Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-23
PRESIDENTS INslsTENcE ON RE.
rENTIoN or TRIBUNAL DOES
POLITICAL HURT.
HIS ACTION WILL FORCE
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION
Interstate Commerce Commission Like.
~ 70 % strsnethsnsd by consrsss-
Railroads ForsstaIIsd in Efforts 70
Cripple Boards Acknowledgment
Impatient.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Aug. 23.-By his insist
ence on the retention OF the court OF
commerce. President Taft has pre-
vented that tribunal from abolition at
this session Of congress. The presi-
dent has shown unusual determination
to force the retention Of the court OF
commerce and indicated that he WOULD
stay here all summer and fall putting
in vetoes II need be-
While the court will doubtless be
saved for this session. the effect OF the
fight on 1t has been important. In the
first place, 1t Is likely to lead to the
abolition Of the court later on. 1t may
make the court more careful In the
granting Of orders and inJunctions
multiplying the work OF the interstate
commerce commission. And 1t Is likely
to result in further legislation by con-
gress which will strengthen the inter-
state commerce commission and make
the orders Of that body less open to at
tacks by the railroads either In the
commerce court, or. should that court
have to 20, in the district courts.
Congress Made Impatient.
The disposition OF congress is to get
more and more impatient with efforts
to hinder and hamper the work OF the
Interstate commerce commission That
commission has the confidence OF con-
gress and any attempts to emasculate
its authority get short shrift in house
or senate. The supreme court OF the
United States. also is strongly disposed
to uphold the authority OF the commits
sion and recognize the fact that there
must be real government regulation OF
the railroads and that 1t must not be
hampered by the courts at every turn
Between congress and the supreme
court It is not likely the interstate
commerce commission IL going to be
allowed to suffer even with the COM
merce court protected by the vetoes Of
the president.
Railroads Forsstaiisd.
The disposition Of congress on such
matters has been shown recently In
the killing OF proposed legislation
which was badly wanted by the rail-
! roads but which came before house
and senate in disguise as a demand by
shippers to be allowed to appeal to the
commerce court from negative orders
| OF the commission, that is. from re-
| fusals Of the commission to make orr
ders. This was cleverly advanced as
needful for the protection Of shippers.
When congress found that the rail-
roads wanted such appeals scores OF
times where shippers wanted them
once and that II shippers had them the
! railroads would also, 1t baked. An
other indication Of the temper OF con-
gress was seen in the recent passage
by the senate without debate OF the
Kenyon bill giving the commission
power to make uniform classifications
+; OF freight. This Ia a most important
extension Of authority.
Such matters as these. and the In
sistence OF the fight In congress against
the commerce court, shows where 1t
stands with reference to the interstate
commerce commission. Congress will
not stand by and see It's powers weak
ened.
Moreover, there is little doubt that
congress before long will see to 1t that
| the opportunities Of the railroads to
70 before the commerce court or any
inferior court and get injunctions and
restraining orders will be curtailed
Tho disposition of the roads the min
ute the commission issues an order
they do not like IL to go before the
commerce court and get an injunction
OF preliminary sort. Fly the time this
Is fought over most OF the time during
which the order OF the commission
might be effective has passed. That Is
an order OF the commission lasts fol
two years. BY going into the com.
merce court and getting restraining
order, the effective date OF an order
Of the commission Is deferred. The
two years in which the order Of the
commission can stand fits By rapid.
while the litigation Is in progress ant
the railroads get the benefit OF the ar.
rangement that prevailed before thu
comm ission entered its decision.
! .Cons-csa will not long tolerate sucf
a situation and while nothing will d.
done about 1t this session, 1t will soor
receive congressional attention. wheth'
er the commerce court lives or dies.
Injuries Taft Politically.
President Taft's insistence on tn.
commerce court has hurt him .politi
caliy. as viewed at the capitol. From
the minute the court was created. Il
has shown an attitude of unfriendli.
ness to the interstate commerce com.
mission. This has stirred up mucl
feeling against II among shippers. II
UNFOLDING the court. the president hal
succeeded in bringing on himself crit
icism from the opponents of the cour
and exposing himself to the charge o
being willing to see the authority o
the interstate commerce commission
weakened. The democrats will not b.
slow TO make the utmost use Of this Il
the campaign and tho same 10 true re-