The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-11
COURT
TO HEAR APPEALS
Feature Of Amendments to Inter
state Commerce
Law.
BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
Measure Embodies Recommends
tions Made by
Taft.
BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

Washington. y. c., January 10.-Rep-
resentattve Townsend, OF Michigan, In
trodpced in the House this AFTERNOON
the bill embodying the recommends
lions outlined In the special message
OF President Taft for amendments to
the interstate commerce law. 1t pro-
yldes. among other things. for q .spe-
ciai court, composed oil five Federal
jurisdiction oyer matters growing
OF orders OF the Interstate COM
mcrco Commission.
This court i3 70 be composed Of Ave
assignment OF the Chief Justice for
o term OF I've years. but no W OF
the judges terms Will expire at the
same tine, and thus. under all circum-
stances, -four OF the judges will have
had several years experience with
these technical questions.
When an order OF the commission Is
contested In the Commerce Court. the
petition OF Che carrier taking the mat
ter into the court Will not stay the
en1oined except by the court or by
some member OF II. and then only upon
notice and hearing. except In cases
Where irreparable Injury would be
in which case the court or Judge
granting the Injunction must make a
nndlns from facts TO the effect that
i~rreparable injury would result.
PROVISION is made for the prosecu-
into the Commerce Court by the De.
partment of Justice. and for his pur-
pose II Is proposed to appoint an as
s!stant to the Acknowledgement, who
shall have special charge OF such
cases.
AS recommended by the President,
agreements between carriers viii be
permitted. provided they are made
public and died with the commission.
subJecN TO the same rules and
regulations as to Justice and r%easonh-
b!eness as are rates and other recog.
nlzed regulations.
Must Correctly Quote Rates.
Carriers must correctly quote, in
writing. upon the written request of
a shipper. any rate between the place
OF proposed shipment and any other
place On the carriers line. or any line
with which tho initial carrier has traf-
nc arrangement as evidenced By
roneous rate IL given In writing,
whereby a shipper is injured. the car
rier who's agent has made the mis-
quotation. Is subject to a per,alty OF
s25o, 10 be collected by and Said TO
the government.
The Dill would empower the commits
sion to suspend the carriers notice of
change OF rate, pending decision as to
whether the pronosed new rate is lust
and reasonable.
AS for freight. shippers are given
the right ITO route his freight" and
classifications must be just and rea-
sonable. The commission is author
tied to initiate proceedings upon Its
own motion.
1t is proposed to prevent the issu.
ance of stock and bonds except for le-
Ultimate railroad purposes, and with
the approval of the commission, and
as recommended in the special message
OF the President. 1T Is proposed TO
prohibit every carrier from acquiring
any stock In a line of railroad which
In any way completes with 1t. except as
a court may find that the people are
better served by such acquisition. 1t
is not proposed TO compel carriers
to dispose OF stock which they now
own in competing lines. and where a
carrier now OWLS a majority of the
stock of a parallel line. 1t may be
permitted to purchase the balance OF
the stock, and II q carrier is now
operating under a twenty-hye-year,
may purchase such road at the end
of the lease.
The bill will be presented to the
Senate Tomorrow by Senator Elkins.
The draft was made by A~ttorney-Cen-
eral Wickersham. after many confer
discussed the proposed legislation with
members of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and with railroad officials
The latter tried vainly to modify many
provisions contained in the bill. Tht
final conference on the measure wa:
by Senator Elkins. Mr.. Townsend am
the Acknowledgement. 1t was agreed
by both Senator Elkins and Mr.. Town
send that they woLld exert their in
huence to have the bill enacted int,
law without amendment of any char