The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-31
TAFT RAILWAY BILL TAKEN UP
SENATOR ELkENS SUBMITS
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS


court ami Another Permits Com.
claiming shippers to ne Represented
~ Counsel Rect speaks Ter the Btll-
wAsHINoTON. March 3O-SenAtor FL
kins. chairman OF the SsnAte COMMITTEES
on Interstate Commerce. to-day intro
duoed in the Senate several amendments
To the Administration railway bill. These
amendments arc the fruit OF the delay
Of q week or more In the consideration
Of tho ball. Some Of them meet objec-
tons raissd by the insurgents in their
attacks upon the measure One % the
amendments limits tn" jurisdiction Of
the proposed commerce court to that
now exercised by the circuit courts OF
tho United States Another permits COM
planning shippers to b. represented by
counsel before the commerce court. A
third makes the act take effect sixty days
after passage. and other amendments
allow an appeal to the Supreme Court
from an interlOcutory order or decree
II the commerce cour, granting or con-
tinuing an Injunction restraining the
enforcement OF an order % the Interstate
Commerce Commission provided the APP
peal he taken within thirty days.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
il denied the night by another amendment
81 establishing any through route. classi-
hcation. rate. fare or charge when the
transportation 10 wholly by water.
Senator Elkins. in submitting the
amendments. explained that they were
not committee amendments.- hut would
be submitted with the acquie~cence 81
the members Of the committee. to be con-
sider>t later.
senator Root addressed the Senate
this afternoon in behalf 81 the railway
bill. moving over TO the centre aisle. where
he spoke from the seat of senator Till
man % South Carolina.
In the main I arm in favor Of this bill.
said senator Root. though there are
some changes that should be- made in TO-
The bill ~ very decided. positive and
progressive measure toward the better
accomplishment Of the purpose Of the
Law creating the Interstate Commerce
Commission which was adopted by Con-
gress
senator Root read from messages and
speeches q President Taft and ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt in favor Of the proposed
legisla tion He said that the bill meets
the views 81 the executive branch II the
Government throughout three admins
trations.
Referring TO the suggestion that IL
might In well Ia leave the present law
alone for the present. senator Root said
that law designed To be applied to a
great practical business like the trans
portation business needs filing here
and tIers. from time to time. 40 long
~ "a he as the President asks that the |
Law be strengthened and the purpose Of |
tn" existing Law he improved. now h. the |
time FOR Congress a. act Such action |
will not he final IL will 10 necessary To |
change the law from time IN time
Speaking IN bs.ttalf of the sIS~CLal court !
feature 81 the till. SENATOR Root said. !
% While ! am not much IN favor Il the !
creation of new courts. ! cannot fail to |
recognize that the subject with which ths. 1
lnterstats. Commerce Commission -
forced Ia deal j. a highly complicated On- j
and cannot he dealt with on the spur % /
the moment. IL ~ a subject that re- /
duires eduCatiOn and vide knOwle ledge !
II = difitCllt great and abstrtis- system .
81 transJIOrtatio in this country. vitality /
affecting every business and industry !
Property rights and equity matters such /
as find in common law books little !
prepare us 10 consider this great ques- /
tiOn. When these business interests come ,
"a Ms and say they need a court Ca CON |
slider and review ths. matters within the u
Jurisdiction &C the Interstate Commerce |
Commission I feel inclined u yield any /
! have against the creation
of new courts
Mr. Root spoke ~ the beneficial results
that have followed the enactment of the
Hepburn rate law.
7 remember when the bill was under
her. the senate rang like
a boiler factory with dire predictions as
"a what would follow the passage % the
act SAID senator Root. The senator
added that he had been assured within
a few months by the president II one Of
the greatest railway systems in the coun-
try that he would not repeal the Hepburn
law II he had the power.
There u now no further complaint |
from shippers of unreasonable rates. II l
~ only a question II relative rates.
said he
senator Root yielded 10 many inter
ruptions for questions and always with
tho best 81 grace. hut after having been
sub ectsd to Interruptions from several
senators. when Mr. Cummins of Iowa
asked permission IN ask a question Mr..
Root replied sTniingly: Certainly.
Weld to the senator from Iowa am well
aware II the rule 81 the Senate that the
only person not entitled To speak " the
~ena tor who has the floor
Az Root did not finish his stnpS.h