The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-08-26
WILL CONFER
ON THE LAWS
PRESIDENT TAFT BELIEVES
CHANGE IN CORPORATION
CONTROL ADVISABLE.
Believes Like Predecessor That Rail-
ways Should be Permitted to
Form Certain Agreements.

Washington, August 21-An inn
portant conference will be held inl
New York mithin the next two weeks
to consider proposed changes IN the
Interstate commerce law and in the
Sherman antitrust law. Among those
who will be present will be Attorney
General Wicker5ham, Solicitor Gen
eral Bowers, Chairman Knapp OF the
interstate commerce commission, AZ
Prouty, member of that ooe,, -ad
Representative Townsend OF Michigan
who IS a member OF the house COM
mittee on interstate commerce and
who has made the question OF rail
roads and transportation a special
study
The purpose of the conference will
be to suggest alterations in the laws
governing railroads and corporations
which are to be submitted TO Presi-
dent Taft in order that he may in
dude them in his recommendations
to congress in his annual message.
The president has certain we'll dehn
ed ideas as to the changes tina: he
considers necessary to facilitate and
make more effective the government
supervision OF the railroads on the
one hand and on the other hand to
relieve interstate commerce Of some
unnecessary burdens and restrictions
He has requested that these experts
in the law and In the practical appli-
cation OF the regulations shall get to-
gether and put into concrete shape
the plans he has in mind With their
recommendations in hand he will dis
cuss them with leaders of both house
ad senate when he returns to Wash
iDgton in the fall and will doubtless
cadl into consultation practical rali-
road men and captains of industry
He has already made definite engage
ments with Senator CumminS of Ia,
for November 10, and Representative
Mann, the chairman OF the house III
terstae commerce committee for No
vember Is to meet him at the White
House TO discuss this subject and 70
outline the congressional campalol
for the enactment of TIE legislation
that he desires. Undoubtedly thi.
subject will form one Of the principal
If net the most important parts of
his message to congress next Decem-
Der.
Commission is Overwhelmed.
Although the presidents plans can
not be said to be entirely defined il
is known that the central idea is TO
divert rhe interstate commerce COM
mission of its administrative func-
tions and TO Establish it as a quasi
judicial body with the power to de
termine cases. enforce the rulings and
limit appeals only TO the supreme
court on constitutional questions.
At present the commissions is
loaded down with mrrItifarious line
Of duties which occupy so much of the
time OF she members that long de-
lays frequently occur in the settle
ment of important question. 1t IS
proposed 20 turn over to bureau OF
the department OF commerce and Ia
Dor such matters as the administra-
ton of the law requiring safety APP
pliances on railways, hours of en-
ployes, the formal settlement of mi
nor cases, arising between shippers
and the roads, the filing of rates. and
the preliminary investigation OF
complaints. These matters now take
up much of the time OF the interstate
commerce commissioners.
1t has not yet been decided whe III
er these subjects should be turned
over to the bureau OF corporations or
whether there should be separate di-
vision created to look after them. Re-
heved of them, the railroad commits
s5oners devote their time to the
greater problems of interstate trade
and by rendering speed decisions. re-
Heve uncertainties which has in L
many cases SERIOUSLY retarded bust
ness for months
1t is also President Taft's belief
as it was President Roosevelt's that
railroads should be relieved of the
operation Of the Sherman antitrust
law and that they should be permit
ted to make combinations and agree.
ments among themselves so long a.
obey are not in restraint of trade anC
provided that they are made under
rhe supervision of the government
He also thinks that the penalties foi
the formation of combinations which
do stif1e competition and are in re-
straint of trade should be made hea
vier than under existing law.
An important subject under consid
Grafton IS legislation giving to tht
government control over the capital
izauion not only of railroads but o
all corporations doing an interstate
business Before one of these corpo
rations could issue new stocks OF
bonds it would, if the idea is worked
out, be compelled to show to the sat
iSfaction OF the government that i
had the property upon which to bas'
the issue This would prevent owe
capitalization and the watering o
stocks in die future but 1he question