New-York tribune., 1909-11-12
MR.. TAFT'S POLICY
Continued from first page

tons while the case was being fought
from one court 10 another. or remained
unhesrd an the federal courts because of
crowded calendars.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COURT.
President Taft does not approve any
attempt 20 abolish the right OF court APP
peal, but he does mean 10 reduce the de-
lay by the creation Of a separate inter-
state commerce court, TO be composed OF
FIVE members and 20 sit in washington.
This court win alone have the power 10
consider petitions TO set aside the orders
of the commission. This court will have
no other duty but 20 consider Interstate
Commerce Commission eases. and Its es-
tabllshment will, IN the opinion OF tho
President and Chairman Knapp insure
decisions of reasonable promptness- III
is not too much 10 expect that the court
will be made UP OF men who have had
considerable experience i'm railroad hu-
cation. and II is urged that for this rea-
son its decisions win have uniformity
now altogether lacking in the heterogehi-
ous opinions handed down by circuit
Judges from one end OF the country TO
the other.
In order that there may be no unrea-
sonable DELAY. even I'm the commerce
court !, &c p-oposed 10 limit the time for
which an injunction may be Issued
against a ruling Of the commission 10
sixty days after that ruling has been an
pounoed. That this court is necessary
there can be little doubt. in view or the
fact that every member Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission desires u, and OF
the further fact that there are even no"
in litigation cases IN which the comlllls-
sion rendered decisions three and iour
GEARS ago. President Taft has foreseen
ire, some objection 10 this court may
snr,nr from the sentiment against in
-reasine the federal courts and the fed
eral Judges whose term is lifelong ana
who. therefore, become permanent eN-
nense. He belie-es, however, that even
n the court proves a mistake there VIII
he arlpie need for Judges throughout the
country 20 employ the services OF those
appointed primarily TO the commerce
court.
COMPLAINTS OF CLASSIFICATION.
A second change in the law proposed
bv President Taft win give the colnlnis-
sion power 20 hear and entertain com
plants against unjust classification OF
merchandise. He insists, and he has me
hearty support OF his advisers, that When
q railroad includes articles IN the same
class which ought TO be IN different
classification il commits exactly the
same sort Of injustice which II would
inflict by charging an exorbitant rate on
one class OF articles There have neen
COMPLAINTS without number before the
commission against what is alleged 10
have been unjust classification. but no
action could be taken because there was
no authority In the law.
I-nder the present interstate commerce
law each new classification must be filed
with The commission, but President Taft
proposes 10 confer specific authority on
the commission 10 postpone the effective
ness Of such classification. provided that
within thirty davs after its announce
ment complaint is made that it is un-
Just. BY this method he hopes 10 afford
lhe lublic opportunity to have changes
which affect il iniuriously investigated
before they go into effect. just as rates
may now be examined before they be-
come effective.
Along this line the President proposes
a third amendment which viii be Of inn
measurable benefit % the shipper. He
believes that the commission should have
authority 10 suspend or annul any
changes in the rules ana regulations Of
a railroad which are believed 20 impose
Undue burdens on shippers. He realizes
that by summary rules the railroad may
do grave injustice. and that no doubt
sholld be left with regard TO the power
Of the commission under such circun-
stances. By changing routes and by
forcing shippers 10 transport their COM
rnodiues over devious ways, for instance.
grave injustice is sometimes worked. IN
addiuon TO this. the commission would
have power 10 compel carriers 70 unite
IN forming a through route. and wouIi
have authority 10 tx the rate and de-
termine the spportionmsnt The Presi-
6ent insists. moreover. that the railroads
should not be allowed 20 change their
rates or their rules when they come in
conflict with the interests Of the shippers
without giving their reasons for these
changes.
AGAINST JOINT OWNERSHIP.
Taken in its broadest sense. probably
the most farreaching amendment pro-
posed by the President is q prohibition
against any railroad company acquiring
stock in a competing road This was
partly promised in thes Republican
platform of 1905, and there is no doubt
that the President intends 10 press Il
strongly at tho next session OF Congress.
And he viii ask that this amendment be
further strengthened by a clause which
VIII prevent one railroad engaged in
Interstate commerce from holding stock
IN another. These two latter proposi-
tons appear 10 be the only ones in the
programme Of the President I'm support
OF which there ,s no convincing sre1-
ment. The Tribune commented editor
tally on what might be termed the super-
huity Of these amendments il the com
mission Is 10 have fun authority over I
rates clsssifications and regulations and I
can secure for shippers uniform through
rates. II was argued that for one rail-