Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-25
TAFT TOLD OF
WHITE SLAVE
TRAFFIC
MOVEMENT FOR FEDERAL !.
LAWS TO SUPPRESS IT
President Puts in Busy Day.
important Matters Discussed
at White House Conferences
Yesterday Afternoon.


Washington, NOV. a. Foregoing "A
contemplated horseback ride because
Of a snowstorm, President Taft devot-
ed the cntitre afternoon ia a series Of
conferences covering the subjects Of
proposed amendments to the inter-
state commerce laws. legislation look
ing to the suppression of the white
slave traffic, the appointment of Il
successor to the late Judge Rethea Of
the United states district court at Chi
cago and the appointment Of gov
ernor Of the territory 81 New Mex
leo
The conference with regard to the
interstate commerce law changes was
the most important the president has
had on that subject, and II was said
that he is practically ready now to
begin this part OF his message to
congress,
At the conference were Attorney
General Wickcrsham, Postmaster
General Hitchcock. Chairman Knapp
and Commissioner Lane Of the inter-
state commerce commission; District
Attorney Sims of Chicago, who con-
dueted the goNernment's prosecution
in the famous SEQ 100000 standard
OH ease, ana Representative Mann OF
Illinois, chairman of the house COM
nittee ON foreign ana interstate COM
merce.
With District Attorney Sims and
| Mr. Mann the president also took up
the white slave" question Mr. Mann
Is to introduce bill on this subject
at the coming session Of congress. Mr.
Mann believes that the government is
the only authority that can cope with
I this avil ana the lill which he has
offered s4A ides Il As,AS penalty FOR
/ the entlcing Of gfl from one place
to another for Immoral purposes.
/ thereby causing hcr TO 60 as Il pas
senger over any transportation line
engaged in interstate ar foreign COM
mcrce.
District Attorney Sims has been
recommended for appointment to the
federal bench to succeed Judge
Bcthea
No decision as to this vacancy was
reached SO far as can he learned.
President Tafts views as TO amend
ments to the Interstate commerce law
have been pretty generally known
since his Des Mones speech on Sep
tember 20 The conference at the
White house this afternoon. 1t was
stated. was FOR the purpose of work
ing out the details Of the desired
amendments. II is proposed to estab-
lsh an Interstate commerce court of
five members TO consider appeals
from rates fixed by the interstate
commerce commission
The president also viii recommend
legislation to prctent one interstate
railroad from owning stock IN a COM
petng line and 10 compel roads thus
owing stock to dispose of their hold
ings. Legislation to prevent the over
issue of stocks and bonds win be one
Of the strongest recommendations Mr.
Taft will make the presidents prop
ositlon being that no stocks or bonds
SHAH be issued except by permission
of the Interstate commerce commits
sion
Giving to shippers the choice of
routes over various lines is another
amendment which thu president fa-
Vors.
Mr.. TAFT believes that the interstate
commerce law should give the com
mission power tu hear and remedy
complaints against unjust classlfica-
ton
II is perfectly clear he declares.
that by including articles IN the same
class which ought 60 pay different
rates "a railroad can commit exactly
the same kind of injustice as it would
by imposing an cxorbitant rate as to
any one class.
To give the commission power to in
sttute complaints ana not 10 limit II
to the consideration of complaints
made from The outside Is another
change ion the law Go which the pres
idrut D.. dovotmg much attention
Mr. Tat believes that this author
it must bc given to The commission
iu order to make its work effective.
AIR Taft however is not In favor of
the letting down OF the bars entirely
and giving the commission absolute
power o. flN rates in advance on its
own initiative without complaint be
.ug nicd
10 is proposed that the Interstate
.ommerce commission hc given au-
.horir to- suspend for thirty DAYS
lrW rate classiIica tion. providing
complaint is made that the rates are
unjust
The subject which has given tho
president aud hIs advisors much con-
.rru is the proposal 20 permit rail
roads to make rate agreements. Mr..
raft holds that railroads should he
permitted tn agree upon rates that
shall nHi exactly bc pooling contracts
lut shall constitute agreements as to