New-York tribune., 1910-01-11
RAILROAD BILL In
ADOPTS .T .fF7vS TIEWS.
Toscmseud aud E7hins IN
Charge OK Measure.

Washington Ian. "a. - Representative
Townsend introduced ia the House TINS
afternoon the hisl embed wing the recon-
nlendatiols oIrtiiseI in the speciai uessske
OF President Taft for amA idments 10 ths
Interstate commerce law.
II provides, among other things LOT
special court. composed OF fiv< .eaerai elf-
cult Judges to have exclusives oaiginai 1urls-
diction over questions growing out OF o.
ders OF the Interstate Commences toHiHiss-
sion. This court is to be compose or hVe
circuit Judges. who shall serve by assign
nent of the Chief Justice for a term or fse
years. but two of the judges term VIII
expire at the same time. and thus. nder
all circumstances. four of the Judges wiz
havc had several years. experience with
these technical questions
When order Of the commission is con-
tested In the commerce court the petition
Of the carrier taking the case into the
court VIII not stay the operation of the
order. nor can IL he enioined except by the
court or some member of 1t, and then only
on notice and hearing except in cases
where irreparable injury would be caused
py such poti,e and bearing. in which case
the court or judge granting the Injunction
must make a finding from facts TO the
effect that irreparaole injury would result.
Provision Is made for the prosecution and
defence of all cases taken into the COM
merce court by the Department of Justice,
and for this. purpose it is proposed TO ap-
point an assistant to the Attorney General
who shall have special charge OF such cases.
IS recommended by the President. agree
ments between carriers will be permitted,
provided they are made public and fled
with the commission and. subject TO. the
same rules and regulations as TO business
and reasonabeness as are rates and other
recognized regulations.
Carriers must quote correctly in writing.
on the written request of a shipper any
rate between the place of proposed ship
Hent and any other place on the carriers
line or any line with which the initial car
rier has traffic arrangements. as. evidenced
By Joint published tariffs. In case. an err
roneous rate Is given in writing whereby
Il shipper Is injured. the carrier whose
agent has made the nlisauotation is subject
to a penalty of $3.50, TO be collected by and
paid TO the government.
The bill would empower the commission
to suspend the carriers notice. of change
of rate pending decision to whether the
proposed new rate is just and reasonable.
A. shipper is TO have the. right "to route
his freight and classi5cationsz must be
just and reasonable. The commission is
authorized to initiate proceedings upon its
own motion.
It is proposed to prevent the issuance OF
stock and bonds except for legitimate rail
road purposes and with the approval Of the
commission; and. as recommended in the
special message of the President. it Is pro-
posed to prohibit every carrier from sc-
qIirfng any stock in a line of railroad which
in any way conlpetes with L. except as d
court may find that the people are better
served by such acquisition. II IS not pro-
posed to compel carriers to dispose of stock
which they now own IN competing lines,
AND where carrier now owns a majority
of the stock in parallel line II may be
permitted to purchase the remainder IF q
carrier IS now operating a competing line
under twenty-hve-year or longer lease, 1t
may purchase such road at The expiration
Of the lease.
The bill will be presented TO the Senate
tomorrow by Senator Elkins. The draft
made py Attorney General Wicker
sham after many conferences with Prssi-
dent Taft. who had discussed the proposed
legislation with members of the Inter-
state Commerce Commissions and railroad
officials. The final conference was held this
afternoon In the committee room of Ser
ator ElkiBs and was attended by the SEN
ator. MIR Townsend and the Attorney Gen
eral. IL vas agreed by Senator Elkins
and MFR. Townsend that they would exert
their influence to have the bill enacted into
law without amendment OF any character