The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-21
MR.. TAFT DISCUSSES
IMPORTANT TOPICS
President Delivers Notable Declaration of Policy Regarding
Interstate Commerce and Antitrust Laws at Des
Moines--Spends Afternoon and Eve
ming in City of Omaha.

bcrs Of congress the republicans have
majority, and they have the presi-
dea:.
Refers to Platform.
Looking forward 20 the legislation
that ought to be expected from that
party we must refer back To the plat
form upon which the party was
elected. In the extra session recently
closed. tariff bill, was passed. as was
promised in the platform. / don't in
tend to dwell upon the much disputed
question whether that bill complied
with the bin promised, for | have con-
sidered that at another time and at
another place. What / wish to invite
your attention to this morning is, with
the tariff bill out of the way for the
time at least. what is there for the re-
publican party in congress, under the
promises of its platform. to do I'm the
comin.; regular session."
Tho president then outlined briefly
his well-known position with regard
to labor unions and dwelt upon the
necessity of passing at the earliest
possible moment legislation to carry
out platform pledges. as to injunctions
He said also that he would recon-
mend that congress require railroads to
adopt additional safety devices to pro-
tect the lives of their employees.
But the legislation with respect to
thu iaborer." continued the president,
lis not the only legislation that the re-
publican party is pledged to- Indeed,
When | look forward to the next ses-
sion and realize how much there is to
be considered | tremble lest the ses-
sion will not be long enough. and that
ii will not be possible TO do all that
has been promised"
Mr.. Taft detailed the passage of the
railroad rate bill several years ago, in
which the interstate commerce COM
mission was given author.ss lo fix spe-
cific rates, and continued:
The rate bill has now been in
operation some three years. and it
must be admitted that it has not fur
nished the relief against unduiy dis
criminatory rates with the expedition
and effectiveness which was expected.
The republican platform promised ad-
ditional legislation in aid of enforcing
the interstate commerce law, and I
have been engaged in the eonsidera-
tion of what / ought to recommend
to congress in order to comply with
that promise.
Those who opposed the provision
by which appeal from the order of the
commission might be taken to the
court, did SO because they thought
the right to appeal would offer op-
portunity to delay the proceedings.
In an examination of the decisions
of the commission and resorts TO the
courts for temporary injunctIons.
fully justified the conclusion that one
of the defects of the present Interstate
commerce law is the delay entailed by
litigation in court.
The court appeal cannot be abol-
ished, because ii is constitutional
right. Something must be done to re-
duce It's effect by way of delay. so
that the decision of the court shall be
prompt, final and effective.
Facilitate Appeals.
1t is proposed now by a number of
gentlemen of my cabinet, who have
conferred with some members of the
AfA1cfF FeA@AE eottAtaasfNs AotiAAalSsiDiis Id Ia
ctlitate these appeals from the COM
mission by the creation Of a separate
interstate commerce court of five
which shall sit in Washington. and
which shall be the only court TO which
petitions 10 set aside or naliify the or
ders NJ the interstate commerce COM
mission can be made: and IL Is pro-
posed To allow a single judge to make
an order staying the proceedings of
the interstate commerce commission
but - days. and thereafter no injunc-
Continued Oh Page Threel