The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-07
PRESIDENT WANTG
ROADS REGULATED
Sends Special Message to Con-
gress Regarding Passage
of Railway Bill
LET COMMISSION
SUSPEND RATES
Urges That Promising Giving
Special Power Go Into
Effect as Soon as
Possible.

WASHINGTON, d. c., June Re
commencing that the provision OF the
railroad bill. giving the interstate
commerce commission power 70 sus-
pend increased railroad rates pend
ing investigation. be made effective
upon passage, President Taft to-day
sent a special message 20 Congress
outlining the situation In the railway
rate dispute. which has been the sub
jcct of conferences at the White
House.
The message was prepared after
the President had spent over an hour
In conference with Representative
Mann. who has charge of the rail-
road bill in the House, and Senator
Crane The question of the best
method OF amending the Senate and
House bills which, AS they now stand,
would not be effective until sixty
days after passage, was discussed.
Despite the fact that many contend
that the provision. being in both Sem
ate and House bills. Is not proper
subject for the work of the confer
ence committee. Representative Mann
and Senator Crane believe that the
bill should go to conference and the
clause be altered there.
Presidents Message.
The message reads:
"A recent effect by large number
OF railroad companies to increase
rates for Interstate transportation OF
persons and property caused me to
direct the attorney general to bring
suit and secure from the United States
court In Missouri an Injunction re-
straining the operation of such in
creased rates during the pendcncy OF
~ ay.ft Ia IN. "a
conference with the Representatives of
the railroad companies SO enjoined,
and the gareement by each of them
to withdraw the proposed increases
OF rates effective on or after June
/. and not to file any further at
tempts at increases until after the
enactment into law OF the pending
bin to amend the interstate commerce
act or the adjournment OF the Con-
gresss-~ish the further understand
ing that upon the enactment OF such
law each would submit To the deter
mination of the interstate commerce
commission the question of the rea-
sonableness OF all Increases that each
might thereafter propose.
1T is my hope that all OF the other
railroad companies VIII take like
action In order, however, that each
termination whether or not its pro-
posed increases in rates are justifiahle,
provision should be made by congress
To vest the interstate commerce COM
mission with Jurisdiction over such
questions as soon as possible.
More Power.
Tn the senate amendment to sec
ton IS, of the act 70 regulate COM
merce. contained in II. h. 1850, the
Interstate commerce commission II
empowered Immediately upon the nj
ing of proposed increase in rates of
it's own motion. or upon complaint "a
enter upon an investigation and de-
termination of the justice and reason
ableness of such increase and in case
it deems II expedient. TO suspend the
operation thereof for period speci-
fed in the section to enable IL to COM
plete such Investigations. That bill
however that the act shall take effect
and be In force only from and after
the expiration of sixty days after It's
passage.
This provision, II allowed to remain
In the bin would enable carriers, be-
tween the time OF enactment of tbs
bin and the time OF Its taking effect
TO file increases in rates which would
become effective at the expiration OF
thirty days and remain in effect anG
be collected from the public during
the tendency of the proceedings K
review them. whereas II the bin b.
made to take effect Immediately such
investigation viii have to be made be,
fore the public is called upon to pa,
the increased rate.
II therefore recommend that thi,
latter provision be modified by pro
viding that at least section 8. Of TIL,
senate amendment to the bill which II
the section authorizing the commission
to suspend the going INTO effect of In
creases in rates until after due hives
| legations. shall take effect immediatel,
upon the passag4 of the act.
| tSigned) WILLIAM III. TAFT"