The Washington times., 1910-03-25
Eouse Will Receive Admin
isration Measure Greatly
Altered Next Week.
A COMMERCE COURT
AMONG PROVISIONS
Short and Long Haul Rates Sub
jected 20 Regulation By
Proposed Law.

The Administration advisers who de-
vised the Townsend railroad bill. known
as the Administration measure. will
hardly recognize the act when it is
laid before the House early next week.
The bill. so amended, has been agreed
upon by the House Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce.
As II comes from the committee 1t
embodies some of the original prOvi-
sions of the Townsend measure, some
Of a similar bill introduced by Chair
man Mann. of the committee. and others
that We're suggested by members Of the
committee.
The Dill is replete with stringent regu-
Iations preventing one railroad or water
lire from purchasing stock in compel
ing line.
Commerce Court Provided.
A resume Of the bill shows the follow
ing important amendments TO the pres
ent existing law:
1t establishes a court Of commerce.
having the jurisdiction now possessed
10y circuit courts of the United States
and to this court must so all cases to
enjoin, set aside, suspend or annul any
order of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. all mandamus proceedings, and
all cases for enforcement
The court Is TO consist Of i've judges
appointed by the Chef Justice Of the
United States from among the circuit
Judges. the sittings Of the court oelhS IN
II IS prohibited that any transpOrta-
zion company shall charge greater conf
pensatlon in the aggregate Tor a shorter
haul than the longer haul over the same
line or route in the same direction or
10 charge any greater as a through rate
than the aggregate Of tbs local rates
Upon authority If the Interstate Com
meTCe Commission. railroads may %
permitted to charge a higher rate Tor
snort than for long hauls.
Competition Protected.
No railroad carrier subject TO the act
may acquire, directly or Indirectly. any
interest in the capital stock in any car
rier corporation with which II is sub
stantially competitive. nor may any wa
ter carrier acquire the stock. or any
part thereof, OF a comPetinS La 5-itLt,aL,i
that, after July l, 1911, the director o.
any carrier corporation shall be d d.
rector in composing line
Il is provided that any attempted &C
QUESTION 10y purchase or lease OF a
competing line shall be declared VOID
and may be enJOined by any court of
Jurisdiction.
The bin reported today also forbids
cept for legitimate purposes and Al
pTf-es to be fixed Dy the Interstate
Commerce Commission and fOTbids any
issue Of stocks or bonds except on appli-
cation to and approval BY the commits
sion.
Issuance of Stock.
Upon certificate by the Interstate
Commerce Commission it is permitted
that ne wand reorEanized railroad cor.
pOrations may issue stock UP 10 the
fair estimate value of the property.
The commission Is also authorized q
exercise Jurisdiction Yer ali rates and
TO determine and prescribe individual o1
icInt rates and ClaSSiticauOns.
Another radical change Is an amend
ment giving To shippers the right q
issue routing instructions to railroads.
The free transportation clause Of thu
old Law VAS 50 amended 10 perml
the issuance of passes to Caretakers o
milk trains. but the committee declined
to accept an amendment permitting tint
exchange of transportation for news
paper advertising.