Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-29

These gentlemen reported to me, and in
september last, in speech In DeS
Moines, | foreshadowed their, recon-
mendations as | intended to make them
to the Congress for the amendment OF
the interstate commerce act:
First. by the establishment of a COM
merce court second, by empowering
the commission to classify merchandise
as well as to fix rates for classes; third.
by giving the right to a shipper to
designate the route by which his goods
shall be transported beyond the line of
the initial carrier. fourth. by empow-
| crilc the commission to consider the
justice of any rate without the COM
plaint or initiation of a shipper; fifth,
by empowering the commission to sus-
pend proposed increases of rates by
carriers until the commission shall have
a chance to pass upon the reasonable
| ness If the increase; sixth, by provls-
ions for the federal regulation of the
issue of stocks and bonds by inter
state railways; seventh, by clause
iorhidding an interstate commerce rail-
way company from acquiring stock in
a competing road eighth, by a section
permitting the making of traffic agree
merts bctween-competing railroads linn
tied IN point of time and subject mat
| ter, and subject to the approval of the
| Interstate Commerce Commission.
These amendments were in accord
arce with the text of the Republican
| platform. Subsequently, bills We're
drawn embodying this recommended
| Legislation, in which, while the princi-
| fI int a
lions introduced as justice suggested
| a fter a conference with all the parties
| Interested Tha bill was submitted to
| the Congress and after a great deal Of
| discussion both in the House and the
| Senate, it was enacted into law, with
| many amendments which did not ma
| tcrially change the effect of the recon-
lmondatiGns except to strike out certain
provisions promised in the Republican
platform, to permit traffic agreement:
| between railways in spite of the anti
| trust law. to forbid one railway com
pany to acquire stock in a competing
company, and to secure supervision b,
| the Interstate Commerce Commission
| of the issue Of stocks and bonds by in
| tCrState railways
TOR this last was substituted pro
| vision authorizing the appointment q
a commission to consider the evils arts
| ing from the over-iSSue of stocks anC
| bonds. and the methods of preventing
such evils by Congressional regula for
In addition to the purposes already re
cited accomplished by the bill, the 50
called long and short haul clause of thu
existing law--the one forbidding tn
If,l, c,ipc # 70 fnr LOG
distance included in the greater dis
tarce. than for the greater distance
| vas amended SO as to vest in the com
| mission somewhat wider discretion i
enforcing tie clause than has been pei
| Tittod by the supreme court decision
under existing law. Moreov inter
state telegraphS and telephones. as ir
strumentS of commerce. have bee,
brought within the rcGula ton of Il
commission. Tho bill as at present
| force IS an excellent bin. 1t is not en-
acted in 2 spirit Of hostility to rail
roads. but it submits them to a close
and more effective supervision by tn
Interstate Commerce Commission T.,
avoid injustice in their management
and control
| The important part that railway
play as the 'artcrial circulation in tn
business of the country. the million an
a half Of their employees and the mil
lion Of their stockholders, the import
Iarcc of Their purchasing power as af
fcctinS the prosperity of general bust
neSS-all require in the public intercs
that no unfair treatment should be &C
corded them. But / am glad to not
that the railway managers have ac
Iuiesc@d in the fairness of the presen
bill. and propose Loyalty to comply wit
its useful provisions. 1t was supported
by Tho whole Republican party in Con
9ress, and that party is entitled t.
credit for is passage. The Who'll
Dcmoo ratio strength was cxhihite.
against it in both Houses It was ::
perfnrms ncc Of a pledge of the plat
form, and only needs time t. vindicat
the visions Of its enactment.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
The postal savings banks bill has !
similar history. 1t is one of the grea
| Congressional enactmcnts. 1t creates
an epoch. II institutes 4 system which
| VIII work effectively to promote thrift
among tn" poor, by providing depos
tory for their savings which the,
| properly may consider absolutely safe
and will also turn into the channels O
trade and commerce a large volumc d
| money which otherwise would b.
| hnarded, BY specific provision it will
stimulate the Investment of saving,
IN government bonds of small ,ltnomi
| nations. for which the bin provides
Like the tariff bill and the railroad bill
this was put through each House o.
| Congress by q Republican me iority
and was signed by a Republican Pres
| ldent.
| Fha legislation of Congress in respect
| TO the navy department is full com
| pllance with the promises of the Re
| publican platform. In spite of \ proper
desire to keep down appropriations.
| Congress saw the necessity for a con
| tnuance Of our present naval rolicy
ana regular strengthening Of tia,
! navy by the addition Of two more bat
| tleSfips. More than this it has enabled
| tile secretary of the navy to carry on
| a reform in the business management
| 81 the department and a reorganizza-
| ton OF the bureaus and staff of the
| navy so as to contribute materially to
| It's effectiveness as one of the military
4 n Ia, ~