The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-19
HOWARD TAFT IS
NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT
CONTINUED from First Page.)

(Continued fron
His substitute embodied the La.
Toilette idea OF a physical valuation
Of all railroads as a basis Of q fixing
of rates. s3
While the republican party has
done much, 1t said, there yet remains
q great deal to be done, in the public
interest. The minority report favored
the enlargement Of the powers Of the
interstate commerce commission and
the clothing OF 1t with authority Of
|instituting proceedings on its own
motion. 1t was urged that the COM
mission be given power to determine
whether an increase in rates should
be allowed when such increase is
challenged. Increase in the person
mel Of the commission also was
urged the plank declaring 1t to be
absurd that seven men should be ex-
pected to deal adequately with all the
mesh Of problem confronting them I'M
der new conditions. If necessary 1t
was provided there should be sub
commissions to deal with controver-
sizes, an appeal being allowed to the
full commission.
we recommend" continued Mr..
Cooper, amid applause, "the enact
ment of a law requiring the Interstate
commerce commission to make an ex-
act inventory Of the physical proper
jty Of all railroads, such valuation to
be made the basis and reasonable to
railroad rates.
Reduction in Tariff.
The tariff plank followed that on
the railroads. Il was declared that
under the present tariff the public 10
compelled to pay prices dictated by
monopoly and that the situation calls
for immediate remedy. It was asked
that duties on imports shall be made
equal only to the difference between
the cost OF production at home and
abroad. The demand was made for
the appointment OF a permanent tariff
commission to be appointed by the
president. The demand was made for
the enactment of a law prohibiting
any combination for the purpose OF
sitting competition and suppressing
Of prices. Imprisonment for violation
Of this law was asked. The plank
also contained suggestions that like
penalty made legal for the Sherman
antitrust law.
Publicity Of Campaign Contributions.
The minority further recommended
that there be added to the majority
report two paragraphs dealing with
publicity Of campaign contributions
and expenditures.
"Hurrah" came from a member OF
the Wisconsin delegation.
The paragraph mentioned by Mr..
Copper recommended that q republi-
can congress and a republican presi[-
dent enact and enforce a law requir-
ing the managers of campaigns deal
ing with national offices to publish
from time to time "during the cam
paign" the names of all contributors
and the amounts contributed or prom.
ised and the amounts and purpose Of
all disbursements and to whom paid.
The report asked for 9 law asking
for the rates and services Of telegraph
companies.
Radical Injunction Suggestion.
The minority plank recommended
the enactment Of a law prohibiting
the issuance Of injunctions in law dis
putes when such Injunction would
not have been asked had there been
no labor element involved. It was
also asked that the issuance Of injunc-
lions should In all cases be forbidden
where the exigencies Of the situation
can be covered by the ordinary pro-
cesses Of law.
Punishment for contempt Of court,
1t was asked, should be inflicted only
after conviction by q jury except in
cases where the offenseS raj commit
ted in the immediate presence Of OF
in close proximity to the court.
The report also asked for creation
for adoption of a bureau Of labor and
mines and for this department an APP
preparation Of SUFFICIENT funds to al.
low investigations Of mining disas-
ters.
The final planks Of the report ask
ed for extension Of the eight hour law
to all departments Of the governmen
Only ono stsner to Minority Report.
II am the only member Of the COM
mittee who signed the report" said
Mr.. Cooper.
"Hurrah. good" came from the
floor.
"And / am not ashamed. Of It and
win never be-" retorted Mr.. Cooper,
who then drew a mass Of papers from
his pocket and. opened q bulky one.
Louder" came the cry.
II am not going to read It," shout
ed the speaker.