Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-05
L.C,C, MUST APPLY
BYLAW CAREFULLY
HAS ALREADY REFUSED APPll
CATION TO SUSPEND RATES
ON AUTOS.
NOT UNJUST OR UNREASONABLE
Knapp and Taft Confer on Admins
tration of New Statute.-It Will
Not Be Used as Club or
Wall Street Tool.

Beverly. Mass. July 2.-President
Taft had long talk with Chairman
Knapp, of the interstate commerce
commission regarding the ,administra'
ton of the new railroad rate law. AT
the conclusion of the interview II
was made plain that with added au.
thority given to the commission the
new statute is not be used arbitrarily
or for the purpose of hindering the
railroads in the conduct of their legit.
innate business. The power to sus.
pend new rates, probably the most di.
rect weapon placed in the hands of
the commission, is to be used only
In exceptional cases.
Chairman Knapp told the president
that the commission already had re.
fused an application under the new
law for suspension of increased rates
on horse ahicles and automobiles.
He said that there was nothing on
the face Of things to show that the
new rates were unjust or unreason-
able
The interstate commerce commits
sion will not attempt to fix definite
rates for the railroads and the power
of suspension will be applied only to
rates when preliminary hearing
gives indication that they are excess
i've. In all such contested cases the
president will be informed the com
mission will endeavor to arrive at the
facts at the earliest possible moment
and it is not believed that in any case
1t will be necessary avail itself of the
full limit of II months allowed under
the law.
Since the new law went into effect
there have been indications that some
of the big railroads have been wor-
ried as to the extent and the manner
in which the rate regulating clauses
of the new law would be employed by
the commission. Stock manipulatOrs
in Wall street, the administration had
been informed. were trying to trade
upon this doubt and to make the most
of the situation to their own advant-
age.
1t can be authoritatively stated that
it was never intended that the new
law should be club or that it should
be the means of profit-taking by
bears" in the market. The commits
sion will not run amuck' and will
do nothing to jeopardize the interests
of investors There has been talk of
a possible fright among European in
vestors and the embarrassing results
that might come from throwing over
stocks at crop moving time. But the
president sees nothing in the situation
to warrant any such views.
The commission l.. anxious that
there shall be as little friction with
the railroads as possible and President
Taft is anxious that nothing shall be
done to menace the prosperity of the
railroads SO long as they comply with
the terms of the law.
Further information regarding the
interview between President Taft and
Colonel Roosevelt Thursday tended to
confirm the reports of Thursday night
that the visit was almost wholly of
personal and social nature.
The president and the former presi-
dent did talk politics briefly, but it
was agreed between them that they
would not discuss their meeting in any
way.
Discussed Peace Movement.
The growth of the peace movement
In Europe was discussed. But it was
said that the international peace COM
mission authorized under recent act
of congress was not taken up in de-
tail 1t is probably thoroughly under
stood, however, that if Mr. Roosevelt
cares to head this commission the APP
pointment will he his.
President Taft expressed regret to
several of his callers over the defeat
in the New York assembly of the
Cobb direct primary bill, which was
advocated by Governor Hughes and
publicly endorsed by Colonel Roose-
welt. The president felt that this bill
offered a splendid opportunity to test
the direct primary principle, and while
he shares the view expressed by
number of leaders that all Offices
should not be put under the primary
system. the Cobb bill was cOmpro-
mise which lie felt sure would be &C
cepted.
President Taft's vacation is not to
begin until after his strenuous doings
of July 4. when he will motor into
Boston and stop at several cities on
the way When he is through with
this engagement he is to go into Sc
Clusion for ten days.