The Washington times., 1910-12-07
Shippers Hear Two Mem
bers, Against Higher
Rates, May Go.
PROUTY AND LANE
TO COMMERCE COURT
Action of President in This Case
to Govern Action of
Insurgents.
CONTINUED from First Page9

OF the Interstate Commission The re-
movaI OF these two men would leave
the commission overwhelmingly in favor
Of the railroad view, IL the current Cos
sip concerning the predilection of mem
bers IS juStifiabIe. Therefore, the out
come OF these efforts to raise rates
might easily depend on the new appoint
ments 10 the commission
BESIDES the reports that Messrs. Lane
and Prouty are 10 be appointed 10 the
Court OF Commerce, the belief gains
grounds that Commissioner COck~eII will
not be- reappointed. y Tong list Il pos
sibilities are discussed for the vacan-
Cies which may thus be created in the
commission. Among people concerned
about the proposed rate advances, dis
cussioD Of these prospective appoint
nIents and the consequent changes in
the disposition OF the commission, has
in the last few DAYS absorbed vastly
more attention than has been given 10
the merits Of the pre- eeted advances Of
rates.
Eyes on Appointments
Progressive leaders in Congress have
been explaining 10 the President their
deep concern about his forthcoming APP
pointmeIts to the Supreme Bench II
cerned about the makeup Of the Court
Of Commerce. and about the possible
changes in the Interstate Commission.
IN fact, it is said bluntIy that appoint
ments hereafter to the Interstate Com
merCe Commission and the Court OF
Commerce VIII be SCruIinjzed quite
closely by progressive Senators, as
those 10 the supreme Court The
President already has been told by
some Of his callers that in the matter
% judicial appointments hereafter IL
VIII be the policy OF pTOETeSsiEeS 70
Induce the Senate vigorously and imDer-
Sonsliy 20 exercise its preTOgative as a
part If the appointing power.
Shippers Wrought Up.
Representatives Of the shipping or
Sauizatioas Of the country are wrought
up about the possibility OF Messrs
PrcUtv and LaUe being transferred 10
The Court OF Commerce One or the
leading progressive Senators said he
considered the interstate Commission
Tar more important at this juucture
than The Court of Commerce. He ad-
United frankly that he vas opposed 70
permitting the rate increases the rail-
roads have asked
He painted ont that II is Of especial
Importance TO make sure that the record
which the Interstate Commission shall
make Uu In the proc eSSeS Of itS hear
ings on these rate advances shall get
the entire question fairly before the
courts This be considered more iU,-
po-tant than the attitude OF the Court
OF Commerce because that courts &C.
ClSion undoubtedly viii be review co by
the supreme Court Of the United states.
Plenty Of EIigibles-
Whether within the next few weeks
there shall be one, two, or three vacan-
Cies in the Interstate Commission 10
be filed by new appointments, there are
plenty Of people under discussion 10 fill
all the places. The railroads are credit
ed, IN Interstate Commerce circles. with
the strong desire 20 get Commissioner
Prouty removed frent the commission
because of his unsatisfactory attitude
toward their c0uteEIions ia the import
ant series Of inter-mOUntain rate cases.
These cases involve in general the
whole fabric OF rates through the en-
pire between the Missouri river and the
Cascade mountains
In the Spokane case and some others
Mr. Prouty has made II clear that he
does not sympathlze with the railroad
view For years he has been credited
with the conviction that rates in this
territory are 700 high
As to Commissioning Lane. his general
and vigorous views about independent
action by the commission have made
him quite as Objectionable to the rail-
roads as his Co league. Mr.. PrOuty
The shipping interests make no secret
Of their feelings that the removal OF
these two men from the commission.
even though they were to be placed on
the Commerce Court would amount
10 a calamity to shipping interests Of
this country
Some Possibilities.
Ano,o 4Eo men discussed 4, oorDoc
ton with the one of more prospective
vacancies in the commission, are for
mer Senator George Turner, of Wash
ington; Frederick y. Judson. Of St
LOUIS; John H Atwood, Of Kansas
City; Wade Ellis. of Ohio: c. c. Nc
Cord, OF Kentucky; Martin 5. Decker.
OF New York. and others Mr.. Atwood
has been strongly supported by impor-
tant interests among the shippers. He
is q Democrat, is geographically so 10
caTed as TO make him peCuliarIv eIfci-