Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15
Commerce Court Opposed.

|
gle.
Commerce Court Opposed.
First is expected to come the amend
ment which proposes to strike from the
bill all the provisions relating to the
creation Of court of commerce.
Senator Cummins. as representing the
republican minority Of the Senate COM
mittee on interstate commerce. has pre-
scented an amendment to that effect.
Others of a similar nature have been in
troduced by Senator Bristow and Sena-
tor Bacon.
1t is generally predicted at the Capitol.
however. that efforts to strike out that
feature of the bill will meet defeat. There
is no great principle involved: the chief
argument urged against the provision be-
ing that the court is unnecessary because
of the small amount of business it will
be called upon to transact.
The President Is much interested in that
feature. 1t is believed enough republican
senators will rally to its support to pass
it.
Senator Cummins and his allies: how
ever, announced as late as last night that
they would make the fight. They expect
the democrats to vote with them.
There will be some incidental struggles
to amend the sections relating to the COM
merce court If they are retained. One
judges from five to three Still another
Will be to leave the defense of the orders
OF the Interstate commerce commission in
the hands Of the attorneys for the COM
mission instead of putting the RESPONSE
bility for defending the commissions or
ders on the attorney of the Department
OF Justice. as proposed in the bill.
Row Over Increases in Rates.
The second amendment to cause a big
explosion Of ammunition during the week
will be Senator Lummins' clause, provid-
ing that no increases of rates shall be-
come effective until approved by the in
terState commerce commission. Senator
Cummins offered this amendment to the
section Of the bill legalizing traffic agree
ments approved by the commission.
The dropping overheard of that section
of the bal by the bills supporters caused
senator Cummins to withdraw it at the
time. But he announced then that the
Senate must meet the question later.
The Senate regulars were lined up to
defeat the amendment when it was pre-
scented before. They are making the claim
that it Will not be made part of the
bill.
It is argued that the railroads would
be swamped with applications for in
creases In rates and that there would be
much delay IN granting increases that
were found to be reasonable The delay,
=,
would be unjust to the railroads entitled
to the increased rate when the applica-
ton is filed.
Long Haul Provision Assured.
The Incorporation of a long and short
haul provision is believed to be insured
by the action Of the Senate in adopting
the Dixon modified ''long and short haul
amendment.
The bill as it passed the House contains
similar provision. Much of the two
alike. The difference lies in the provi-
sion granting the interstate commerce
commission authority to allow exceptions
to the general prohibition against the
charging of more for a short than for a
long haul.
The House provision is:
THAT upon application to the inter-
state commerce commission such COM
mon carrier may, in special cases, after
investigation. be authorized by the COM
mission to charge less for longer than
for shorter distances for the Transport
tation OF passengers or property, and
the commission may from time to time
prescribe the extent to which such
designated common carrier may be re-
lieved from the operations of this Sec
tiOn'
The Senate provision is:
THAT the interstate commerce COM
mission may, from it's knowledge, or
from information. or upon application.
ascertain that the circumstances and
conditions OF the longer haul are dis
similar from the circumstances and
conditions Of the shorter haul. whether
they result from competition by water
or by rail- then it may authorize a
common carrier to charge less for the
longer than for the shorter distances
for the transportation Of passengers or
property. but in no event shall the au-
thority be granted unless the commits
sion is satisfied that all the rates in
volved are just and reasonable and
not unjustly discriminatory nor unduly
preferential or prejudicial."
There have been intimations that the
conference committee would drop these
amendments overheard. In the view or
many the adoption OF the amendments
NV both houses insures the incorporation
Of some amendment that will strengthen
the present law governing long and
short haul charges. Their similarity
one must be kept in the bill.