Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-11
Presidents Corporation Bill is
Passed Without Dissenting
Republican Vote.
FOURTEEN DEMOCRATS
JOIN WITH THE MAJORITY
Carrying Several Amendments the
Proposed Statute Regulating Rail-
way interests is Given a Big Ma
jcrity in Lower Branch of Con-
gress-lts Provisions.
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON. ID. c., May To-
without dissenting Republican
vote. the house today passed the rail
road bill, one OF the chief measures
that President Taft wished enacted at
the present session of congress. Not
only did every Republican place him.
self on the side of the measure,
either BY his vote or by being paired
in its favor. but fourteen Democrats
Joined the majority to make the total
vote in favor Ct the measure 200 TO
l26. President Taft tonight said he
was deeply gratified over the passage
of the measure. He was especially
pleased with the comfortable margin
by which the commerce court feature
was kept in the bill for he regards
this court as probably the most I'M
pCrtant forward step IN the proposed
law
Taft Doesn't Discuss It.
AS to the amendments and addition
al provisions added in the house, the
President said he did not feel that
this was the time TO discuss them nor
that he was fully enough acquainted
with the changes to discuss them. Re
ferring to the clause providing for the
physical valuation of railroads, MIR.
Taft pointed out that the power prac-
tically now rests with the Interstate
Commerce Commission and that the
difficulty in carrying out such a pan
always had been found in the enor-
nous cost of the undertaking.
When all the amendments, adopted
by the house while in committee o.
the whole, had been agreed to. Mr..
AdamsOn. of Georgia senior Demo
cratic member of the minority on the
committee reporting the bill. moved
to recOmmit il to the committee with
instructions that il be reported back
with the commerce court clause
stricken out This motion was de-
feated 157 TO 176.
Makes Many Changes.
The bill makes many changes IN
the existing law, that if accepted by
the senate, will greatly affect inter
state commerce. The Court Ct Com
merce is created to adjudicate cases
on appeal from the Interstate Com
merce Commission X is provided
that this court shall he organized by
the Justices of the SUpreme Court
q the United States, future appoint
ments to membership on the court
to be made by them.
Stock and bond issues of railroads
are controlled by the bill Under this
clause a railroad, before issuing any
additional STICK, must obtain an order
from the commission which must,
among Other things, fix the price at
which the securities of the road may
he sold. similar provision is car
ried in respect to railroads which are
organized through the courts.
a provision is made that upon the
reorganization of railroad through
court proceedings. stocks Rad bonds
cannot be issued for more than fair
value OF the property.
Long and Short Hsuis.
The long and short haul clause OF
the measure provides that a railroad
cannot without first gaining permits
sion. charge more for a Short than for
a long haul over the same line. The
Interstate Commerce Commission also
n given authority. wherever a new
rate is proposed. 10 suspend the TAX
ing effect Of that rate for a period of
four months 50 that the commission
shall have an opportunity 70 reconsid-
CT its ressonablcnexs.
As amended. the bill proposes 70
bring the telephone and telegraph
companies under the control Of the
interstate Commerce Commission.
u pr vidcs for the valuation 81 rail
road property As an aid 70 the com
nilsson IN the consideration OF rail
road rates.
The bin gives to The commission
authority ovc- classifcafions. rcguia-
tons and practices 81 railroads. au-
thorify a. the present time being lin
tied 10 rates and matters affecting
rates
y. Routing Freight
Under Is terms. a railroad com
pany must quote freight rate &C
curafciy upon demand n a shipper
and the shipper is given the rirhi 10
route his freight whenever u passes
over norc man ono railroad. The
commission itself IS authorized ~ -
tsblish through routes BY combining