Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-02
That Were Original Have
Been Removed
From Administration Railroad
Bill as Reported.
Csmmsses ceurt Provision and In.
poriaat Regulations Retained.

Washington, April 1.-The Admins
tration Railroad bill, stripped of many
of its original features but still pro-
viding for the creation Of commerce
court and the regulation Of railway
agreements, consultations. securities,
rates and routes, all as amendments to
the Interstate commerce law, was re-
ported to the House today by the In
terstate Commerce Commission. The
bill was introduced by Representative
Townsend Of Michigan, January 10.
The original measure was drafted by
Attorney General Wickersham who is
also sponsor for several of the amend
ments made by the committee. but the
measure contains as amendments lib
eral excerpts from the bill presented
early in the session, by Chairman
Mann. Of the committee, whose views
are not in accord with the administra-
ton but who takes charge of the bill
on the floor as committee chairman.
though personally opposed to many OF
it's provisions Mr. Mann will ask the
House next Monday to make the bill
privileged, failing which he will seek
suspensions Of the rules to expedite
consideration. The majority report
says:
THE Hepburn law of 1906 vastly i'm
proved the law providing for regula-
tive control over railroad corporations
engaged in interstate or foreign COM
merce and much enlarged the scope Of
the authority conferred on the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. Exper-
fence gained through execution Of the
law shows that some important mat
tiers which should be the subject OF
governmental control are not now
within the scope of authority hereto
fore conferred on the commission.
"The original act to regulate COM
merce was exceedingly important. the
Hepburn law was of still greater i'm
portance but the proposition involved
In the substitute bill reported by your
committee are of even greater impor-
lance. While they do not impose I'M
due burdens upon railways Of the
country or unduly interfere with the
power Of the railway managers for the
proper operations of the roads. yet
they do confer upon the shipping pub
lie the investing public and the people
at large benefits Of tremendous value
Referring to the commerce court.
covered in the first three sections of
the bill, the report says it is proposed
to centralize the existing authority
and jurisdiction of circuit courts in
one commerce court. but without an
larging such Jurisdiction or authority
The present jurisdiction OF the United
States courts to set aside Interstate
commerce. commission orders r. be-
lleved by many TO be limited to the
determination or JurisdictIOnal facts
and 10 the question Of conflscation by
the taking of property without due
compensa tdOn.
An inhibition against purchase or
lense3of capital stock of directly or
substantially competitive railroad or
water line is made in section IL, which
also prohibits the same person serving
on competing directorates. 1t permits
any corporation desiring to acquire in
tarest in another similar corporation.
to make n preliminary. agreement and
then file petition with the commerce
court for permission to carry out the
agreement. The committee, however,
Is considering reporting a committee
amendment to have the petition filed
with the commission instead Of with
the commerce court.
RdiWay security propositions arc
embodied in the concluding sections.
They prohibit railroads from issuing.
any stock or bonds except upon appli- \
cation to the commission. which IL tos
specify the respective amounts Of
stocks, bonds, etc, authorized to be
issued for the respective purposes to
which the proceeds are to be applied
and stating the price---their reasonable
value--at which such securities may
be sold.