Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-08


with President James McCrea OF the Penn
sylvsnia, President W c. Brown Of Sew
York Central aud President w. w Finley
of the Southern railroads. These men rep
esented all of the trunk lines from Chi
cago eastward. IT was taken for granted
before the conference began that there
would be amicable settlement, and there
was little surprise when, after an hour
and a half. the statement was issued that
there had been complete agreement.
In none of his negotiations with the
railroad presidents has President TAFT sug-
gested that there was any purpose on
the part OF the. administration to apply
for dissolution of the various trunk
line associations At the same time there
has been no intimatlon that any of the rail-
roads would be granted immunity from
the operations OF the Sherman antitrust
law The administration used the anti
trust law In bringing the Injunction to
stop the Increased rates simply because
there was no other avenue open 30 II.
During the conference the question OF
the ability of the Interstate Commerce
commission to dispose Of the new rates
within the next eleven months was freely
discussed President Taft expressed the
belief that the present rates gave
basis for comparison which would not re-
quire great amount Of time Presidents
McCrea Offered the suggestion that, as
there are certain basic rates which form
the foundation for all the other thou
sands OF rates, that the disposition of the
basic ones might not require such sreat
length of time. Once the basic rates are
fixed, the others apply almost automatl-
cally.
Message to Congress.
TO carry out the governments promise
that the railroads should have speedy ac-
ton after filing rates under the new law,
President Taft sent special message to
congress urging that the clause in the rail-
road bill which gives the Interstate Com
merce commission power to investigate and
suspend all new rates be made effective
Immediately after the signing of the bill
instead OF being subject to the general
provision that the law shall be operative
after sixty days,
The president did not suggest the method
by which the modification of the bill should
be made. SO as soon, as the message was
read in the house the fight started as to
whether the bill should be sent to con-
ference or the senate amendments be &C.
cepted as a whole,
| hessuge OF the PRESIDENT.
| Following is the presidents message:
! "A recent effort by a large number OF
railroad companies to increase rates fol
Interstate transportation. Of persons ant
property caused me to direct the attorney
general to bring a suit and secure from
the United States court in Missouri al
injunction restraining the operation OF sucf
Increased rates during the tendency of Tn,
proceeding
This action led to a conference with thu
representatives of the railroad conpanie.
SO enjoined and the agreement by each O.
them to withdraw the proposed increases
Of rates effective on or after June l. anC
not to file any further attempted increase
until after the enactment into law of tn,
pending bill to amend the interstate com
merce act or the adjournment of the con
gress; with the further understanding tina
on the enactment of such law each woult
submit to the determination of the Inter
state Commerce commission the question
Iof the reasonablenese. Of all increases tina
each might thereafter propose.
1t is now hoped that all of the othe
railroad companies will take like action
In order, however, that each may have tn
benefit Of a speedy determination of tn
question whether or, not its proposed in
creases inorates are justifiable, provision
should he made by congress to vest tn
Interstate Commerce commission with jur
isdiction over such questions as soon a
possible.
4 Powers of COmmIssion,
I'm the senate amendment to section /
OF the act to regulate commerce containe
in H. r. 1855 the Interstate Commerce
I commission is empowered Immediately o
the filing of a proposed increase in rate
OF its own motion, or on complaint I
enter on an investigation and determine
ton of the justice and reasonableness c
such increase and in case It deems 1t en-
pedient to suspend the operation thereC
for a period specified In the section to er
: able 1t TO complete such Investigation
( That bill, however, provides that the az
/ shall take effect and be in force onl
from and after the expiration OF sixty day
| after its passage.
5 This provision, II allowed to RENAL
5 in the bill, would enable carriers by tn
time of enactment of the bill and enac
II ment of its taking effect to file increase
4 in rates which would become effectiy
4 at the expiration of thirty days and n
main in effect and be collected from II
public during the tendency of proceed
n mss " iCNiSW tHeIl, whereas III the Dl
!, be made to take effect Immediately sue
e investigation will have to be made befo
s the public is called on to pay the increas,
4 rate. WILLIAM H. TAFT
1.-THE White House, June 7, 191O."
The message followed a lengthy col
?. ference at the White House today betwe,
4 the president and Senator Crane on Il
Il pert OF the senate and Representa-,
Il Mann on the part of the house.
"a There was a wide divergence of opiniC
|. among the callers as to whether or n
d the appointments sought by the preside
can be accomplished in conference Tho
representatives who favored the accep
ance OF the senate bill as a whole co
tended that the only way TO make Il
y clause referred to by the president tai
n effect Immediately was to pass a tol
Is resolution TO that effect.
CHICAGO June IA telegram OF co
10 graduation was sent to President Taft
- day by committee representing the wes
ern shippers. The committee met and to-
several different actions regarding the !
cent attempts OF the western railroads
increase freight rates.