The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-28
CONGRESSMAN Richardson
Talks Of 1aft'S Measure
CHIEF AIM CLEARLY LOST
Mr.. Richardsen Declares Tint Proposed
Commerce Court Is Useless and
That Establishment of Fair
Rates Is Secondary
BY wArwERsoN sTEALEY

ny w n lllftSON SIhALE1
washington. March Especial 1.-The
House interstate and foreign commerce
committees viii report the administra-
tions railroad bill the latter part of the
for legislation of this nature, and the
republicans OF the committee are largely
actualted by a desire TO redeem in form
aotuated by desire to redeem such a
bill. The measure will receive strong
opposition. Representative Rich
ardson of Alabama, a member of the
committee. will prepare a report against
the bill. In discussing it tonight he said:
"The tendency of the bill as an en-
tirety loses sight of the chief, If not the
sole aim and end of railroad legislation.
That is, to establish fair and reasonable
rates. and to prevent Determinations in
the transportation of persons and freight.
There is absolutely no demand for a
commerce court. The circuit courts un-
tiously all appeals brought before them
for revision of the orders of the COM
mission, declaring whether rate COM
planned of is reasonable and just The
carrier can take an appeal to the su-
preme court The bill requires that the
President shall appoint five additional cir
cult court Judges who in the first in
stance shall respectively serve as mem
bers of the commerce court for one, two,
three, four and five years and at the ex-
piration of their respective terms, his
place shall be filled on commerce court
by the chief justice of the supreme court
of the United States designating one OF
the experienced judges of the circuit
court.
railroad court, with exclusive jurisdc-
ton to annul. set aside or modify he
orders of the commission. Why not let
the ave additional judges continue to
hold commerce court after expiration of
their terms? That is the way, IL any,
to get expert railroad judges. Tho bill
turns over the IudepeIlc ent Interstate
commerce commission in its most Inn
portant essentials to the department OF
Justice. a political department, because
it is governed and controlled by the po-
litical appointees of ths present admin
istration The attorney general has en-
tire control Of all cases, orders, ETC.,
brought from the commission to the COM
merce court, thereby creating danger
GUS reliance of the commission in Its
delicate and important work on the de-
partment of justice. This is clearly indi-
Gated in the fourth section OF the OIL,
where IL requires that all cases here
after shall not be brought against the
commission, but against the United
States.
.grhe sections of the bill undertaking
to regulate the issuance of capital stock
and bonds by railroads, their exchange.
merger or consolidation, admittedly has
but little, if any, relation to or con-
neotion with the ascertainment of fair
rate. Why, then, should Congress enter
upon this untried and doubtful consti-
tutional field of legislation when 1t Is
not needed for the proper regulation OF
railroads, nor to give proper ana 1uli
government supervision over the same!
"The bill takes from the railroads the
right to initiate rates. The settled policy
~ the Hepburn rate law was that the
railroads should not be stripped OF the
right to initiate rates. To do this Is
long step toward government ownership.
'"The bill permits agreements as 10
rates to be entered upon by dinerent car
riers. but inefficiently undertakes to
avoid pooling by permitting the commis-
sion to overlook the agreement so made.
There are many other objections TO the
bill that I can we'll point out.
7epresentative-e Foss of Massachu-
setts saws he highly appreciates the COM
pliment going the rounds that his person.
elity won his election, but he points out
that the subjoined platform pulled him
through. and his republican friends are
well aware of 1t.
"Free raw materials for our industries.
"Untsxed food supplies for our people.
Lower duties on the necessities of life.
"An income tax that large part Oh
the burden of the cost of government may
fall upon those best able to bear 1t.
Reciprocity with Canada and our best
customers.
"Repeal of section of the Aldrfch act
that forces tariff wars and retaliation.
, Direct nominations.
conservation of our natural resources,
forests, water powers, mines.
Anti Cannonism.
Will any sane man assert that the plat
form lust outlined was local to the Four
teenth Massachusetts district? 1t involves
issues which will be presented to the yot-
ers in every section of the United States
next fail "These were the issues that I
hammered home at every rally, and con-
sideration of these issues caused the vot-
ers to repudiate the party to which they
had been SO faithful said Mr.. Foss
Republicans of the Thirty-first congress
sional district of New York, which il
made up of the counties of Cayuga, On
tario, wayne and Yates, are talking of op-
pcsing the denomination of Representative
Serene f. Payne. chairman of the ways
ana means committee. The movement 10
stated to be under the direction of Gen.
clinton McDougall of Auburn, Mr.
Psyne's home town. General McDougall
Is chairman of the board of trustees
OF the Soldiers home at Bath, and for
nerly represented the Thirty-first district
in Congress. NJ. Payne has represented
the district 10 terms, not continuous. The
report dissatisfaction in the
distrIct arising principally from the high
cost of living.
The launching of the big Dreadnoueht,
Florida at the New York navy yard
has been set for May IL. All Florida will
be there. and pretty Miss Elizabeth FIem-
ing OF Jacksonville will act as sponsor.
Rabbi Levy Is Retained
Pittsburg. March 27.-Rabbi ]. Leon
ard Levy, of the Rudolph-Sholum syna-
;r TO- I,fe