The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-20
TAFT URGES CHANGE
IN COMMERCE LAWS
Declares Interstate Statutes
Furnish Us Relief Against
Discrimination.

DEs MONIES. Iowa, Sept 30-In
forceful speech in front OF the State
capital, President Taft today declared
the present interstate commerce law Is
inadequate and came out emphatically
for amendments which. If passed by
Congress. will make the statute look
Ike brand new page Of legaI history.
at must be admitted" ne said that
the law has not furnished the relief
against discriminatory rates with the
expedition and effectiveness that were
expected
An interstate commerce court Of five
members, the President believes, should
be created 10 handle transportation
cases solely. One Judge Of the five
should be given power to stay proceed
ings OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, for. say. a period Of sixty days
but no Injunction should be allowed
unless the whole court acauiesces-
Crying Evil" Cited
Unjust classification OF merchandise.
the President believes. is one Of the cry
ing evils of present day interstate COM
rnerce and the Interstate Commerce
Commission also should he allowed 10
take up the questions Of the reasonable
ness Of rates other than those brought
to its attention.
TT is proposed" said the President,
..to aid the commission to postpone the
date that new rates on classincauons
are to take effect, providing that with
IN thirty days OF the date of the order,
a complaint be fled that such rate OF
classification is unreasonable or unjust;
or provided second, that tie commits
sion itself shall institute an Inquiry into
the reasonabIeness or justice of such
rate or classification.
This introduces a somewhat new ele-
ment into the act by placing the railroad
counDany I'm the situation that when IL
proposes TO make a change N the rate
il should be permitted 10 ccne 10 tn9
commission affirmatiVely ana declate
the change TO the new rate Is justified,
I am inclined TO think this IS a fair
change.
Should Investigate Changes.
..rr the provisions of the law it gives
IN the nublic the same right 20 have
changes. which affect them iajuriously,
INVESTIGATED before they go into effect.
as II does changes Of rates by the rail-
road bv the appeal TO the courts to
have the order Of the commission sub
tected 10 investigation and hearings.
railroads ought not to be permitted TO
cbange their rates unless they can give
a reason for it.
"a third amendment TO the act
should provide that the commission
NAV by order suspend, modify, or an
nul anv changes In the rules or regu-
iation which impose undue burdens
on shippers. No doubt ought to be
left with respect TO the power of the
commission on such subject, be-
cause the rules and regulations of a
railway are the means py which in
fustfce NAV be done 20 the shipper.
There has been a good deal of dim
Guilty encountered by shippers over
connecting lines and the power of the
commission in respect to this has been
quite limited"
Should Have More Power.
1T would seem well 10 empower the
commission on the application of one
carrier, or ar individual, or at the in
stances OF the commission itself. to com
ipel connecting carriers 10 unite In form
/ ing a through route and 70 fix the rate
and the apportionment thereof among