. and