The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-25
Numerous Changes in the Inter.
state Commerce Law
Will Be Proposed in His Mes
sage to Congress.
A COURT OF APPEALS
To Decide Contested Rate Cases
Will Be Urged.
Also Legislation to Prevent Over
Issue of Securities.

Washington. Nov. 25.-President
Taft's views as to amendments to the
Interstate commerce law have been
rretty generally known ever since his
Des Moines speech on September 20.
A conference was held at the White
House yesterday afternoon for the pur-
pose of working out the details of the
amendments needed to carry Mr.. Taft's
views into effect. Mr.. Wickersham
has been devoting much time to a
study of the law.
1t is proposed among other things.
to establish an interstate commerce
court of five members to consider ap-
reals from rates fixed by the interstate
commerce commission. The president
IN his message to congress also will
recommend legislation to prevent one
interstate railroad from owning stock
in competing line and to compel
roads thus owning stock to dispose of
their holdings within a given time.
Of stocks and bonds and the watering
of stocks will be one of the strongest
recommendations Mr.. Taft will make,
the presidents proposition being that
no stocks or bonds shall be issued ex-
cept by permission of the interstate
commerce commission after an inquiry
has been made into the necessity for
the issue.
Giving TO Shippers the cno1ce or
outes over various connecting lines is
another important amendment which
the president favors.
President Taft believes that one OF
the great detriments Of the interstate
commerce law is the delay entailed by
litigation in the courts over an order of
the commission.
More Power to Commission.
The president believes another change
in the interstate commerce law should
give to the commission the power to
hear and entertain complaints against
unjust classification of merchandise for
transportation. 1t is perfectly clear, he
declares that by including articles in
the same class, which ought to pay
different rates, a railroad can commit
exactly the same kind of injustice as 1t
would by imposing an exorbitant rate
as to any one class. The president will
recommend that the power of the COM
mission be extended to include not
ONLY the fixing of rates, after complaint.
but also the readjustment of classifica-
tion if it proves on complaint to be un-
just.
To give the commission power to in
stitute complaint of its own and not to
limit it to the consideration of COM
plants made from the outside, is an
other of the important changes in the
law to which the president and his ad-
visers are devoting a considerable share
of their attention President Taft be-
lieves that this authority must be given
to the commission in order to make it's
work truly effective Mr.. Taft is not
in favor of letting down the bars en-
tirely however, and giving the COM
mission absolute power to fix rates In
advance and on their own initiative,
and without complaint filed and investi-
CATION made. 1t is the desire of the ad-
ministration to proceed cautiously
along this line in a way which event
ually will accomplish its purpose with
ont too drastic radical actlOn-
1t is proposed that the Interstate COM
merce commission shall be given author
ing into effect of new rate classifica-
tion providing complaint is made that the
this way the shipper is given equal rights
with the railroads which are permitted to
take appeals from orders OF the commis-
sion.
Pooling Rates.
The subject which has given the presi-
dent and his advisers much concern is the
The president takes the position that rail-
roads should be permitted to agree upon
pooling rrulH ra Contracts, acts but Shall constitute
agreement to rates-provided always
that such agreements shall receive the
mission. In this way the operation OF the
antitrust law against traffic agreements
against their absolute prohibition win be
substituted reauTe1mhena a1 me rnaa, rnas os sSca
With District Attorney Sims and Mr..
Mann the president took up the White
duce a bill on this subject at the coming
session of congress. He believes the gov
ernment can prevent this traffic through
the exercise Of its power to control inter
state and foreign commerce. Mr.. Mann's
bill provides a heavy penalty for the en-
ticernent of a woman or girl from one
place to another for immoral purposes
and thereby cause her to go as a passen-
ger over any transportation line engaged
II iy,4e taft
District Attorney Sims has himself been
recommended for appointment to the fed
decision as to this vacancy was reached,
so far as could be learned.