Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-11
TAFT BILL FOR
REGUL ALTON
Of RAILWAYS
INTRODUCED IN HOUSE BY
TOWNSEND OF MICHIGAN
Provides for Interstate Com
merce Court Allows Rail-
roads to Form Traffic Agree
n1entS if Approved,

10y "ofuihE journal Spectai Leased WireI
! washington, Jan. 10.--Representa-
tive Townsend of Michigan today in
troduced in the house bin amend
ing the interstate commerce law to
CONFORM 10 recommendations Of Pres
lhent Taft's recent message to con-
gress.
The Townsend bill prcridea for an
| interstate commerce court to be COM
posed OF five circuit court judges. who
are 20 he assigned to that court by
the chief justice OF the United states
for term of five years No two
terms arc to expire simultaneously.
An order of the interstate commerce.
commission will not be stayed merely
BY the filing in the court Of a petition
or the carrier against it and an order
OF the commission can be enjoincd
only upon notice and hearing except
in cases where irreparable damage
would result from DELAY.
The department OF justice is to rep
resent the interstate commerce COM
mission in ~ cases before the special
court and for this purpose an assist
ant to the attorney general is to be
appointed
As recommended by the president,
agreements between carriers will be
permitted, providing they are made
pubic and filed with the commission
SUBJECT TO the same rules and regula-
tlons as TO reasonablencss as are
rates.
Carriers must quote correctly in
writing on the written request Of "a
shipper any rate between the place
o4 proposed shipment ana any other
place on the carriers line. or any
other line with which the original |
carrier has a traffic agreement
IN case an erroneous rate is given /
in writing, whereby shipper is in /
jured the carrier is subject to PEN
atty of $3.50 to be collected by ana I
paid 70 the government.
The bill empowers the commission /
to suspend the carriers notice of
change of rate pending decision as to
the proposed new rate is
Just. AS to freight the shipper is
given the right "to route his freight
and classificatOns must be Just ana
reasonable The commission is au-
thorized 10 initiate proceedings upon
It's motion.
ance of stock and bonds except for
legitimate purposes and with
he approval Of the commits
SION; and. as recommended in
he special message of the presi-
lent, II is proposed to prohibit every
'afrler from acquiring stock in a line
u railroad, which, in any way com
rN'f NAtAt IT, 'N'tNt as I tOMAl may
ind that the people are better served
~ such acquisition 1t is not pro
losod to compel carriers to dispose of
stock they now own in competing
ines, and where q carrier now owns
majority of stock of "a parallel line !
{ may be permitted 10 purchase the /
balance of the stock. If Il carrier is ,
low operating a competing line under
twenty fivc year or longer lease. il I
nay purchase such road at the expir-
tion of the lease. {
The bin win be presented to the q
enate tomorrow by Senator Elkins. 4
The draft was made by Attorney II
General Wickersham after many con- /
erences with Mr. Taft, who had dis C.
usscd the proposed legislation with
Members of the interstate commerce .
and with railroad officials G.
he latter tried Vainly to modify n
many provisions contained in the bill I g.
he final conference ON the measure n
vas held this afternoon in the com J.,
aittec room of senator klkins and "
-as attended by the senator. Mr.. r.
'ownsend and the attorney general c
{ was agreed both by Mr.. ElSins and e
II. Townsend that they would exert %
ieir influence 10 have the bill en-
cted into law without amendment of v
ny character