The Washington times., 1908-12-29

there was insistence on keeping the
commission under the new department,
as the House had placed il there. Sena-
tor Clay OF Georgia was one of the
Senate COnferees: and the struggle was
long and determined
The people who have since shown
themselves II various ways 20 nave
small Sympat y with the whole project
Of railroad regulation stood for the
House proposition. Finally the friends
of the commission went out ana made
a canvass Of the Senate They found
that the Democrats were practically All
Of one mind-in favor Of maintaining
the commission as an independent bcdy
and that enough Republicans were
with them TO make II possible 10 Kill the
whole measure il this change should he
made.
Accordingly, the conferees yielded
when they were convinced that 10 in
cIude the commission would Kill the
In this connection it may be said. as
an important indication OF the ten
denCy Of legislative opinion, that the
pretty uniformly the best friends of the
commission. 1t is counted that they
would be certain to take the same
position again 1t is non-pohtcat
body; not subject 10 the political in
nuenCes which naturally involve the
political head Of a Cabinet department
Its membership IS so nearly as may be
equally divided between the two par
ties. At present there are three Demo-
Gratis among the seven members OF the
commission, and II is insisted that moth
ing suggestive Of politics has ever crept
into its conduct
Knox Commissions Friend.
one more reason for confidence among
friends Of the commission, is found in
the fact that Mr. Tafts premier IS a
firm friend of the present organization.
At one time during the consideration
of recent railroad legislation, President
Roosevelt was disposed strongly to join
those who wanted the commission put
under the bureau OF corporations. The
story goes that Senator Knox, who was
earnestly opposed to that plan, and for
much the same reasons that Senator
SpOOner had given, went 20 the Presi-
dent, labOred with him, and finally con-
vinCed him. He agreed to drop the
point. just as Senator Hale had done
The argument is constantly advanced
against the commission that in the
nature of things a seVen-headed OTEaui-
zatiOn is ill-adapted to executive busi-
ness. The answer to this, on behalf OF
the commission, is that the commits
sion does a vast amount of executive
work, Of which the public never heard
The proportion Of complaints which
ever take a formal shape is infiuitesi-
mally small. The beginning Of a case
between a shipper and carrier Is com
monty a letter, in which the shipper
states his grievance, and asks If he has
ground for action under the law.
He is promptly advised whether he
has, and explained the law and pro
CedUre- At the same time, the COM
mission takes up with the carrier the
effort to secure An amiCablc adjust
ment; and I'm most cases this is brought
about without further procedure. In
this way a great deal is quietly accom-
pIshed. The argument against the
commission. so often urged, that Il
hears and decides only a small number
OF cases, loses so much of point when
this is considered. as does. also, the ar
Eument that the commission has no ca
paCity for strictly executive business.
The fact that stocks in the Hartman