Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-24
WOULD IMPROVE
COMMERCE ACT
ATTORNEY GENERAL WICKER
SHAM OFFERS SUGGESTIONS
FOR MODIFICATION.
GRANT POWER TO REVIEW CLAS-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO
COMMENCE ACTION.

Kasas City, Nov. 20.-Modifications
of the interstate commerce act, in or
der to secure reasonableness of rates
to all and fairness of practices in the
operation of interstate railroad lines
were suggested by Attorney General
Wickersham in an address before the
Commercial club here last night.
Mr. Wickersham said that one of the
fundamental objections urged to the
present organization and functions of
the interstate commerce commission
is that it combines legislative, admin
istrative and quasi-judicial functions.
The present system, he said, involved
constant reversal by the courts of Or
ders by the commission, conflict of de-
cisions between the different courts,
and much uncertainty in the law.
Other objections which have been
made were mentioned.
"The president" said Mr.. Wicker
sham, ''in a speech delivered at Des
Moines, Iowa, in September last,
enumerated certain suggestions which
have been made to meet these objec-
tions. For the purpose of preventing
the conflict of decision and the delays
and uncertainties in the enforcement
of the law which now exists, it Is
proposed to create a special tribunal
to be known as the commerce court,
in which shall be exclusively vested
all the jurisdiction now possessed by
the circuit and district courts anG
the circuit court of appeals of the
United States with respect to the en-
forcement or review of orders and
DEGREES of the interstate commerce
commission; and that all applications
for injunctions to restrain orders OF
tile commission be heard by all the
judges of this court, whose orders and
DEGREES shall be final, except that an
appeal may be taken to the supreme
court of the United States from final
DEGREES in cases where a constitution.
al question is involved For the pur-
pose of removing the commission
from the position of prosecutor or lit
igant, it is proposed that all prceed-
ings to enforce or defend orders OIL
the interstate commerce commission
shall be conducted by the department
of justice.
"The further suggestions are that
the interstate commerce act be
amended as follows:
by providing that the commission
be specially empowered to review
alassifcations, both as to item ana
grouping.
by providing that whenever a new
rate or classification shall be filed, the
commission may by order postpone
the date when it is to take effect, pro,
vided that, within thirty days after
the date of such order ca, COM
plant be filed that such rate or clas-
sification is unreasonable or unjust,
or (b) the commission itself shall in
stitute an inquiry into the reasonable
ness or justice of such rate or classl,
fcation.
by providing that the commission
may by order suspend, modify or an
null any changes in rules or regula-
tons which impose undue burdens OH
shippers.
by providing that the commission
may proceed either on its own motion
or upon complaint filed with it, and
that in proceedings on it's own init
ative, it may exercise ike powers to
those which it may exercise in pro-
ceedings based on complaints of thiro
parties.
'By specially empowering the com
mission, on the application of one
carrier or of an individual, or at the
instance of the commission itself. to
compel connecting carriers to unite
in forming a through route and fix
the rate and the apportionment there
of among the carriers.
by providing that it shall be law
full for carriers to unite in fixing
rate or rates, provided the same be
filed and published. the question OF