The Sentinel=record., 1909-11-25
PRESIDENT AND AIDES HAVE TALK ON WHITE SLAVE
 TRAFFIC.
Many Proposed Amendments in the Interstate Commerce Laws--Does Not Want Traffic Rates to
 be Pooling Contracts.

w dSuliSlOH, 4NDN. Nt.--F OISSDilS q contemplated horseback ride because of snowstorm President Taft de voted this afternoon to a series of i'm. portant conferences covering the sub iects of proposed amendments to the Inter State Commerce Laws, leg islation looking to the suppression of the so-called white slaye' traffic, appointment of a successor to the late Judge Sol S. Betha, of the United States tDistriet Court at Chicago, and the appointment of a new govern or of the territory of New Mexico.
 The conference in regard 10 the commerce law changes was the most important the president has had on the subject and it is stated he is practically ready at this time to be- gin the dictation of this part of his message to congress.
 At the conference were Attorney General Wicke1sham, Chairman Knapp and Commissioner Lane of the Interstate Commerce Commission. District Attorney E. w Sims of Chi. cago. Ills, who conducted the gov ernmentis prosecution in the famnus s29,00oo00 Standard oil case and rep resentative Mann of Illinois, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign and Interstate Commerce.
 With District Attorney Sims and Mir. Mann the president also took up the white slave" question. Mir Mann is to introduce a bill on this question at the coming session of congress. He believes the government can pre- vent this traffic through exercise of its power to control interstate and foreign commercse. Postmaster Gen. conferences jurinetaoinshrdluc eral Hitchcock participated in the con- ferences during the afternoon. Dis tidct Attorney Sims has himself been recommended for appointment to the federal bench to succeed Judge Bethea but nothing definite could be learned of the vacancy.
 President Ttft's views as to tmend- ments to the Interstate Commerce laws have been pretty generally known since his Des Moines speech on September 20. The conference this afternoon it was stated. was for the purpose of warking ont the details of the amendments needed to carry Mir. Taft's views into effect.
 It is proposed. among other things, to establish an Interstate Commerce court of five members to consider app peals from rates fixed by the Inter- state Commerce Commission. The president will also recommend legis- latlon to prevent any interstate rail road from owning stock in a com. peting line, and to compel roads thus owning stock to dispose of their hold ings within,a given time.
 Legislation to prevent the over is. sue of stocks and bonds and the water ing of stocks will be one of tho strongest recommendations Mir. Taft will make, the presidents proposition being that no stocks or bonds shall be issued except by the permission of the Interstate Commerce CoTnrission after an inquiry has been made into the necessity for the issue.
 
 Giving to shippers the choice of routes over various connecting lines Is another important amendment which the resident favors.
 President Taft believes that one of the greatest defriments to the Inter- state Commerce law Is the delay en- tailed by litigation in the courts over an order of the c commission.
 The president believes that another change in the Interstate Commerce law should give to the commission the power to hear and entertain com plaints against unjust classification and merchandise for transportation. It is perfectly clear, he declared, that by including articles in the same class, which ought to pay the different rates