The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-22
TAT 7 At DENVER.
President Receives a Glad
Welcome In Colorado.
URGES RATE LAW AMENDMENT
Says He Will Recommend to Con-
gress Important Changes In In
terstate Commerce and
Antitrust Laws.
URGES RATE LAW AMENDMENT

Denver, Colo, Sept 21.-President
Taft, leaving the insurgent states Of
Minnesota and Iowa behind him, pass
ed through Nebraska and entered Colo
RADIO on his way to the Pacific coast.
receiving a glorious welcome in this
city.
The president found at Omaha a
street car strike. By his special re-
quest a suspension Of hostilities was
declared, and Mayor James G. Dahl
man ordered that no attempts be made
to run cars during the presidents
stay.
At Des Moines the president deliv-
cred the second of the important dec
larations of policy he has outlined for
his trip. He addressed himself to the
interstate commerce and antitrust
laws and detailed at length the recon-
mendations for amendments to these
statutes that he will make to congress
in his message of December next.
Mr.. Taft recounted the passage of
the railway rate bills several years
ago, in which the interstate commerce
commission was given authority to fix
specific rates, and continued:
'"The rate bill has now been in opera
tion some three years, and it must be
admitted that it has not furnished the
relief against unduly discriminatory
rates with the expedition and effective
ness which were expected. The Repub-
lican platform promised additional leg
islation in aid of enforcing the inter-
state commerce law, and have been
engaged in the consideration of what I
ought to recommend to congress in Or
der to comply with that promise.
"An examination of the decisions Of
the commission and the resort to the
courts by way of temporary injunc-
tions fully justify the conclusion that
one of the defects of the present inter
state commerce law is the delay en-
tailed by litigation in the court over
the correctness of the order in the
commission. The court appeal cannot
be abolished, because it Is a constitu-
tional right. Something must be done
to reduce its effect by way Of delay sc
| that the decision of the court shall be
prompt, final and effective"
He announced that he would urge
the establishment of an interstate
commerce court of five members tC
consider appeals from orders and rates
fixed by the interstate commerce com
mission.
He will also recommend Legislation
to prevent one interstate railroad com
pany from owning stock in a compel
ing line and compelling roads thus
owning stock to dispose of their hold
ings within given time.
Legislation to prevent the overissu'
of stocks and bonds and the watering
Of stocks will be strongly recommend
ed, the presidents proposition beini
that no stocks or bonds shall be ISSUED
except by permission of the interstat,
commerce commission after an inquir!
has been made into their necessity.
The giving to shippers of the choic'
of route of the shipment Of freight Il
another important provision which tn
president favors.
In taking up the antitrust law Presi
dent Taft said that he knew Of no wa.
in which a distinction could be mad
between "gOod" and bad" trusts, 70
he regarded all combinations to sup
press competition and to maintain
monopoly to be IN the same category
whether the terms of the illegal con
tract should be regarded in some in
stances as reasonable" or "unreason
able"
The president also discussed at som
length the proposal TO except labo
unions and farmers organizations fror
the operation Of the antitrust Law
Specifically to except these organiza
tions, he said, would be vicious legis
lation, but he pointed way In whic
they could be relieved Of some Of tn
onerous restrictions now placed upo
them, but at the same time be hel
amenable to injunctions, which forr
of procedure he believes adequate
deal with anV violations nv the NninnI