Middletown transcript., 1909-04-24
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, y. o., April 18th, 1903.
EDRESIDENT Taft desires to establish
some form Of organization, quasi-ofR,
cial in character, to act as medium be.
tween the railroads Of the county and
The federal government, and il is eharae-
teristic Of him that, before institnting any
radical changes of administration, be
should avail himself Of the best legal tai
ent at bis command TO prepare a thorough
analysis of existing conditions and recon-
mend snch changes as are deemed advia-
able. The Attorney General, the secre-
taries Of the Interior and Of Commerce
and Labor, and the Solicitor General
have been confded with the responsibility
Of working out the President's 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-offcial bodies abroad and
their usefulness in promoting cooperation
between the governments and public ser
vice corporations. For instance, in Great
Britain boards Of trade prepare certain
data regarding she service rendered BY
such corporations and submit recommen-
dations concerning the reasonabIeness Of
rates, etc. The President has called the
attention Of his advisers, also, to the fact
that single body charged simultaneously
with quasijudicial and administrative
functions, as is now the case with the In
terstate Commerce Commission, is con.
stantly hampered inits efforts to ascertain
the facts By the antagonism which is in
evitably engendered as a result OF it's being
compelled to conduct prosecutions.
Members Of the commission, for instance,
when seeking Information from railroads,
cannot avoid arousing the opposition |
which 10 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 il possible that some
semi-offcial body, such as a national
chamber of commerce or similar organiza.
ton. might be able to relieve the Inter.
state Commerce Commission of part OF
it's duties as an investigating and prosecut-
ing body, and he considers it essential to
divorce the administrative and Judicial
functions Of the commission. In short,
he thinks il might be feasible toleaye the
commission 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, but be desires that
she officials named above shall study the
subject carefully in order that when be
comes to write bis annual message he may
be in possession of all the facts and in
position to make practical recommends
lions if legislation is needed.
~
The Philippians tariff bin which the
President submitted to Congress this week
% expected to prove Of material value TO
ihe American exporter Features Of the
Did Spanish and Cuban tariffs which were
VexatiOus and annoying to both exporter
md importer, have been eliminated, and
syery effort has been put forth to make
the administrative features simple and 10
conformity with United States tariff de-
;isions and the decisions Of the courts.
Mr.. James ]. Hill was Capitol visitor
his week and be declares that his visit
lad nothing to do with the tariff, that be
vas here for the sole purpose Of arranging
or trip through the United States Of
thirty representative japanese business
nen, with hope that . more definite
Of America and American
BUSINESS conditions will increase the COM
nercial friendship between the two ma.
ions. The business men are expected TO
save Japan in time for the Alaska. Yukon ,
Exposition, and afterwards will make an
trip 10 The United States, and
representatives. Of commercial bodies from
be larger cities Of the northwest will &C.
them in this tour. Mr.. Hill
onsulted with the President regarding
be visit Of the foreigners.
-
The creation of tariff bureau, pFesum- :
bly, IS a part Of the Treasury Depart
aent, is already a part Of the Aldrich :
shsme for the administrative portion and
{ the tariff bill, and Is Is. therefore, 9
sasonable to suppose that the amend d
lsnt offered in the Senate this week by
enatoE Beveridge to create a tariff com. a
lission Of seven members, ETC., viii be "
doptsd, in 80 far as il is in accordance q
18th the views Of the chairman Of che FL G
ance COMMITTEES. The disposition Of b
bic committee is 70 make snch bureau ol
ureIy clerical, without authority 10 take i
my steps which would promote tariff n
hanges or that could be used as basis :,
Dr unfavorable criticism OF the action Of
on eFees. Mr.. Beveridge's amendment
Fovides that che commi ssion shall pro-. N
ire all available information regard ng VI
oreign customs tariffs and prepare such N
asa 10 suitable form for the guidance Of !.
le President in the administ ration of the e
and minimum features Of the 10
aW tariff act and this is in accordance eh