The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-15
COnferees of Senate and House
Finally Come to Complete
Understanding.
COMMISSION TO STUDY
RAILROAD BOND ISSUES
Long and Short Haul Provision
Originating in House Is
Accepted.


cncc report OF the administration rail-
Toad bill was presented 10 the senate at
/ 80 O'Clock today by Chairman E:llsins
of the senate committee OH interstate
commerce law. 1t was laid before the
house late in the day. but under the
rules, cannot be acted upon until dis
posed OF by the senate. II represented
one weeks work by conferees in an ef-
fort TO harmonic the differences In the
bills passed by the two houses, and near
~ tour months continuous consideration
In ono or the other.
At the request OF several senator's the
report went over until tomorrow, when
an effort Will be made 10 secure It's adop-
ton. The two Democratic conferees did
not sign the report and Senator New
lands gave notice that ne would present
a minority report.
Generally speaking, the work Of the
conferees is declared satisfactory TO The
senate, although il follows the lines of
the house bill. \ number Of the amend
ments secured by 'insurgent' senator's,
however. were retained,
So far as has been indicated. the only
objection 10 the report that may ne
raised iii the senate relates 10 the reten-
tion OF the house provision on long and
snort h&uls. Some western senators fs-
Yorod the retention OF the senate provi-
sion because the house amendment might
be declared unconstitutional
Ten Months Suspension.
The last amendment disposed OF by the
conferees related to the period for which
increases in rates might be suspended by
the commission. The conferees accepted
the senate provision of ten months.
AS perfected by the conferceS. the bill
carries most OF the features OF the origi-
nal administration measure. except the
provisions on railroads TO make pooling
agreements. 10 authorize the government
10 regulate the Issuance of stocks and
bonds and TO permit railroad to pur-
chase the remaining stock OF another line
! In which 10 already controls 80 per cent
OF the stock. So much opposition deycl-
| oped in both houses against these provi-
sions that all except the securities Sec
lon were abandoned outright. The house
pil retained the section providing for
federal regulation OF securities. but it
was objectionable to the senate chiefly
because of the opposition OF Democrats
In place OF the house provision. the
confcrees Incorporated n clause author
izing the president To appoint a commits
sion 10 investigate the issue OF railway
stocks and bonds. Expenditures by the
commission were limited to SIS. 900 and
IT was not given authority To summon
witnesses or compel the production OF
books and papers.
Commercial Court Created.
The bill as perfected. creates COM
merce court, composed OF five judges the
hrst OF whom are 10 be selected by the
president and thereafter by the chief
justice of the supreme court This court
VIII have Jurisdiction over all suits
Drought To enforce or TO set aside orders
OF the Interstate Commerce commission.
other sections enlarge the power of the
commission over railroad regulations and
place under the jurisdiction of the COM
mission, telephone, telegraph and cable
companies, whether wire or wireless, and
YN n rt..NFa
ties.
General provisions are made TO compel
railroads. to furnish rates upon applica-
tlon ana authorizing the commission 10
institute Inquiries on It's own motion,
BY provisions adopted by the house and
retained by the conferees. the scope oi
inc commission to make regulations was
enlarged. III is provided that a consicn-
or OF freight shall have the right TO dcs-
lgnate by which of two or more through
routes his shipment shall be transport
house and senate bills were reconciled as
follows '''
Basis of Reconciliation.
The new court viii be known as the
SoWhcFce court. provided bv the
houSe, instead of court OF commerce
as desired by the senate. The method
o. o. seiecting the Judges 10 form the court
is senate provision. Another senate
amendment permits appeals to rl1e s,I
RTelaG iISnts, court granting or continuing In
luncVons TO restrain the enforcement OF
orders OF the commission.
~ is required, however, that the an
peaIs be taken within thirty days.
ltS was provided by the house bill that
tnc commerce court should not issue i'm
functions Suspending orders OF the com
mission, where lrreparablc damage would
cnSuc, To that provision thc cnnfcrncs
added n senate amendment ronuirIne tbrss
days notice to the commission and 10 tns
attorney general and that the suspension
Snouid not be Tor more than sixty days,
The senate provision that all parties in
interest To proceeding before the COM
mission should bC notified of its com
niiencrment was stricken out. but the pro-
visions OF both the house and senate bills
IN regard 10 the appearance of parties I'm
proceedings In the commerce court by
intervening or ON motion or otherwise
was retained.
Telephones and Telegraphs.
The provision placing telephone tcIc-
graph and cable companies under the
jurisdiction OF the commission is that
adopted b" the house with further pro-
messages be classified into day. night,
repeated, unrepcated. letter commercial,
press. government and such oIhcr CLASSES
as are Just and reasonable and authoriz-
ing different rates FOR different classes
OF messages In respect To the uso of
thc telephone. telegraph and cable franks.
~ Is provided that they shall not be pro-
hibiied when used by officers, agents.
employees and their families.
The house provision for the physical
valuation of railroads was stricken out
but the amendment authorizing the own
CT of lateral branch line to require
main line of railroad 10 make proper
connection was retained.
To the house provision ON the subject
OF long and short hauls. which is dcsiS-
mated To prohibit railroads from charging
higher ate Tor short than for long
distance was added the following:
."WheDever carrier by railroad shalt
in competition with water route or
routes reduce the rates the carriage
OF any species oil freight 10 or from COM
petitive points. It shall not be permitted