New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-25
MR.. TAFT FRAMING
RAILROAD POLICY
1NENDMENTS TO Law
DISCUSSED.
Doubts .Iduisabaity of Making
Roads Sell Holdings IN
Competitors.
-r-an The rr.hune nsrsaa.l

F,uSe rhis afternoon the fact that ne
cherished some misgiyings regarding the
p-oposition he indorse q in his Des
nroines speech 70 compel railroads 10
81 or Otherwise dispose OF the stock
o. competing lines which they already
ros~ess. He is convinced Of the ad-
visibility ~ prohibiting railroads from
ACQUIRING furthar holdings in competing
roads but he has come 10 doubt the
ssriss bility of seeking 20 compel the
roads 10 dispose Of such holdings as
trey may possess AT the time his pro-
posed recommendation is enacted into
iaw. IN other words. h doubts the
sdrisabnity Of making such provision
retroactive.
further incident of the conference.
d.. which Attorney General Wickershsm.
Postmaster General Hitchcock. Chair
man Knapp and Franklin X Lane, Of the
l~-erstate Commerce Commission; Rep
reSeutative Mann. Chairman OF the
House Interstate Commerce Committee.
and District Attorney sims. of Chicago,
took part. was tho declaration II Mr.
Mann that be believed most Of tbs
sr1endments which viii be advocated
b., t1s President could be handed by
his ronrnittee. not as a blanket meas
urs. but as individual bills. each con-
srr.tirg IAN act 10 amend" the eN-
istir- law.
STOCK AND BOND SUPERVISION.
The method by which provision con-
fe-rirg on the Interstate Commerce Com
mission authority 70 supervise ali further
ISSUES NJ stocks and bonds can be framed
vrHIn The limitations imposed by the
constitution was discussed Al length.
n vas I'm connection with this point that
me President expressed his doubt as 20
the advisablity OF going as far as he
proposed in his Des Moines speech.
An rre phases of the legislation advo-
raraf h- him AZ Des Noines were gone
over and the President urged the At
i0rrer General 10 complete IN time for
rs n the preparation Of the annual
uas-age the report on this class 81 leg
i..ati.n ~ the committee Of which Mr..
virkerslam is the chairman. That
committee. il win Be- recalled. was ere
sied hv rhe President early in this ad-
frfrisrration. sR6 is cornpesed of the At
to-nev General the Secretary Of Com
uler-e and Labor. the Solicitor General.
Chairman Knapp. Commissioner Proury
md representative Townsend.
Tho proposed interstate commerce
court vas among the subjects discussed
to-la7 President Taft believes that one
~ Tho great defects OF the interstate
commerce. law ls the DELAY entailed by
tarTsa i1F
the commission. In favoring an inter-
stste commerce court he IS backed by
res-I- every member of The Cabinet and
br members OF the commission
Tho President believes that anOthec
change IN the interstate commerce law
~hol'l give 10 the commission the power
tr hear and entertain complaints against
unjust Justification Of merchandise for
tr.nspo-tation. II is perfectly clear. he
declares that by including in the same
class articles which ought 10 pay differ
rur rates the railroad can commit exact
D. tne same kind OF injustice as II would
p imposing an eXOrbitant rate on any
ono class. The President viii recommend
that me power 90 the commission be eX-
'fn1ed 10 include not only the dXing II
rates. after complaint, but also the re-
adjustment ~ classification n II proves
ON Complaint 70 be unjust.
~ give the c0nuissio power 10 in
Eu,l-e Complaints OF its own Is another
of Pie Important changes i'm the law 70
ult.h the President and his advisers
aP tavaung considerable attention.
%. President believes that this au-
thor.-v must be given 20 the commission
n order fo make its work truly ef-
fs.rr He is not IN favor II letting
eHru rho bars entirely, however. and
giving fLe commission absolute power
ia t4 rates in advance and on its own
Initiative and without comI laint filed
ar4 invest cation made. II is the de-
sr .c Tho administration 20 proceed
cautiously along this line In way
V.ier ereurually viii accomplish its
Ilrrora thout too drastic or radical
srH.r
proposed that the Interstate
Commerce Commission shall be author
za la suspend for thirty days the car
EUg rfn eject - a new rate classifi-
'-t"r. ur0viding complaint is made that
t.. ler rates are unjust II is argued
A.af This WAY the shipper VIII have
'ruaI rights with the railroads. which
s-. permitted o. take appeals from or
trs .f fhs commission.
POOLING OF RATES.
subject which has given the Presi-
o'ff and hIs advisers much concern IS
ile proposal a. permit railroads 10 pool
fato.. The President takes the position
th1f railroads should be permitted 10
"gre. on traffic rates that shall not
Exactly be pooling contracts. but shall
constitute agreements az 10 rates, pro-
tia q always that such agreements shall
receive the approval Of the Interstate
commerce Commission. IN this way the
'ir auon - the antitrust law against
ifaflo agreemeuts between railroads Wlli
+" abolished. and for absol ute prOhihi-
IPl alI 5e substituted = requirement
l"at such agreements shall me Z tie
sriroial - "a properly constituted tn
suEaI
delegation ~ coal operators and a
representative ~ the miners union
'eled 0n the President to-day 10 urge
Niai the railroads be permitted - pool
Iei's as means ~ providing against
az shortages ln the future and 10 en-
S'if quicker transport alton Of coal