The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-15
REPORT ON RAIL
BILL PRESENTED
Clauses Regarding Increase in Rates
and Issuing of Stocks and Bonds
Effective Immediately.

WASHINGTON, June Ex-senator
Elkins (Rep., w. Va this afternoon
presented the conference report on the
railroad bill.
II provides that the bill shall con
tain the house long and short-haul
clause and the senate provision that
the interstate commerce commission
may suspend the operation OF railroad
rates for 10 months, pending inves
tigation.
The burden OF proof that rate In
crease Is reasonable Is placed on the
railroads and the interstate commerce
commission is directed TO give hear
| ings and decisions In such cases pref
erence over all other questions.
Section IL and section 10 OF the Dill
take effect Immediately. The former
applies to increased rates and under
the bill such rates can be suspended
by the Interstate commerce commits
sion at any time after the passage OF
the measure. This makes effective
Immediately President Taft's agree
ment with the railroads.
Section 16 provides for the appoint
ment OF a commission to consider the
question OF regulating the issuing OF
stocks and bonds by railroads.
The other sections OF the bill take
effect In so days.
With final adjournment OF congress
near at hand. there Is considerable
looking backward today by the states
men on Capitol Hill and much talk OF
deeds that have been done and the
bills that have been done up.
Interest centers, of course, In the
Taft legislative program and the gen
eral opinion Is that congress has not
been generous to the chief executive.
Congress started the big wheels oi
the legislative machine on Dec. 6, with
apparent good will toward all men
and more especially toward the presi-
dent. Mr.. Taft informally submitted
recommendations for the passage oi
bills on eighteen subjects OF legisla.
ton OF the bills on these subjects
introduced some have been much CON
eidered. some little. and many have
been buried in the archives OF varl-
Gus committees. None as yet has
reached the statute books.
Five numbers on the program. how
ever. are certain to be carried out and
friends OF the president say that their
importance makes a good showing.
The railroad bill will be passed IN
few Gays, minus several important
features advocated by the president.
\ till authorizing the president to
Withdraw public lands from entry has
passed the house and another bill on
the same subject is near passage In
the senate. They will have to 20
through the hands of a conference
committee.
The two branches OF congress nave
passed postal savings bank bills liza;
conflici In many particulars, but the
difference will be settled without much
trouble. probably by the acceptance OF
the house bill by the senate. A meas
ure providing that the government
shall dispose separately OF agricultor-
al land underla.n with coal VIII be
ready for the presidents signature in
i few Gays.
A bill for the admission of Arizona
anu New Mexico to statehood mas
passed the house and another is i'm
pending in the senate, 0ut whether
fu, ther action will be taken IL a ques-
ton.
Ship subsidy stirred up scandal
in the house and is done for in this
session.
The action of congress In appropria-
citing $250,000 for a tariff board was
victory for the president. His re-
quest that liberal provision be made
for the investigation OF conditions In
this country and abroad bearing on
the tariff was strongly resisted by
some Legislators. Taft was deter
mined, however. and by insistent ar
gument mustered large majority IN
favor of the proposition.
Federal incorporation was proposed
In bill introduced in both branches
OF congress. A bill to regulate the
issuing OF injunctions appeared in the
house, but did not get serious consid-
Grafton.
Nine bills bearing on conservation
were presented at the instance of the
president, but seven OF them were de-
stined never to see the light. A bill 20
issue 100000 worth OF government
securities TO assist the reclamation
projects passed the senate. but was
sat upon In the house by Chairman
Payne OF the ways and means com
mittee. A bill for the Improvement
of the government in Alaska was in
troduced I'm both houses but not pass
ed In the senate the bill when pre-
sented became the center OF moo
scene and was withdrawn.