The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-21
BY unItes Press wire.

Des Moines, Ia, Sep. 21.--In q
forceful speech In front of the state
capitol President Taft yesterday de-
clared that the present Interstate
commerce law is Inadequate and came
out flatfooted for amendments. which,
II passed by congress, will wake the
statute look like a brand new page
of legal history. "It must be admit
ted" he said, that the law has not
furnished the relief against discrlm- =
inatory rates with the expedition
and effectiveness which were expect
ed"
An interstate commerce court of
five members, the president believes,
should be created to handle transpor-
tation cases solely. one judge of the
five should be given power to stay
proceedings of the interstate COM
merce commission Tor, say, n period
of sixty days. but no injunction
should he allowed unless the whole
court acquiesces. Unjust classification
of merchandise, the president be-
lieves. is one Of the crying evils OF
the interstate commerce commission
should also be allowed to take up
the question of the reasonableness Of
rates other than those brought to its
attention.
1T is proposed" said the president
"to authorize the commission to post
pone The date that new rates on
classification are to take effect, pro.
vided that within thirty days of the
date OF the order, a complaint be
filed that such rate or classification is
unreasonable or unjust or provided,
second, that the commission Itself
shall institute an inquiry in to the
reasonableness or Justice of such rate
or classification.
This Introduces n somewhat new
elelement into the act by placing rail-
road company In the situation that
when II proposes to make a change
in the rate, it should DC prepared to
come to the commission affirmatively
and declare that the charge to the
new rate is justified. 1 am inclined to
think this is a fair change.
I'm the provisions of the law, 1t
gives to the public the same right TO
juriously, Investigated before they go
into effect, as It does changes Of
rates by the railroad, by appeal 10
the courts to have the order OF the
commission subjected to investigation
and hearings. Railroads ought not to
be permitted tG change their rates
unles they can give reson for It,
"a third amendement to the act
should provide that the commission
may by order, suspend, modify or an
null any changes in the rules or reg
ulations which impose undue burdens
on shippers. No doubt ought to be
left with respect to the power of the
commission on such a subject, be-
cuase the rules and regulations OF
railway are the means by which inT
Justice may be done to the shipper,
There has been good deal OF diffi-
Guilty encountered by shippers over
connecting lines. and the power OF
the com mmission in respect to this has
been quite limited. 3a q
"It would seem well to empower
the commission on the application by
one carrier or an individual or at
the instance of the commission itself,
10 cOnlDtl tahAisho ~ 'es'N1
in forming through rate and TO TX
the rate and the npportionment
thereof among the carriers. The COM
mission should also be empowered 10
prescribe the rules and regulations
under which the shippers shall have
the privilege to designate the route
over which their shipments shall be
carried TO the destination beyond that
of the first carrier.
another most important amend
ment of the Interstate commerce law
part of which was specifically
promised in the platform-is pro-
hibition against any interstate rail-
road company acquiring stock in any
railroad III the future and
a further provision that no railroad
engaged in interstate commerce shall
after a certain date. mold stock in a
railroad and the further
that after the passing OF
the amending act, no railroad COM
pany engaged in interstate commerce.
shall issue any additional stock or
bonds or other obligations except with
the approval of the commission,
based upon a finding by the commits
sion that some are Issued, nrst iof
purpose authorizes by law, and sec.
ond, for price not less than part for
stock, and not less than the reason
able market value for ponds, ssuch
price being paid either In cash or In
or services and II in proper
ty or services, then at a fair value
thereof as determined by the COM
by these provisions enforced with
reason and drawn with a view not TO
be too drastic with railroads in the
we shall gradually abolish
that evil which Is involved In the
union of railroads owning the stock
yf another; and we shall prevent the
over-issue of stock and bonds so as
10 prevent watering and to keep the
efficient for service for which
Il was intended. II greatly interferes,
after time, with the power OF the
owncra to improve a railroad loaded