The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-22

roads were taxed on the value of their
their earnings The railroads attempted
to show that the new law was uncon-
stitutional. and that they were assessed
higher. relatively. than were other forms
Of proDerty-houses and lots. farms, and
so on. Gov. Aaron T. Bliss employed me
20 assist in defending the rights Of the
State. We examined a great many wit
nesses, and I spent two busy years in
learning all could about the railroad
business.
Naturally. when I reached Washing
ton. In the winter Of 1903, 70 become a
member OF the House Of Representatives,
I thought I should like a place on the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. The Michigan delegation held
a meeting and three other men promptly
expressed a desire TO serve on the same
committee Slips Of paper were carefully
prepared by the managers Of the lottery
and drew the right one from the hat
and mine wasn't the first choice, either.
SO the delegation recommended me and
Speaker Cannon made the appointment
Then what happened?' I asked
Gets Bills Before House.
Il sat around and listened to all that
occurred. Up TO that time there had
been no legislation bearing on the rates
OF transportation. The Interstate Com
merce Commission, established by the
law OF 1857, was without, power beyond
the simple act of obtaining the facts. II
could declare a rate 10 be unjust, but #
could not fix one that was fair 10 rail-
road and shipper alike. I proposed one
day that we have hearings. so that men
who used the railroads could come in
and tell us about their troubles. My sug-
gestion was received in silence and with
smiles at the presumption of the amateur
from Michigan. Indeed. no one. as re-
member the event, said a word.
by and by I brought up the subject
again. and was told, with some trace Of
sarcasm, that the commerce committee
had held hearings ten years before. There
were several volumes of questions and
answers. might get them and read them
at my pleasure. And so on and so forth,
inasmuch as I was an ignOramus and
probably an upstart. After that when
mentioned the word hearings the mem
bers Of the committee would look at the
clock or at one another.
Meanwhile I kept sweet-tempered and
made friendly advances 10 my colleagues.
found that John ]. Esch, Of Wisconsin.
agreed with me on the railroad question.
Near the close of that particular session
Z
railroad rate hearings the first order OF
business at the meeting Of the commerce
committee in the following December
The time was a long way off, many
things might happen. and I fancy Town
send himself was becoming somewhat
pestlferous and tiresome. Anyway, the
resolution was adopted. During the sum-
mer 1 wrote to shippers that I should
call up the resolution as soon as Con-
gress met in December. advised those
who had complaints to prepare their testi-
mony. I also went to Wisconsin and
talked with Esch. We drew two bills,
one that provided for a commerce court,
to hear and decide controversies about
rates, and one that amended the existing
law and empowered the Interstate Com
merce Commission to hear and determine
the business and reasonableness of rate
as soon as notice OF a change had been
given by a railroad company.
Gets Bills Before the House.
When Congress met in 1904 I got my
resolution into action. and thus the agita-
ton was on. officially and pretty ener-
gepcally. While Esch was in Wisconsin