The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-02-22
MORE EFFECTIVE
RATE REGULATION
Interstate Commerce Commits.
siOners Suggest Amend
ments to Measure
Limitation Recommended TO the
jurisdiction of Proposed
Court to Stay Orders

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-In formal
statement submitted TO President Taft
and TO the house and senate committee
the interstate commerce commission has
suggested certain changes in the inter
state commerce measure pending in
congress.
The bill as a whole is approved by
the commission and in its statement the
commission expresses its qualification
mat this measure embodies most, il
not all. Of the principal recommended
tons heretofore made 10 congress, ex-
cept The valuation of railroad proper
ties. and also contains provisions of
great Importance which, in their gen.
eral scope, are unanimously indorsed.' -
LIMITING COURT POWER
However, the commission recommends
that -the bin be so amended as TO con-
tain the explicit statement that the
commerce court shall have no juris-
diction OF power over orders of the
commission not now possessed by cir
cult courts Of the United States.
We are OF the opinion that q single
Judge OF the commerce court should not
be empowered 10 stay an order of the
commission says the commissioners
statement, and the suggestion is made
that such a stay may be granted only
oT the court or q majority of the
judges thereof"
SUSPENSION OF RATE
IN the suspension of a proposed rate
the commission desires 120 days instead
Of 60 days, as proposed by the bill.
IL is maintained that the commission
should have power 10 compel through
rates and joint rates whenever in its
opinion they are required by public
necessity.
II il IS the intention of congress TO
give shippers the right TO choose be-
tween Two or more routes, in the rout-
ing OF traffic, the commission believes
that intention should be expressed
plainly in the proposed law.
WOULD INCLUDE WATER LINES
Concerning the purchase of one road
by another road. the commission says:
We see no reason why the prohi-
bitiOn that one road shall not acquire
any interest in a competing road should
not be extended so as 10 prohibit the
acquiring Of any interest in a compel
ing water line"
An amendment is suggested to in
clUde water lines.
A similar amendment is proposed to
prevent the control OF competing lines
by holding company.
ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPLAINS
Attorney General Wfckersham ap-
peaTed before the senate committee on
Interstate commerce late today and eX-
planned in detail the latest administra-
lion changes desired in the bill.
IT had been expected that an effort
would be made today TO bring the sub
iect 10 a vote and that the bill might be
ordered fayOrably reported but Wick
ershams statement consumed so much
time that il was decided TO hold an
other meeting tomorrow.
~.
railroad bill. examined the attorney
general with great care concerning
many features OF the administration
BIN that conflict with his own bin. At
the same time he did not condemn the
administration bin and the indications
are that no great difficulty viii be en-
countered in reaching an agreement for
a report
TARIFF AND FREE TRADE
AT the hearing before the house
committee Interstate Commerce Com
missioner Clements suggested that it
was getting into the question Of pro-
tective tariff and free trade when the
committee brought up the long and
snort haul problem with particular ref
erence TO lower railroad rates for goods
shipped to and from abroad.
The railroad reply TO criticism Of
that discrimination. he said, was that
II they did not allow the lower rates
the Canadian railroads or some other
routing arTan cement would.
lie suggested that the committee
ght include in the proposed Iegisla-
tion provision permitting a maximum
per cent of difference between these
foreign rates and the domestic rates or
the committee might vest in the inter
state commerce commission discretion
airy power TO deal with each particular
case
THE TrXPRFSS RTSTNFSS