New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-15
GOVERNORS TO PROTEST
toDtinued from first page.


protest against Justice sanborn's de-
cision.'
OF the half dozen Governors who
spranC to their feet, Governor William
Governor Hadley. The Missourian sug
gested that Governor Harmon be ap-
pointed chairman of the committee.
This was seconded by several delegates,
among them Governor Wilson of New
Jersey Governor Stubs accepted the
suggestion. embodied IT in his motion
and included Governors Hadley and
Aldrich as the two other members.
Governor Gilchrist of Florida, who at
first opposed, later supported the amend
ment a. substituted, but urged that the
gentlemen sleep on the question over
night" and called attention to the fact
that the hour Of adjournment had ar
rived His voice was drowned by cries
for the motion. and when quiet was re-
stored Governor Shafroth of Colorado
urged that the action of the conference
be made unanimous
Suppose, Governor" asked Governor
Glchrist, that the Supreme Court had
already made up its mind. Would your
committee go up and bulldo=e it into
changing it's opinion" The reply was
lost in the laugh that followed.
Hoke Smith Governor of Georgia. sup
ported the motion.
IF the decision of Justice Sanborn be-
comes the law of this country" he said,
then the twilight zone will so broaden
that he will never see daylight again in
the regulation Of passenger and freight
rates. once the question is decided this
way the states railroad commissions will
be emasculated. and then we will return
TO that condition where the Interstate
Commerce Commission will have no con-
troll of interstate rates. and the carriers
can % exactly as they please"
Governor McGovern of Wisconsin, sup
PORTING the motion. urged postponement
upon the plea of Governor Gilchrist. The
latter. however. announced that he sup
ported the substitute measure.
Governor Kitchin then said that he
wanted no postponement. and while
favoring the principle, he would oppose
tn, motion. because ne thought that the
action was beyond the conferences
scope The vote showed that he was
alone in the negative.
The twenty-four states whose Gov
errors voted for the motion are Ala
bama. Colorado. Florida Georgia. Idaho,
Kansas. Maryland, Massachusetts Mis-
sissppi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska
New Hampshire New Jersey. North Da-
kota. Ohio. oklahoma. PENNSYLVANIA.
Rhode Island. Utah Virginia. Washing
to. West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Although the conference adjourned i'm
medately, its action was the chief topic
of discussion throughout the evening.
Governor Harmon was approached scores
Of times by members bent on congratu-
latory missions or in quest Of informa-
ton as 10 what the next move might be.
II have no idea as yet how we will
Court" Governor Harmon said IL have
vet TO talk over the subject with other
members OF the committee. l suppose
we Will call a meeting and map out a
line 10 pursue"
Governor McGovern read a paper on
the regulation Of utility corporations in
his state al the morning session, and
Governor Hadley discussed the rights of
states to fix intrastate rates. In his ed
dress Mr.. Hadley said. in part:
The question as 30 the right to regulate
within their limits the rates OF transpor-
tatiOn of railroad companies engaged I'm
interstate commerce. which H. now pending
before the Supreme Court OF the United
States for decision, Is, In my opinion one
OF the most important questions, II not the
most important question, with which that
court has had 10 deal In recent years; for
the question of transportation is the most
important question of commerce. and in
fact. OF civilization Itself
The right OF the states TO regulate tho
transportation In Intrastate commerce of
railroads engaged ia interstate commerce
Is now vigorously denied. for the reason
that IL is claimed the fixing OF rates I'm
intrastate commerce OF necessity deter
mines or at least directly affects the rates
OF transportation In Interstate commerce
This contention has but recently been