The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-01-14
TAFT AFTER THE RAILROADS
The President to Ask Congress to
Make Radical Restrictions in
Regard to Railroads

There is every reason to believe
that the message of the President will
go farther than ever proposed by
President Roosevelt, and that it will
be, while conservative in tone, decid-
eddy radical in proposals.. AS under
stood today the President will ask
congress to put into the acts relating
to interstate commerce the following
important additions:
First. An interstate commerce
court, which shall pass upon all APP
peals from the interstate commerce
commission, and from which there
will be no appeal, except to- the Su
preme Court of the United States.
This would take away from the dis
trict and circuit courts the hearing
OF these cases, and confine the whole
subject to one court. To this the
railroads make decided objection.
Second. Power for the interstate
commerce commission to hear and en-
terrain complaints against unjust
classification of rates just the same a.
existing power to bear complaints
against themselves The President
believes that unjust classification o.
rates is fully as detrimental to the
shipping interests OF the country as
unjust rates themselves. Railroads
enter emphatic protest against tn IS
proposition also.
Third. Giving power to the inter- /
state commerce commission to initiate
complaints against common carriers
and the right to hold up promul-
gated rate before it goes into effect. |.
At present the commission is limited
to Investigation Of specific complaints
only and cannot interfere with a rate
until 1t has gone into effect. If the
Presidents ideas become law the
commission can take up any case of
its own accord and stop rate be-
fore it becomes effective. "A
Fourth. The power to suspend even
the rules and regulations of rail-
road if considered by the commission
unjust to the shipper.
Fifth. The shipper to have the
choice of routes for shipment, the law
not now giving that route.
Sixth. Prohibiting railroads from
acquiring stock or other interest in
lines and giving them
time to get rid of the interests they
have at present.
Seventh, and most important of all 4
railroads from issuing
stocks and bonds or other obligations
until after approval by the commits I
sion, no stock to be sold at less than
par and no bond below reasonable
market value. This would give the
the power to pass upon
the physical valuation of railroads,
and to this the railroad authorities
object most strenuously.
To Back Up Recommendations
The recommendations will not be
perfunctory and end the Presidents
interest. AS earnestly as it is becom- I
ng he will insist upon the recommen-
1ations becoming law. He will use
whatever reasonable and fair pres 4
sure may be necessary to attain what
he believes the country demands.
Senator's who saw the President this
afternoon went away with the con-
5iction that the amendments will be-
come law despite the opposition of
he railroad powers. 8
Senator Crane of Massachusetts, ;
md Senator Carter of Montana, who
we're with the President this after
noon, would not talk, but they un-
learned that the President
will not be stopped by the protests
md that his message Is merely the :
of his efforts to put addi-
ionai authority for railroad control
n the hands of the government