Arizona republican., 1910-12-07

.I | question submitted under the law. | consists of President Arthur T. Had ley of Yale university as chairman; Frederick C. Strauss. Frederick x Judson. Prof B. H. Meyer and Walter
 T. Fisher with William l.. $. Gris- wold as secretary.
 The third proposal led to such mis- construction of its object that l an
 not disposed to press it for further
 consideration. It was intended tC
 permit railroad companies to avoid | useless rate cutting by mere tenn | porary acquiscencc in the same rates | for the same service over competing
 railroads, with no obligations what
 ever to maintain those rates for any | time.
 SAFETY APPLIANCES AND PRO- VISIONS.
 The protection of railroad employees | from personal injury is a subject of
 the highest importance and demands
 continued attention. There have been two measures pending in congress. one for the supervision of boilers and the
 other for the enlargement of danger
 ous clearances. Certainly some meas
 urcs ought to be adopted looking to a prevention of accidents from these causes. IL seems to me that
 with respect to boilers bill ought
 to be drawn requiring and enforcing by penalty proper system of in spection by the railway companies themselves which would accomplish our purpose. l suggest that the com mission be requested to make d special
 report as to injuries from outside clearances and the best method of re- ducing them.
 VALUE OF RAILROADS.
 The interstate commerce commission
 has recommended appropriations for the purpose of enabling it to enter upon a valuation of all railroads. This has always been within the jurisdiC- ticn of the commission but the re- quisite funds have been wanting. Sta tistics of the value of each railroad would he valuable for many purposes especially if we ultimately enact. any limitations upon the power of the interstate railroads to issue stocks and bonds. as l hope we may. think, therefore. that in order to per init correct undo rstanding of the facts it would be wise to make d reasonable appropriation to enable the interstate commerce commission to proceed with due dispatch to the valuation of all railroads. I have no doubt that railroad companies them selves can and will greatly facilitate this valuation and make it much less costly in time and money than has been supposed.
 FRAUDULENT BILLS OF lADING
 For the protection of our own people and preservation of our credit in for eign trade. l urge upon congress the enactment of law under which. one who with good faith advances money ar credit upon bill of lading issued by q common carrier upon an inter- state or foreign shipment can hold the carrier liable for the value uf the goods contained in the bill at the val uation specified in the bill at least to the extent of the advances made in reliance upon it. Such liability cX- ists under the laws of many of the states l see no objection to permit ting two classes Of bills of lading to he issued: GD Those under which a carrier shall he absolutey liable. as above suggested. and @ those with respect to which the carrier shall as- sume no liability except for the goods actually delivered to the agent is suing the bill. The carrier might be permitted to make small separate specific charge in addition to the rate of transportation for such guar antee bill, as an insurance premium against loss from the added risk. thus removing the principal objection which understand is made by the railroads to the imposition of the liability sug- gested, viz, that the ordinary trans portation rate would not compensate them for the liability assumed by the absolute guaranty of the accuracy of the bills of lading.
 I further recommend that pun ishment or fine and Imprisonment be imposed upon railroad agents and shippers for fraud or misrepresenta- tion in connection with the issue of bills of lading issued upon interstate and foreign shipments.
 Except as above I do not recommend any amendment tO the interstate com merce law as it stands. l do not now recommend any amendment to the an ti-trust law. In other words, it seems to me that the existing legislation with reference to the regulation of and the restraint of their business has reached a point where we can stop for a while and wait the l effect of the vigorous execution of the 1 laws on the statute books in restrain ing the abuses which certainly did ex- ist and which reused the public to | demand reform. If this test develops | a need for further legislation well | and good. but until then let us ex- ecute what we have. Due to the re- 'orm movements of the present decade. | there has undoubtedly been a great | improvement in business emthods and | and in the earnestness of | effort on the part of the business men | to comply with the law. They are now seeking to know the exact linn ! itations upon business methods i'm | posed by the law. and these will | doubtless he made clearer by the de- | risions Of the supreme court in cases pending before it. believe it to be in