New-York tribune., 1909-12-11
Gu MMINS BILLS IN
RATE REGULATION.
DeIuge of Ne1C Measures an
Senate and House.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

some measure to present. and for an hour
Vice-President Sherman went through the
parliamentary maze OF referring the varie-
gated assortment of prospective laws TO the
proper committees. He talked with the
rapidity Of an auctioneer and was hoarse
when he finished.
Radical amendments to the interstate
commerce act are proposed in a bill intro
duced by Mr.. Cummins. II requires the
Interstate Commerce Commission TO pro-
mulgate a uniform classification Of freight
and to prepare a plan for the statement
Of freight rates which shall hereafter be
made in uniform way. The carriers are
required TO adopt this classification. The
commission is authorized to consider rates
on its own motion. with a view TO de-
termining their reasonahleness, and is en-
powered 10 fix maximum and minimum
rates.
In any action In court TO set aside an
order OF the commission respecting rates
the courts are prevented from inquiring
into the reasonableness or sufficiency of
any rate fixed by the commission.
The bill also provides that changes in
rates shall not become effective until they
are approved by the commission. II pro-
hibits the acquisition of control by any
common carrier OF any parallel competing
line or from acquiring the capital stock or
bonds Of any other carrier which is COM
petitor. A carrier is prohibited from issu-
ing any capital stock without payment at
par either in money or in property. and. IN
effect. the commission shall have supervision
Of the issues of stocks and bonds by any
carrier Specific directions are given for
the disposition OF the proceeds OF any sale
of bonds. After January l, 1911, no car
fier doing interstate business shall be
permitted to engage in any other business
tran that Of a common carrier.
Mr.. Cummins also introduced a resOlu-
tion. described in these dispatches on
Wednesday. authorizing the Committee on
Interstate Commerce 10 investigate the
scope of the Sherman antitrust act He
requested that this resolution lie the
table announcing his purpose 10 discuss
and explain It in the near future
Mr.. Newlands introduced in amended form
certain bills relating 10 the constructive
policies urged IN the last and previous Con-
crosses relating 10 inland waterways. the
organization Of a conservation commission
and the creation Of a bureau OF arts and
public buildings. Mr.. Newlands also intro
duced a bill for the national Incorporation
Of railroads and navigation lines Another
bill by the Nevada Senator provides for the
900 each. of thirty auxiliary ships for the
navy. 10 be manned by the naval reserve
and leased in time Of peace for use in open
ing new routes Of commerce
Senator "JefI'' Davis introduced his two
pet measures OF the last Congress. One is
a sweeping antitrust bill and the other
aims 70 prevent the transmission by wire,
through the mails or otherwise of informa-
tiOn relating 10 dealings in futures The
mere title OF this bill contains 255 words
majority Of the bills introduced were
private pension measures. Various reports
were submitted including that OF the i'm
migration commission on the white slave
traffic. which was presented by Senator
Dillingham; After the routine business had
been transacted a short executive session
was held and adjournment was then taken
until Monday.
The petitions presented included two or
three protests from Grand Army posts
against allowing the statue OF Robert E
Lee TO be placed in Statuary Hall The
statue is now in place. but has not been
formally accepted by Congress
PROCEEDINGS IN HOUSE
Representative Gustav Kustermann. Of
Wisconsin, despite his German dialect and
unconscious limitations OF sam" Bernard,
struck the first serious note in the House
chamber to-day when he arose 10 a point
OF personal privilege and denounced what
he termed a HbeIlous and slanderOUs ar
ticle which had been printed concerning
him in The American Flag" a periodical
said TO be published 10 promote the up
building OF the merchant marine. The ar
ticle charged that Mr.. Kustermann. who
was born in Germany. was a representative
of aipTaG shining for
this reason opposed 70 ship subsidy legis-
lation. Mr.. Kustermann denied the charge.
and asked his fellows TO discourage such
Crticles in order that no other member
should suffer the same fate as he He
provoked great laughter when he an
nounced that he chose America as his
home after examining the map OF the
world. while those who are born here had
no such choice. The House applauded him
loudly.
a man has come 70 the White House
who has some idea OF the value OF money
and the necessity of saving IT," declared
Representative Fitzgerald. OF New York.
adding that II the duty of the House
TO back up the President in his efforts to
economiZe.
II was in opposing an appropriation for
a clerk for the Committee on the Alcoholic
20 what he declared was the extravaganza
practised under the administration OF his
old enemy. ex-PresidenJ Roosevelt.
Representative Sperry, or Connecticut
chairman Of that committee. IN asking for
the appropriation. said that last year when
he did not need a clerk he had one and
that this year be needed one and there
was objection TO his having it, The House.
by vote 10 153 10 l24. decided TO allow the
committee 10 retain its clerk
The power site monopoly is attacked
in a bill offered by Representative Mann.
chairman OF the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. II provides that
before dams across ''navigabie or non
navigable streams can be constructed per
mission and approval must be obtained
from the Secretary of War and the chief
deviate from such approved plans. APP
picants must guarantee free power TO the
United States government The govern
ment also is authorized TO regulate abso-
lutely the charges which may be made to
the public for the use OF power derived
from such sources Heavy fines are pro-
vided for violations OF the law.
Senator Lorimer's successor in the House.
William J. Moxley. OF Illinois, was sworn
in
The House adjourned until Tuesday