The Detroit times., 1910-01-07
WANTS COMMERCE
bOOY's POWER TO
Be SWEEPING
President Taft Urges Passage Of Leg
islation To Create Special Court
To Regulate Railroads-Aims
Blow at Stock-Watcring.
Recommends Incorporation Act
Which VIII Force M0n0p0lists To
Obey or Be 0utlawed.

Ing gun In President Taft's campaign
tor constructive legislation was fired
today. when his special sage rec
ommending amendments to the inter
state commerce law and legislation
supplementary to the Sherman anti
trust law was read In congress.
Foremost among the presidents
recommendations are: A United States
court OF commerce. the prosecution
and defense OF cases brought by and
against the Interstate commerce COM
mission by the department or justice
instead OF by speciai attorneys; a pro-
vision forbiddlng railroads acquiring
capital stock In competing lines; a
provision forbidding the issuance or
capital stock without payment or the
par value. or unless II Is founded on
Donafde physical valuation CT proper
ty; and voluntary Incorporation for
concerns engaged In interst te com.
merce.
In outlining the jurisdiction of the
proposed court OF commerce The presi-
dent provides that practically all
cases except those entailing the col
lection OF a peualty OF the infiiction
OF criminal punishment which involves
the interstate commerce commission
shall be tried by the court. and that
its decisions shall be reviewed only
upon appeal to the United States SUI
preme court. The appointment OF nve
additional circuit judges whose salary
while sitting in the commerce court
shall be $4,000 q year. is also recon-
mended.
Distribution OF Judses.
II Is recommended that these judges
be distributed TO those circuits where
there is at the present time the
greatest volume OF business, such as
the second. third, fourth. seventh, and
eighth. When not sitting in the court
O. commerce they shall De assigned W
the chief Justice OF the supreme court
10 work In the regular circuit courts.
The president further asks that the
interstate commerce commission pe
given the power "a alter rates SUB,
mftted by carriers. and TO prescripe
the maximum rate in case those~upe-
mitted IRE found exornitant. II now
ever the commission fats to invests
cate a rate submitted within sixty
days. the rate shall take effect.
The message also recommends that
shippers he given the right to select
one or two. or more possible routes FOR
the shipment Of their goods.
The handling os Interstate commerce
cases by the department Of justice Is
Lecessary, the president says, because
the present system confuses the judi
clal. executive and legislative func-
tlons In one body--the interstate com
merce commission-and robs II OF its
judicial attitnde.
The president believes that the pro-
vision forbidding railroads from ac-
ouiring stock In ccznpeting lines should
not be made applicable 10 roads now
holding more thsn fffy per cent of
competing lines. IL such roads desire
IN complete the purchase OF the out
standing stock OK the already CONTROL
ing roads
Restriction of stocks.
stock ana bond Issues are discussed
ut length In the message and II rs
secommended that legislation be
psssed forbidding the issuance OF
STOCKS and bondc until their full par
value shall have been paid to the
Issuing corporation. Any issues OF
stocks or bonds 'nadR by corporations
reorganizing undeW the proposed
rtAtute0 dre COuIuSuoSu W W kss~~e'
directly under the supervision Of the
interstate commerce commission.
These provisions are aimed at the very
root OF the stoci~wateriug evil.
The presidents recommendation for
federal incorporation law outlines
voluntary MEASURE, but one which ne
says will forcc bis corporations TO one
OF three things:
~Yirst they must resolve themselves
,nto their compon snt parts In tho dif.
ferent states, with consequent loss OF
caoitai and organization.
SSecond. In defiance OF law and nm
aar some secret trust they must nc.
.,ea,pt To continue thsir business in
,ioinfton OF tho federal statutes and
thus bring on an inevitable criminal
prosecnft0n, or,
"Thiyd, fhsy must Teorganize and ac'
cent 10 good faith ths federal charter
| suggest"
More dgid safety appliance pro-
,isIous snd q law dsnnitsiy outlining
,hs oxtent Of the right to bring suit
nndar ia employers liability law arc