The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-08

A majority report from the Senate
Committee on Interstate Commerce de-
tending the administration bin to amend
the interstate commerce law was filed in
the Senate yesterday by Senator Elkins,
chairman OF the committee. In addition
10 Chairman Elkins, the following Repub-
ncan Senators signed the report; Cunom.
Aldrich, Kean. Crane. and Nixon. Sena-
tor Newlands, of Nevada, fled an indi-
vldual report in favor Of the national in
corporation Of railroads.
The majority report defends every fea-
ture OF the administration bill, quotes the
Republican platform TO support the fea-
ture OF the bill authorizing traffic agree
ments, declares that the provisions or
the bill regulating the issue OF stocks and
bonds is a step in the right direction, and
declares that the proposed court OF com
merce viii prevent delay and facilitate
the enforcement o. the law. The majority
members contend that numerous decisions
OF the Supreme Court. the review Of the
comm sion's orders. authorized by the
commerce court. will not be wider than
that now exercised by the circuit courts.
Not Impartial Procedure.
The majority report defends the change
frc~1 existing law contained in the ad-
mInis9atlon bill which turns over TO the
Attorney General and his assistants the
conduct Of cases arising under the act,
instead of devolving that duty upon at
torneys Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. as is now the law. In defend
ing the proposed change. Senator Elkins
and his associates say that under the
present law the Interstate Commerce
Commission exercises the functions Of
investigator. judge. and prosecutor, which
IS contrary TO all accepted ideas OF i'm
partial procedure.
The committee defends the feature OF
the bill regulating the acquisition by one
carrier Of the property of competing
carrier. and declares that the legislation
Is so framed "as not to prevent the or
binary means of financing railroad COM
panies. while interposing an effectual
protection against the issue Of stock or
bonds without adequate consideration"
Some Of the Senators were predicting
yesterday that in the present temper Of
the insurgent Republicans the debate
might drag along for six weeks or two
months.
Vital Part Stricken Out.
One provision OF the bill that PresI-
dent Taft and Attorney General Wicker
sham have declared TO be q vital part Of
their programme was stricken from the
measure at a meeting OF the House Com
mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com
meree yesterday. This was the provision
that proposed to legalize present rail-
road mergers. comprising, as in the case
of tina New York Central and the West
Shore. one carrier that had acquired by
purchase at least one-half of the stock
of competing line
The House committee came to the con-
clusion that if enacted railroad CONSOLE
dalton In the United States would be
carried TO greater extremes than had
ever before been attempted.
Chairman Mann, Of the House commit
tee. has not been in accord with the ad-
ministration's views on this bill He
voted against the interstate commerce
court feature of the BILL Judging from
his attitude and the action Of the COM
mittee toward the 90 per cent clause, it
is apparent that the bill win have a
stormy time in the House.