Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-06-10
WANTS RAIL BILL
IN EFFECT AT ONCE.
President Sends Special Mes
sage to Congress.
BILL IN CONFEREES' HANDS
House Democrats Join Regulars and
Defeat Attempt of Insurgents to
Agree to Senate Amendments.

Deiedt HtteWpt ot insurgents "
Agree to Senate Amendments.
Washington, June S.-To carry out
the provisions of his agreement with
the railroads. and to make that treaty
alright, President Taft sent a special
message to congress on the railroad
bill
AS the treaty stands, railroads are
to withdraw all recent increases in
rates and submit new rates to the in.
terstate commerce commission.
The bill as it stands does not take
sage.
The commission would not have ju-
risdiction during that period. This
leaves matters so that the railroads,
or some of them, might file new rates
at once, which would stand until set
aside by the commission.
The president, therefore, advises
that the bill be made to take imme-
date effect.
The Presidents Message.
Following is the text of the presi-
dents special message:
"A recent effort by large number
Of railroad companies to increase the
rates for interstate transportation of
persons and property caused me to
direct the attorney general to bring a
suit to secure from the United States
court in Missouri an injunction re-
straining the operation of such in
creased rates during the pendency of
the proceeding.
This action led to a conference
with the representatives of the rail
road companies SO enjoined, and the
agreement by each of them to with
draw the proposed increases of rates
effective on or after June 1 and not to
file any further attempted increases
until after the enactment into law of
the pending bill to amend the inter
state commerce act, or the adjourn.
ment of the congress; with the fur
ther understanding that upon the en-
actment of such law each would sub
nit to the determination of the inter
state commerce commission the ques-
tion of the reasonableness of all in
creases that each might thereafter
propose.
Early Action Important.
1T is now hoped that all of the 9TH
er railroad companies will take like
action. In order, however, that each
may have the benefit of a speedy de-
termination of the question whether
or not it's proposed increases in rates
are justifable, provision should be
made by congress to vest the inter-
state commerce commission with juris-
diction over such questions as soon as
possible.
"In the senate amendment to Sec
tion Is of the act to regulate COM
merce contained in II. r. 1886, the
interstate commerce commission is
empowered, Immediately upon the FL
ing of a proposed increase in rates, of
it's own motion, or upin complaint, to
enter upon an investigation and deter
mination of the justice and reason
ableness of such increases, and. in
case it deems it eXpedient, to suspend
the operation thereof for pedior
specified in the section to enable it to
complete such investigation. That bill,
however. provides that the act shall
take effect and be in force only from
and after the expiration of sixty days
after its passage.
Could Raise Rates at Once.
This provision. if allowed to re-
main in the bill, would enable car
riers. between the time of enactment
of the bill and the time of its taking
effect, to file increases in rates which
would become effective at the expira-
tion of thirty days and remain in eff
feet and be collected from the public
during the pendency of proceedings
to review them. whereas If the bill be
made to take effect Immediately such
investigation will have to be made be-
fore the public is called upon to pay
the increased rate.
II therefore recommend that this
latter provision be modified, by pro-
viding that at least section of the
senate amendment to the bill, which is
the section authorizing the commits
sion to suspend the going into effect
of increases in rates until after due
investigation, shall take effect imme-
,diately after the passage of the act"
Bill Sent to Conference.
After the receipt of President Taft's
message on the railroad BILL the final
fight on the measure began in the
house. 1t was as to whether the bill
should be sent to conference or the
senate amendments be accepted as a
whole.
The bill was sent to conference The
action of the house in concurring to
the senate amendments was imme-