The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-01-07

1etaI functions tendE I'D, II, opinion,
to itrnair the efficiency ii The con-.
mission BY clothing il witt, part;sa Il
charseteristies and robbin1 d Of the
Impartial judicial attitude III should
,neeuPy IN passing upon questions nub.
mitted to II. IN my opinion all Iitiga:
ton affecting the Government should
be under the direct control OF the De.
rartme,t Of Justice; and !s therefore
reeommend that all proceeding: :,
feeting orders and DEGREES Of the In:
,erstatc cpnmerte Commission be
brought BY or against til. United
States 60 roritnel and b. placed In
lctar5e OF an Assistant Attorney Gen.
sral acting under the dircetio.4 OF the;
A,torney General. I. 4 y 3
The subject Of agreements betwe-;,
carriers with respect to ratea has cen
often discussed In cpnU. est. POOLING
arrangements and agreements were
condemned by the een.ro; sentiment
of the people, and, under the Sherman
antitrust Law. any agreement between
carriers operating In rcutrA:nt Of In
iterstate of intern7tiona! trade or com
merce would be unlawful. The Re.
publican platform Of 1898 expressed
the belief that the interatate COM
meree lazy should be fur:.:-r an,ended
SO as to give the railroads tn. right to
make and publish traffic agreements
subject to the approval OF the commits.
sson, but maintaining always tn. prin.
eiple OF competition between naturally
comptting lines and avoiding the SOM
mon control Of such lines by any
means whatsoever. In view Of the
complete control ever rate-maxing
and. other practices of intet:,a:e car:
riers established by the acts OF Cor.
Errss and as recommended in this
commun Station. | see no /. :el..on why
agreements between CARRIERS subject
to the act, specifying the cIassifica.
tions Of freight and Tho rates. fares,
ard charges for transportation o: pas
sengere and freight which, they may
agree to establish, should not be per-
mitted, provided, copies of suc;,
agreements be promptly filed with the
commisslon. but subject to all the pro-
Visions OF the interstate commerce
act, and SUBJECT to the right of any
parties to such agreement TO cancel II
as to all or any of the agreed rates,
fares, charges. or elass;featcrs by
thirty Gays notice in writing to the
other parties AID to the commission.
The Republican platform Of 1903 de.
cIared Il. favor. Of amending the inter-
state commerce law, but 50 a. always
to maintain the principle Of compcti.
tion between naturally compctinn lines,
and avoiding the common control Of
such lines by any mezns whatsoever.
Ono Of the. most potent means OF ex-
cicislng such control has been through
the holding Of stock OF one raaroad
company by another cempan: owning
. competing line. This condition has
grown up under express iegialativ-
power conferred by the laws OF mar!
States. and do attempt no" to SUE
denly reverse that policy 50 far az !.
affe cts the ownership of stocks mere.
tofore SO acquired. would be 20 .nf,ic:
la ureivous :njury. not only upon the
Corporations affected but uren a large
body OF the Investment holding pub
lie. !, however, recommend that the
law shall be amended SO AZ to pro-
1tdc that from and after tho date OF
i it's passage no railroad company sub
eiet t. the interstate commerce act
shall, directly or indirectly, acquire
any interests It any kind IL eap*s'
stock, or purchase or ieas. any rail.
road of any other corporation, which
completes with It respecting business
to which thei interstate commerce act
applies. But especially for The pr.tee'
tiou of the minority stockholders In
securing to them the best market Tor
their stock I recommend that sdch
pro;,ibttior be coupled with pro
viso that It shall not operate to pre-
vent any corporation which, a: ~
date of the passage OF such act, shall
Town not less than one.half OF the en-
tire issued and outstanding capital
e:ock Of any other railroad company,
from acquiring al; or the remainder
Of such stock: nor to prohibit any
railroad company which at the date
OF the enactment Of the law Is ope'
rating a railroad Of any other co'po.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS.
Sealed bids will be received by the
County Court OF Marion County at Its
office in Eairmont, West Virginia. I'M.