The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-09-29
Tres OENlTAfT'S SFEElH
(cOntinusd from page ID


last administration the power was given
70 the interstate commerce commission
dsc,dsa .ha, rates ran u nsy ,s been been
. state commerce commission. then con-
Ierreo. went only so, far AZ TO md that
rate was unreasonable, but did not
able rate When Swr the "i arst h SesuIn sas sss-
sion OF congress met I'm my adminis-
treuon 1 urged upon the congress the
necessity for further Legislation looking
70 more complete control and regula-
tion Of railways In respect TO rates
than had Heretofore been given. i
recommended the establishment OF q
commerce court which should absorb
circuit courts had theretofore had. 10
r consist OF i've members. with the hope
!hat this might secure greater expedi-
ZION and greater uniformity In ruling
and a prompter disposition by the SUI
preme court OF cases passed upon ~
\ the Interstate commerce commission.
l recommended that cases Affecting
ahe interstate commerce should DO sut
under the direct control OF the de-
partment OF justice. and that the pro-
ceedings after the order had been made
IN the interstate commerce commission
should be brought for or against the
United States. and not against the com
mission, as theretofore.
I recommended that shippers should
nave so ne easy and practical method
II -
: proposed shipment in advice IN writing
with q penalty for failure TO furnish
II.
I recommended that the commission
be authorized TO act on Its own initia-
tive. as well as upon the complaint OF
any individual respecting the reason
ableness OF any rate or the fairness
or any practice. and that the commits
sion should be empowered TO pass upon
the classification OF commodities, as
we'll as upon their rates, that having
been left In doubt under the previous
law.
$50 invited attention TO the In
furious delay OF remedy which was oc-
casioned TO the shippers whenever un-
reasonable advances In rates were
made The interstate commerce com
mission might md the advance unrsa-
sonable only after long hearing and
after IL had gone into effect. and after
the unreasonable rates had been col
lected for a considerable period. sug-
eRested that the interstate commerce
Commission might have power TO sus-
pend such an order for so days and look
into Its reasonableness. and that IL II
be found unreasonable IL should not be
Invited attention also to the COM
plant OF the shippers that they did not
have the power TO direct the route over
which their shipment should pass to
destination. I recommended that this be
gwen them. subject to such reason
Gble regulation as the commission
All these provisions In one form or
another were enacted into the law. In
addition the house OF representatives
added 10 the Jurisdiction OF the inter-
state commerce commission the power
TO declare reasonable rates in respect
OF telegraph, telephone, and express
companies. modification was made
On the senate regarding the long and
discretion to the interstate commerce
commission than that which IL had
theretofore exercised under the de-
cisions OF the supreme court The
could suspend the raising OF n rate
was enlarged to four months. and
after that, II necessary. 10 six months
Tor sr instead OF the so days which
the question OF the proper amendments
Vo the attorney general and the
solicitor general, to the chief OF the
Interstate interstate commerce commission. to
Townsend. then member OF the In
terstate commerce committee OF the
house OF representatives, and I rec
commended to congress- for inclusion In
commended TO me-. The bill was en-
acted fin the form In which
have indicated. There were certain
that. were not approved. One was
recommendation that no railroad
company be allowed to acquire stock
I'm competing railroad company with
such provisions for existing arrange.
ments "a would obviate confusion, and
the second accommodation In accord
ance with the platform OF the Repub-
lean party. and the urgent messages
{ OF my predecessor. was that compet-
ing railroads should be able to make
temporary arrangements for common
rates between common points without
giving them any binding character as
contracts II was thought by congress-
however. that this would seriously af-
feet the operation of, the antitrust act
and II was not approved
Another recommendation which
made was one forbidding Interstate
commerce railways TO issue bonds and
stocks without permission or the inter-
state commerce commission. For this
provision was substituted sectton
providing a commission TO be APP
pointed by the president TO make
report upon the feasibility and wisdom
OF such n provision, and that report
will be submitted to congress at the
next session.
. i think IL Is now generally copc.ned
vby those who understand the operation
Of the present law that the regulative
power OF the interstate commerce COM
mission IL sufficiently great TO remedy
generally the inJustices to shippers
which gave rise TO the demand for
LEGISLATION; Except the lntroductio1
issuing stocks and bonds. do not
think IL wise to add to the present
statutes
The history OF the operation OF the
Interstate commerce act In interesting
fand Instructive. Soon after the incep-
ton OF the statute the railroads bosan
TO treat the Interstate commerce COM
mission quite CONTEMPORARY The
aystem OF unlawful rebates was very
widespread among them, and the neg
lect OF the law was apparent TO every
one interested In its operation. This
condition aroused the indignation OF
the people and pressed their represen-
tatives on to further restrictions. In
deed. IL gave rise 20 prejudice
against the railroads from which they
gave suffered in some cases unjustly
Now. I feel that they have become
reconciled to the facts; they have como
10 recognize that the public insists
upon regulating their business and
seeing to Il through the Interstate
commerce commission that they do not
violate the law. I believe and hope
that the spirit Of vindictiveness against
these great arteries OF public COM
merce which the Indignation OF the
public naturally prompted In their rep
resentatlveA In gradually disappearing
Occasionally one hears the COM
plant that there II no room for en-
terrrise among railroads; that there
ment and the extension OF their lines
that somebody else In running their
railroads for them; and that all hope
OF prosperous business In transporta-
tion has disappeared. think this at
ftitude - AZ unreascnaoie on the one
road because II II railroad IL on the
other. We all have TO face the con-
ALTON that the public Insists. and has
n right TO insist, upon the close reg,i-
iation OF railroads I'm view OF past evils
ana OF the danger OF their recurrence
xfle a..