Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-01-08

A1ohAhueo ErUm rage One,)
enSue to the petitioner, providing
that this damage must be specified.
Condemns Present Methods.
The president condemns the bring
ing OF cases by attorneys acting for
the interstate commerce commission
and recommends that All prosecu-
lions be brought BY the department
OF justice.
In view OF the complete control
over rate making and other practices
Of the interstate carriers, established
by acts OF congress. and as recon-
mended by this commission" the
president says, II see no reason why
agreements between carriers subject
to this act, specifying classifications
Of freight, and the rates. fares, and
charges for transportation OF passen-
gers and freight, which they may
agree to establish may not be per-
mitted provided copies of such agree
ments be promptly filed with the
commission but subject to all provis-
ions Of the interstate commerce act,
and subject TO the rights OF any Of
the parties to such an agreement
to cancel It, as to any and all of the
agreed rates by notice in writing to
the other parties and to the COM
mission"
He suggests that the railroads be
required 10 quote rates in writing
on the application OF any shipper.
with fine OF s25O for any misquot-
ing.
ReasOnableness of Rates.
He recommends the empowering
OF the Interstate commerce commits
sion to inquire into the reasonable
ness OF rates, and adds:
THE enormous volume OF trans
poFtation charges, and the great
number Of separate tariffs filed an
nually with the interstate commerce
commission. amounting to almost
200, 900. and the impossibility OF any
commission supervising the making
of tariffs in advance of their beeom-
Ing effective on every transportation
line within the United States, to the
extent that would be necessary II
their active concurrence were re-
quired in the making Of every tar.
in. has satisfied me that this power,
IL granted, should be conferred in n
very restricted form.
u Is recommended that the inter.
state commerce commission be en-
powered to postpone the operation of
any proposed increase Of rates, either
upon its own initiative or on the
co.0j.aint Of an outsider. for per-
lid not exceeding s'xfS days. II the
commission flnds the Increase urea
sonable, 1t may forbid the increase
or TX a maximum beyond whieE the
.nad may not 60 ~ the commission
has not completed ths investigation
when the new rate becomes effective,
the investigation may be continued
as VI der the present law.
Right 20 Select Routes.
The message recommends definitely
that shippers be given the right to
select routes over which their ship
ments are to be handled. 1t Is pro-
posed that after passage OF the sug-
gested bill, no railroad shall be per-
mitted to acquire any interest Of any
kind. directly or indirectly. in the
capital stock or purchase or lease
any railroad, or any other corpora
tlon which completes with Il. with the
proviso that the law shall not oper
ate to prevent any corporation,
which, at the date OF the passage Of
the act, owns half of the entire stock
OF a company, from securing the rest
OF IL. nor prohibit any railroad COM
pany which is operating railroads I'M
der lease at the time OF the passage
Of the act from acquiring a rever-
slonary ownership OF such roads.
The message recommends the en-
actment of law prohibiting the
watering of stock by requiring all
stocks to be sold at par. or at a
value determined by the commission.
for money. or II anything else Is |
rendered, or II services are paid in |
return for stock. II must be valued |
by the commission.
Supervise Stocks and Bonds.
In addition. the commission Is to
supervise the issues OF all stocks and |
bonds. The president also recon- /
nends the passage by the senate OF
he Esch bills passed a few weeks |
'go by the house, giving the inter
tate commerce commission power to
the safety appliances OF
III railroads.
The president says that Attorney
a