Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-08
STIFFNESS OF HOUR Only
BROKEN BY CLERKS VOICE
In Dealing With Antitrust and In
terstate Commerce Leg .slation, Mr..
Taft Scores combinations-Wou
Prevent Stock Issues in Excess of
Property Values.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. T.
President Taftis special message TO
congress recommending amendments
TO the interstate commerce and anti
trust laws was laid before the house
OF representatives today almost i'm
mediately after that body convened.
The reading of the document was
begun without delay and members
upon both the Republican and the
Democr attic sides followed the clerks
closely. Copies of the me ssage were
laid on the desk of each representa-
tive and the interest attracted was in
dictated by the fact that unusual sill
ence prevailed for the three quarters
OF an hour required for the reading,
a silence which was broken only by
the voice of the reading clerk
Representative Townsend, of Michf-
gan, who was among the most atten-
tive listeners, was understood to have
in his possession the bill amending
the interstate commerce law in ac-
cordance with the recommendations of
the President contained in his special
message. The measure will be intro
duced on Monday next
When the reading of the Presidents
message YVES concluded it was refer
red by the speaker to the appropriate
committees.
The message, in part, follows:
To tine Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
1 withheld from my annual message
a discussion of needed legislation I'M
der the authority which congress has
TO regulate commerce between The
States and with foreign countries and
said that | would bring this subject
matter to your attention later in the
session. Accordingly, beg to sub
nit to you certain recommendations
as to The amendments to the inter
safe commerce law and certain con-
siderations arising out of the opera
tons of the antitrust law suggesting
the wisdom of federal Incorporation
of industrial companies.
Interstate Law
In the annual report of the Inter
state Commerce Commission fer the
year 1908 attention is called to The
fact that between July /, 1908, ann
the close OF that year sixteen suits
had been begun to set aside orders of
the commission besides enc COM
menced before thai date). and that
lew orders of much consequence had
been permitted to GO without protest;
that che questions presented by these
various suits were fundamental. as
the constitutionality of the act Itself
in. nj he obi Of
greSs to delegate to any tribunal
authority &c establish an interstate
rate was denied: but that perhaps the
most serious practical question raised
concerned the extent CT the r ght oil
the courts to review the orders of the
commission; and il was pointed out
that If The contention Ct the carriers
in this latter respect alone were sus-
tanned, but little progress mad been
made in the Hepburn Act toward the
effective regulation OF interstate trans
portation charges. In twelve of the
cases referred to. it was stated, pre-
liminary injunctions we're prayed for.
being granted in six and refused in
six
ct has from the first been well I'M
derstoOd SAYS .hS commission.
that the success of the present act
as a regulating measure depended
largely upon the facility with which
Temporary iaiinctions could be OBJ
tanned. II a railroad company, by
mere allegation in its bill OF complaint,
supported by ex-parte afiidavits. can
overturn the result OF days OF patient
Investigation. no very satisfactory re-
suit can be expected. The railroad
loses nothing by these proceedings.
since IL they fah II can only be re
ouircd 60 establish he rate and TO pay
20 shippers the didereace between the
higher rate collected and the rate
which IS finally held 20 be reasonable
In point Of fact Il usually profits. be-
cause il can seldom be required to re
eurn more than a fraction OF the ex-
cess charges collected
In its report for the year 1903 the
commission shows that OF the seven
teen eases referred 10 in Us 1908 re-
port. only one had been decided IN
the Supreme Court Of the United
States. although five other cases ha1
frorffr-~I On sinh raEol