The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-04
SENATE ACTED
To SAVE TIME
Anxious to Have Railroad Bill
Sent to Conference for
Real Fight
MEASURE HAS MANY
ECONOMIC FEATURES
Principal Contest Will Be Over
Clause Providing Inter
state Commerce
Court.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June "A
step forward" is the explanation
made by many Senators for their ac-
ton in voting for the Senate rail-
road bill. That is the reason that
close contests Oh many important
amendments We're followed by the
overwhelming vote OF 90 to IL in
favor Of the DILL when 1t was pre-
sented Tor passage. IL was a case OF
taxing tnat or Hotnlng, ana the dis
sdelsiieo ones aetlueu TO accept the
oiii Tor he sooa 1T contained and To
nope Tor the uay wnen Tie ~puseution-
able features might be eliminated
from .Ae new law.
The creation OF a court of COM
merce. wnlcn Is 10 be detoted entire
~ to the consideration OF cases grow
ing out OF the Interstate commerce
law, was the aose naruest to swallow
by progressive VINO wlsaeu
TO enact into law me better features
or h bill. Against the court mere
was urgeu the CLa1In OF aack OF neces-
sity; that If 1t had been in existence
during the last three years it wound
have been caifed upon Tor the trial
OF only rs cases; mat its creation
would be an unconstitutional act;
that 1t was unWlse To place such ire
mendous interests as are involved in
the transportation business under the
jurisdiction OF a small body OF men,
that in time the railroads with their
great influence would get their own
mel on The bench OF ne u and
that its creation was "a useless ex-
pense.
Hfkz f.nHrt~as rs VAn Hin N-as fat.
orahie to railroads, as IL was report
ed by the Interstate commerce COM
mittee. were eliminated before it
reached the final vote. These provid-
ed for the repeal OF the Sherman anti-
trust act TO the extent Of permitting
railroads TO enter into agreements as
TO rates. Tor the merger uy railroads
and for the alleged control BY the
Interstate Commerce Commission of
the issue of railroad securities. The
latter, said Senator La Toilette, left
open 10 the railroad six different ways
OF issuing watered stocks.
Much in Common.
There are a umbe of provisions
in the Senate and House bills that
are identical in terms, and therefore
cannot be altered by the conference
committee. Expert statesmen have
SAlu LUAi ShtflS VI kIfESt WAL nave u
beneficial effect in keeping freight
rates within bounds. but for the most
part they ara clear ontg to people
skilled in the transportation prob
lem.
4 balm for the hereft Is offered by
a provision in each bill permitting
railroads to issue passes to the fami-
lies OF persons who are killed by
trains. .
If a railroad lowers rates to kill
competition by water IL can never
raise those rates without the consent
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
The court is in both
bills.
May Appeal.
Shippers may be represented In the
commerce court on appeals from de-
cisions of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. n right denied them by
the bill in its original form.
Railroads are prohibited from
than for the aggregate Of the local
rates.
A heavy penalty is provided for
railroad employees who give false in
formation to shippers asking for
rates.
A shipper. in case there r COM
petitfve routes. may dictate h route
over which his goods shalt be car
ried.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion may suspend new rates. The
bills differ a. TO the period of sus-
pension. however, the Senate making
1t ten months. the House, foui
months,
The commission may on its own ini-
tiative or on complaint esta blish
through routes. joint classification
and joint rates
New reports are required or the
railroads and the Interstate Com
merce Commission Is given wider au-
thority than at present.
The new law will ga into effect
sixty days after it's passage.