The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-05-12
BILL PASSES
Administration Bill Passes Lower
House Of Congress-.
PRESIDENT TAFT GRAIEIHD
Bill Makes Many Changes In Existing Law
and YIN GfsatIy Riisct interstate Gem
nsgcs II Passsl By Senate.

Washington, u. C.--W Without sim
gle dissenting republican vote the
house passed the railroad bill, one
OF the chief measures that President
Taft wishes enacted at the present
session of congress.
Not only did every republican place
himself on the side of the measure
either by his vote or by being paired
in its favor, but fourteen democrats
Joined the majority to make the total
vote in favor Of the measure 200 to
1875.
President Taft said he was deeply
gratiffed over the passage OF the
measure. He was especially pleased
with the comfortable margin by which
the commerce court feature was kept
in the bill, for he regards this court
as probably the most important for
ward step in the proposed law.
AS to the amendments and ad0i-
tional provisions added in the house,
the president said he did not feel that
this was the time to discuss them
Referring to the clause providing Tor
the physical valuation Of railroads,
Mr.. Taft pointed out that that power
practically now rests with the inter-
state commerce commission, and that
the dificulty in carrying out such
plan always has been found ia the
enormous cost Of the undertaking.
The bill makes many changes in the
existing law, that, If accepted by the
senate, will greatly affect interstate
commerce. The court Of commerce is
created to adjudicate cases on appeal
from the interstate commerce commits
sion. It is provided that this court
shall be organized by the Justices OF
the supreme court of the United
States, future appointments to mem
bership on the court to be made by
them.
Stock and bond issues OF railroads
are controlled by the bill. Under this
clause railroad before issuing any
additional stock, must obtain an order
from the commission, which must,
among other things, fix the price at
which the securities Of the road may
be sold A similar provision is car
ried in respect to railroads which are
organized through the courts. A pro-
vision is made that upon the reorgan-
ization Of railroad through court pro
oeedings stocks and bonds cannot be
issued for more than a fair value Of
the property
The long and short haul clause OF
the measure provides that raiir0ad
cannot without first gaining permits
sion charge more for short than for
long haul over, the same line.
The interstate commerce commits
sion also Is given authority, whenever
new rate is proposed, to suspend the
taking effect of that rate for a period
Of four months so that the commits
sion shall have an opportunity to con-
slider, its reasonable
AS amended the bill proposes to
bring the telephone and telegraph COM
panies under the control Of the inter-
state commerce commission 1t pro-
vides for the valuation Of the railroad
property as an aid to the commission
in the consideration Of railroad rates.
The bill gives to the commission ay-
thority over classification, regulations
and practices of railroads, authority at
the present time being limited to the
rates and matters affecting rates.
Under its terms railroad company
must quote a freight rate accurately
upon demand of a shipper and the
shipper is given the right to route his
freight whenever it passes over more
than one railroad The commission it.
self is authorized to establish through
routes by combining different railroad
systems at it's discretion, whereas, I'M.
der the present law, it cannot make
a new through route If such q route
is already established.
Severe penalties are provided also
against shippers who, through false
claims for damages or loss of property,
obtain secret rebates
Champ Clark, leader of the demo-
cratic minority, explaining the demo-
cratic course in opposing the bill, on
final vote, said,
the democrats who voted against
the bill did so because they considered
that there were more bad features in
the bill than there were good ones.
When it was first brought into the
house, it was railroad bill, pure and
simple. 1t was drawn in their inter
ests. Not a railroad lobbyist appeared
around the halls OF. congress in oppo-
sition to this bill, which spoke more
eloquently than many volumes could
do that the railroads were in favor OF
this legislation.
l