The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-04-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.

President TAFT desires to establish some
form of organization, quasi official in,
character, to act as a medium between
the railroads of the country and the
federal government, and it is character.
istic of him that, before ius,ituting any
radical changes of administration. he
should avail himself Of the best legal
talent at his command to prepare a
thorough analysis of existing conditions
and recommend such changes as are
deemed advisable. The Attorney General,
the Secretaries Of the Interior and of
Commerce aud Labor, and the Solicitor
General have been confded with the re-
sponsibility of working out the Presidents
plan with regard to federal control of the
railroads. The President has called the
attention of this executive committee to
the existence of such quasi official bodies
abroad and their usefulness in promoting
cooperation between the government and
public service corporations. For instance,
in Great Britain boards OF trade prepare
certain data regarding the service render
ed by such corporations and submit re.
commendaticns concerning the reason
ableness of rates, etc. The President has
called the attention of his advisers, also,
to the fact that single body charged
simultaneously with quasi-judicial and
administrative functions, as is now the
case with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, is CONSTANTLY hampered in its
efforts to ascertain the facts by the an
tagonism which is inevitably engendered
as result of its being compelled to con-
duct prosecutions. Membersyof the com.
mission, for instance, when seeking in
formation from railroads, cannot avoid
arousing the opposition which is the
| natural result of the fact that ultimately
they may be compelled to sit in judgment
on the acts of the very men from whom
they ask information. The President
deems it possible that some semi official
body, such as national chamber of COM
merce or similar organization, might be
able to relieve the Interstate Commerce
Commission of part of its duties as. an
investigating and prosecuting body, and
he considers it essential to divorce the
administrative and judicial functions of
the commission. In short, he thinks it
might be feasible to leave the commits
sion with only judicial functions. The
evils from the present system have been
seriously considered by Mr.. Taft. and he
has indicated the trend of his views on
the subject, bet he desires that the officials
named above shall study the subject care.
| fully in order that when he comes to write
his annual message be may be in posses
sion of all the facts and in position to
make practical recommendations if legis-
lation is needed.
~
The Philippine tariff bill which the
President submitted TO Congress last
week is expected to prove of material
value tofhe American exporter. Features
of the old Spanish and Cuban tariffs
which were vexatious and annoying to
both exporter and importer, have been
eliminated, and every effort has been put
forth to make the administrative features
simple and in conformity with United
States tariff decisions and the decisions of
the courts
~
Mr.. James J. Hill was Capitol visitor
last week and he declares that his visit
had nothing to do with the tariff, that he
was here-for the sole purpose of arrapg-
ing for a trip through the United States of
thirty representative Japanese business
men, with hope that more definite
knowledge of America and American
business conditions will increase the COM
mercial friendship between the two
nations. The business men are expected
to leave japan in time for the Alaska
Yukon Exposition, and afterwards will
make an extensive trip in tue United
States, and representatives of commercial
bodies from the larger cities of the north
west will accompany them in this tour.
Mr.. Hill consulted with the President re-
garding the visit of the foreigners.
~
The creation of tariff bureau, pre-
sumably as part of the Treasury Depart
ment, is already part of the Aldrich
scheme for the administrative portion Of
the tariff bill, and it is, therefore. reason
able to suppose that the amendment
offered in the Senate this week by Sen
ator Beveridge to create tariff CON-
mission of seven members. etc., will be
adopted, in so far as it is in accordance
with the views of the chairman of the
Finance Committee. The disposition OF
L..