Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-15
RAILROAD BILL
REPORTED BY
CONFERENCE
ADMINISTRATION IDEAS
RETAINED IN MEASURE
Sweeping Charges in Laws
Governing Rates viii Have
important Bearing on ReIa-
tons of Public and Carriers,

| ffBy Morning journal Spcclai Leassd Wirsl
| Washington. June l4.--Thc con-
| ference report on the administration
railroad bill was presented to the
senate at 80 O'Clock today by
Chairman Elkins of the senate COM
| mittcc on interstate commerce. 1t
was laid before the house late i'm the
| day but under the rules, cannot be
acted upon until disposed Of by the
senate.
1t represented one weeks work by
conferees in an effort to harmoniZc
| the differences in the bills passed by
the two houses. after nearly -four
! months continuous consideration in
one or the other. At the request of
several senators. the report went
over until tomorrow when an effort
VIII be made to procure its adoption.
The two democratic confcrees did
not sign the report and Senator New
lands gave notice that he would pre-
sent q minority report
So far as has been indicated the
only objection to the report that may
be raised in the senate relates to the
retention of the house provision on
the subject of long and short hauls
As perfected BY the conferees, the
bill carries most OF the features Of
the original administration measure,
except the sections to permit rail-
roads to make pooling agreements. to
authorize the government to regulate
the issuance of stocks and bonds, and
tc permit 4 railroad to purchase the
Iemai ming stock of another line in
which II already controls so per cent
Of the stock So much opposition de-
veloped in both houses against these
provisions that all except the securi-
ties section were abandoned oull light.
The house bill retained the section
providing for federal regulation OF
securities but it was objectionable to
NE senate chiefly because oi tire p-g
position of democrats.
In place Of the house provision, the
conferees incorporated q clause au-
thoiizing the president to appoint
commission to Investigate the issu-
ance of railway stocks and bonds.
The bill as perfected creates n
commerce court composed ef five
judges. the first OF whom arc TO be
selected by the president ana there
after by the chief justice of the SUI
premc court This court viii have
jurisdiction over all suits brought to
enforce OF set |side orders Of the in
terst9te commerce commission.
other sections enlarge the power
of the commission over railroad regu
lations place under the jurisdiction
OF the commission, telegraph, tele-
phone and cable comp2nieS, whether
wire on wireless, and extend the iuris
diction Of the commission over
bridges. ferries and terminal facili-
ties
General provisions ere made to
compel railroads TO furnish rates
upon application and authorizing the
comm iSsiOn to institute inquiries on
its own motion.
BY provisions adopted by the house !
end retained by the contctecs the |
scope OF the commission TO make reg
ulations was enlarged 1t is provided |
that consignoi Of freight shall have |
the right to designate by which or
two oi mcre through routes his ship |
mcrt shall lie transported
The method Of selecting the judges |
to form the court is senate provt-
sion. Another scnetc amendment |
permits appeals TO the supreme |
court from inteIlccutory orders cr
dccrces of the commerce court grant
ing on continuing injunctions To re-
strain the enforcement of orders OF |
the commission. II Is required, how
ever, that the appeals be taken within /
thirty days,
It was provided hv the house bill
that the commerce court should not
issue injunctions suspending orders ol
the commission where irreparable
damage would ensue. TO that provi-
sion the conferecs added a senate
amendment requiring three DAYS no.
ice to the commission and TO the at
.crnoy general end that the suspen-
sion should not be for more than
sixty days The senatc provision that
'll parties in interest to a proceeding
before the commission should ne
notified of its commencement was
stricken out, but the provisions Of
both the house and senate biils IN
regard to the appearance ol parties
in proceedings in the commerce
court 10y intervening or on motion or
otherwise. was retained.
Under the senate amehdmehl
'dopted. railroads VIII be required 10
lesignate am agent in washington 10