The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1910-10-19
WASHINGTON LETTER


realize something of the large,
deep, wide powers conferred
upon the Commission by
Congress at its last session. The
Commission appears TO be
proceeding with due caution
toward the solution of the first
real test of the law. In many
instances pending Of proposed
increases in trunk line rates the
entire rate making system Of
the country Is inv Olved. Rail
way managers claim that con
ditiOns Justify higher rates on
many commodities, which ship
pers vigorously deny. The
/ Commission temporarily set
aside these rates, pending
/ investigation. Under the old
law the burden of proof was on
the shipper 20 show that the
rate was unreasonable. Now
the burden Of proof rs on the
carrier 20 show justification for
increases. Behind the question
ing of the acts of the Commis-
sion looms the coming shadow
of the new Commerce Court,
which will organize as soon as
I President Taft appoints its
/ members. The popular guess rs
this will be done about the first
/ of December.
The most important reinforce
I ment TO the ranks Of the agita-
tors for pensions for old
I government employees comes
from three prominent army
. 7 officers. Inspector G. e n er a
. Darlington, Commissary Gen
eral Sharpe and Paymastel
General Whipple. They are al
strong advocates OF increased
, pav for the faithful ant
efficient employees of the gov
"a eminent. Pay master Genera
, Whipple has Just recommended
! i'm "a report that the pending
-. "reclassification billn be passe'
- bv Congress. The bill was re
! ported last February. Tn
4 three army officers have ha
I constant use for civilia
: employees of a high class, an
y are particularly appreciative q
y the fact that they are hard
get and easy to lose when NOR
O. lucrative pay outside the GOV
a ernmcnt offers.
i The familiar faces Of "a scoi
81 or more of Congressman are
, be seen IN ashingtOn lui
'o now. Notwithstanding the COZ
il gressional campaign IS IN ia
i, swing. But they are not hel
~ on politics. They are statesmt
ar from distant rural districts WI
,l have come mere TO put the
n young children In some of Il
"a lexcellent schools in which q
~ national capital abOunds.
,a this way for years many
90 youugster has got his educ
h. tional start in w ashIngtOn.
- Reports 10 the Commission
o. of Internal Revenue show tn
onlin the month of August /
on Illicit distilleries were seized
at the Georgia Alabama dIstri'
.er more than were ever beto
oe seized in any internal reven
oD district. In July 90 Illicit q
m tilleries were seized IN q
on district. Georgia and AlabaI
ne are both state wide prohibit
he states, and the great increase
,as '-moonshining" is attributed
ost that fact.
r. The mutations and vicls
,oa tudes of politics have
no lightly touched so far the
+, committees of the two houses
ION Congress which have TO do "
MA river and harbOr iegIslatl
haf The Senate Committee
r. a Commerce has so far not los
ost member out of it's seventeen.
/, of the twenty members of
.oe, house Committee on Rivers
of Harbors but twO--McLachi
tbe of California, and Tener,
ton Pennsylvania-have been el
mated. The members OF III
committees always attend
meetings of the National Rl'
:; and Harbors Congress, and
:" be on hand in full force at
'1F' next convention, December
80 Sth and 9th. Chairman A