The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1912-05-16
HOUSE Ab0L|SHES .
COMMERCE COURT
MEASURE WOULD ALSO RESTORE
POWER TO THE INTER.
STATE COMMISSION.
SIMS LEADS THE FIGHT,
River and Harbor Appropriation Bill,
Carrying $34,0o0,o 900 After Be.
ing Amended BY Adding Items
Amounting to $1,000, 900.

Washington, May l1.-Revolutionar
proposals., such as have not been
grouped in any bill passed by the pres.
ent session of congress, We're adopted
by the house in the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill.
The bill now proposes:
Abolition of the United States com.
merce court and the restoration to the
interstate commerce commission of all
railroad regulatory power, subject to
appeal only to United States district
courts. Creation of bureau of for.
elgn and domestic commerce with all
the present powers of the so-called
tariff board, to be under the jurisdic-
tion of the secretary of commerce and
labor.
Would Absorb Other Bureaus.
The new bureau would absorb the
bupeau of trade relations of the state
department and the bureaus of manu-
facturers and statistics of the depart
ment of commerce and labor.
Concentration Of the distribution of
public documents, of which millions
annually are sent from Washington, in
the government printing offices.
After a bitter fight the house de.
feated proposal to abolish the mints
at San Francisco, New Orleans and
Carson City and the assay Offices at
Boise, Idaho; Charlotte, N. c.; Dead.
wood, S. d.; Helena, Mont; Seattle,
Wash, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The fight for the abolition of the
commerce court was led by Represen-
tative Sims of Tennessee (Dem.), who
framed the legislation abolishing that
tribunal. He was opposed by Repre-
sentative Driscoll of New York and
Stevens of Minnesota (Republicans), j,
but when the provision was adopted,
120 to 49, many Republicans voted
with the Democrats.
River and Harbor Bill Passed.
The river and harbor appropriation
bill was passed by the senate, amend.
ed to carry sS.o00,O00 more than as
passed by the house and making to-
tai of about $34,000OOO. The principal
increase was $2,5OO,OOO to the house
provision Of s3,500,OOO for improving
the Mississippi.
The balance of the increase made
by the senate was composed mainly of
smaller amounts, principal among
them being Nantucket sound, $25O,O0O;
Jamaica bay, 100000; Allegheny riv.
er, $50O.000: Delaware river $4,000
Cape Lookout, 100000; St. Mary's
river, 100000; Chicago harbor. $780,
600; Ohio river, New Cairo, s25O,00O;
Los Angeles harbor, $327,250.
Senator Burton took positive ground
against resumption of plans for the
improvement of the Missouri IF the
movement were to lower railroad
rates. he thought the interstate CON-
merce commission might accomplish
that result.
Inquiry into charge Of misconduct
against Judge Archibald of the com.
merce court will be resumed by the
house judiciary committee
The committee will resume cues.
tioning Edward ]. Williams of Scran.
ton, Pa, who told of his alleged rela.
tions with Judge Archibald in a Culm
bank option transaction with the Erie
railroad while the railroads Tight
erage" case was before the commerce
court and of another transaction in
which the Judge was alleged to have
given note for $500 in payment for
an interest in an option of Venezuela
timber lands.
The committee also will investigate
transaction in which Judge Archibald
and man named Dainty negotiated
with the Lehigh Valley road for Culm
banks to be sold at large profit, as
was the plan with the Culm dumps
solicited from the Erie railroad
A strong defense of Secretary Slim.
son on an attack on the majority of
the house military affairs committee
for it's report on the circumstances
which led to the retirement of Adju.
tant General Ainsworth after threat.
ened court martial, were contained in
report submitted to the house by
the minority members of the commit.
tee.
4