The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-04
Senate Votes Almost Unani-
m0usIy
FOR THE TAFT MEASURE
There Was No Republican Vote Against
It-Wnl Become Law in 60 Days
BY One Of the Late
Amendments.

Washington, D G.. june 4.-The Sen.
ate passed the administration railroad
bill at 9;55 o'clock last night It had
been under consideration for more than
y weeks and practically no other busi-
mess except appropriation bills was CON
sidered in that period Only II votes,
all By Democrats, were recorded against
the bin.
The practical unanimity with when
the measure was passed was due to the
radical changes made IN the measure
from the form in which il was drafted
81 Attorney General Wickersham, after
numerous conferences at the White
House on the subject Of amending inter-
state commerce laws. An the insur-
gents who opposed many features Of the
original bill Voted for it last night.
n the elimination Of pooling and
merger sections and the adoption Of
many amendments in the interest 81
shippers, the progressive Republicans
claim 30 have won . signal victory and
many Of the Democrats expressed them
selves az favorable to the large portions
Of the measure Had it not been for the
retention Of the sections to create
court Of commerce, il IS likely that the
vote would have been unanimous.
The measure had already passed the
House
The bin provides for new court Of
commerce for the consideration exclu-
sively Of appeals from orders Of the in-
terstate commere commission. Its pow
ers are to be coordinate with the Judges
of the federal circuit court they are
to receive the same pay and are to be
appointed Ia the first instance by the
president for terms respectively Of one,
tive three and five years. Each az he
retires to take up the work Of circuit
judge is TO be succeeded by a designa
tion from the circuit bench, these and
ether vacancies to Be filed by appoints
ment by the chief justice Of the supreme
court
While the offices of the court are to
Be ID Washington aud regular sessions are
f0 Be held here. provision e made for
siftines anywhere 10 The United States.
The government, rather than the inter-
satate commerce commission Is made the
defendant b all essee coming before
the court, but the commission is permit
ted to intervene, as are other Interested
parties
Tire defense Il placed under the direc-
ti0n of the attorney general, but the
commission and interested parties are
permitted to have counsel and TO. carry
on the suit in case Of the failure of the
nd al Ia T4s "A AL
be taken 10 the supreme court
The lang and short haul provision Of
the present interstate commerce law il
amended to permit a greater charge
for a short haul thar for longer haul
ouiy with the consent Of the Interstate
commerce commission Especial provi-
sion IS made against the fixing Of q lowe
ct rate destroying water competition.
Railroads must furnish written state
ments Of rates upon the written applea
ton Fl shipper under penalty 81 $3.50
for misstatements or for failure t0 com
ply with such application III addition,
the shipper could bring suit for addi-
tional damages.
Either upon complaint or upon It's own
initiative, the commission may determine
the reasonableness Of individual or Joint
rates or cIassidcations and. If such rates
are found to be unreasonable OF ats
criminatorY, the commission may deter.
mine and prescribe a proper maximum
rate. Rates reduced to meet water COM
petition must not be restored unless after
q hearing by the commission to deter
mine whether conditions have changed
otherwise than hy the elimination Of the
vater competition.
Unless set aside bv 4 competent court,
orders Of the commission arc to continue
IA force for two years.
The commission may investigate any
new rate regulation or classification, in
dividual or Joint. Of any common carrier,
and pending such hearing a Suspension
for 10 mouths 81 tie rate, classification
or regulation ii provided fort The car-
rier II required to refund an charges
found to be excessive
Authority is also given the commits
sion to establish through routes and Joint
classification or to prescribe maximum
rates over the same, whenever the carr
riefs neglect to do so This regulation
nIso covers water lines which are con-
Meeting carriers
Shippers are given The right to desig
nate a through route or part Of a route
over which their property shall he car-
Fied. a penalty Of IS 900 is imposed
upon carriers for disclosing any informa
ti0n concerning shipments.
AT intervals Of sis nImths, the conn
mission Is required to make an analyss
of tariffs and elassflsations and to in-
veatigate the advisahilty 0f a uniform
classification
Telegraph and telephone lines are
placed Under the jurisdiction Of the inter-
state commerce commission. TIE COM
mission is authorized 20 determine the
Yeasonableness Of rates and a penalty IS
imposed Of from sl00 to $1,000 against
ernnting franks for the transm ion
of messages Special night and press
seport rates are authorized
The only provision in the bin applica-
bic TO other than railroad corporations
IS one regulating injuuetions by tie
tederal courts which suspend the opera
Zion Of state laws Fl IS provided that
such action shah be taken only when
presented to justice 81 the supreme
ooart OF circuit judge and heard BY
three judges enc Of whom shall be a SUI
prgne court justice or = circuit court
bsage