New-York tribune., 1910-05-11
TIE 1yrEBsT4TE COMMERCE BILL.

THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.
The cheerful spirit of President Tafts
speech at Passaic, \. J., on Monday
night was justified by the vote III the
House Of Representatives yesterday on
the passage OF the interstate commerce
bill. The President SAID that he was
not as familiar with the changes made
jn the bill by the House as with those
made in it by the Senate, yet he pre-
dicfed with much confidence that the
sum total of changes made would not
have the effect Of killing. or even seri-
oCsly crippling. the original measure
The vote in the House proved that
united party support could be secured
for bill preserving most of the feat
ures approved by the administration,
and there can be no question that the
example set by the House will be fol-
lowed in the Senate, where a Republican
,aiority should easily be obtained for
4 measure substantially in harmony
with the Presidents programme.
AS Mr.. Taft pointed out On Monday
night, the retention of the pooling and
merger sections was not essential. 1t Is
true that the Republican national plat
form of 1908 favored pooling under Ger
lain restrictions. It is said that agree
mcnts between railroads should go into
effect subject TO the approval OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission" But
differences arose both in the House and
in the Senate over the construction Of
that phrase 1t was said by critics OF
the bill that since il would arrest the
operation Of the Sherman antitrust act
50 far as pooling agreements among
railroads were concerned, it would be
advisable to make not alone the agree
ments but the rates AM classifications
to be put into effect under them subject
10 the commissions approval as a COM
pensation to the public for the immunity
granted TO pool making railroads from
prosecution for conspiracy in restraint
Cf trade. The supporters Of the pooling
section maintained. however, that it was
lmpra acticable for the Interstate Com
merce Commission to approve in ad-
vance all the rates and classifications
which might be covered by joint con
tract. The railroads did not greatly
care, naturally, to be relieved from the
restraints Of the Sherman antitrust law
if they had TO submit to the restraints,
equally inconvenient, resulting from the
necessity OF an advance approval Of
rates and classifcations by the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
The pooling and merger sections have
disappeared. But other highly -impor-
tant features of the bill remain-the
commerce court, the regulation Of the Sc
e1Irity issues of interstate railroads ana
the extension in various other ways of
the supervisory powers of the govern
ment. The House Of Representatives has
put into the bill a ''long and short haul
! section which will probably be rejected
by the Senate. The prospect is, there
fore. that the two houses will eventually
| agree on piece of positive and sub
stantial legislation. 1t may not be ex-
actly what the President CT either house
had planned in advance, but it will
| represent the best judgment and joint
efforts Of all elements in the party and
will be acceptable as the successful Ell
Geayor Of a responsible political organi-
Zation TO write its promises into laws.