Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-14
ENJolNlNo, OF COMMERCE COM.
MIssioN IN spokane CASES
,srARrs SOMETHING.
SHIPPERS or WEST MAY
RETALiATE At POLLS
Probation Made That Republican Vote
Will Be cut-Taft Stands TO Lose
Because csmmsres Court Was Pet
Proiset-Aetion Of Court Astonishss
Al Concerned.
lspecia! correspondence.l

Washington, Nov. 14.-That the de-
cisiCn of the court of commerce re-
Gently. in which it enjoined an order of
the interstate commerce commission
intended to reduce rates In the inter-
mountain country. is going to have far
reaching political effects is the belief
widely expressed in Washington.
Ii is said on good authority here that
the injunction of the court will stir up
4 mighty chorus of protest from near
~ every state in the Aock Mountain
country ind Oh the Pacific coast. Mon
tana. Idaho. Washington, oregon. Cal
ifcrnia. Nevada and to some extent
Utah, Arizona and New Mexico all are
affected. Most of these states are re-
publican and politicians are already
predicting tremendous slump III re-
publican strength by reason Of the
courts action.
That me shippers organizations and
the commercial organizations all over
the far west viii at once get busy and
hood congress with protests :s 10 be
expected.
WI o.AAS IS klaiS chPSSlea Jul ~ as
likely that commercial bodies all over
the land Will be heard from.
Rejoicing Turned to Grief.
II the far west and especially in
the intermountain country, there was
general rejoicing over the order OF the
commission in the Spokane rate case
1t came. as a relief to communities that
for years back had been taxed with eX-
orbi;ant rates. A. least. they were
viewed by the people that paid them
as exornitant and the commission
found them to high Now to have the
court step in and at one stroke prevent
the order fromsgoing into effect, is GER
tain to provoke great hostility to the
court. 1t will create q wave of senii-
ment in the states most affected that
the senators and members of the house
from those states can not withstand.
Embarrassing to Taft.
President Taft is put in an embar-
RAISING position by the action of the
court He urged 1t on congress and
many members of that body accepted
it under protest Now that it has stir
red up aniagon!sm there is an interest
Ing question raised as to how far pop
ular displeasure will be visited on the
president.
1t is plain that If the court goes on
as 1t has done and issues temporary
Iinjunctions against orders Of the COM
mission. then follows up this action by
inquiries into the facts. and after that
issues permanent injunctions. the COM
mission might about as well lay down
the shovel and the hoe and quit bust
<,r1o h.y
the commission will be merely the sig
nal for long and expensive ligitation
the outcome of which will be uncer-
tain. Inasmuch as the orders of the
commission last for but two years. 1t
is apparent that the shipper has little
relief to hope for once his case goes in
70 the court for adjustment on such
finding Of fact as the court makes.
Action Astonishing.
A prominent republican senator in
talking Of the situation said.
II am astonished that the court
should take the course it is taking. l
am surprised that the railroads them
selves should seek to override the or
ders Of the commission by making use
of the commerce court. The effect Of
what IL being done will be to stir up
the anger OF the people OF tnls coun-
try in way it has seldom been stir
red. And the railroads will feel 1t be-
fore they get thru. 1t is the height OF
folly for the roads and the commerce
court to take the course they are TAX
Ing"
As for the interstate commerce COM
mission. it is greatly wrought up over
the action Of the court Of commerce.
, rs .cp: :. that the supreme court If
the United States will be wise enough
TO put check on the commerce court
and make it impossible for that body
to review findings Of fact by the COM
mission Should the supreme court
not sustain the commission. then one
imay look for momentous things to
happen In any event, the adjustment
! Of the commerce court seems likely
this session ~ the democrats in the
house viii vote for 1t and 30 will most
Of the senate democrats and republi-
can progressives It 10 conceivable that
movement may grow out OF the con.
slant effort to embarrass the COM
| mission for the amendment Of the con-
| stitution in such q fashion as will
make the power Of that body over
rates unquestionable.
i