Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-26
NO PINK TEAS FOR
COMMERCE BOARD
COMMISSION HARDEST WORKED
DEPARTMENT OF FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED
BRINGS ON GREATER DUTIES
Congress Soon to Be Confronted With
Problem Of Relieving Commission Of
Some Of It's Tasks-Sanbern Dseis.
ion to Be Upheld Will crsate Greater
Responsibilities.
Especial Correspondence

| Washington, April 25.-One of the
; to consider in the near future, prob
ably in the regular session next winter,
, is that of finding some method to en-
able the interstate commerce commits
sion TO deal with it's constantly in
creasing burdens.
Those who are familiar with the
commission and its duties know that it
is one of the hardest worked bodies of
men in the government service. No one
/ executive department is saddled with
duties of such magnitude as the in
, terstate commerce commission. More
| over. the constant tendency is for the
! duties OF the commission to increase.
Lately. congress has laid on the COM
mission the stupendous task of taking
a physical valuation of the railroads.
This in itself will take up much of the
time OF the commissioners. OF course.
the details of the task will be looked
after by subordinates. A division will
be created which will devote itself
entirely to valuation. This division
eventually will be a large one But the
business under its thumb.
Sanborn Decision to Be Upheld.
Now. there threatens to come along
from the supreme court a decision in
the Minnesota case. which will uphold
the principles laid down in the San
born decision. II this eventuates the
commission will have additional duties
thrust upon il for the reason that the
Sanborn decision practically puts the
state commission in a position where
they can not regulate rates within the
states The inevitable effect Of such a
decision if upheld by the supreme court
vii, be to place additional responsible
itv on the interstate commerce COM
mission.
The task Of regulating rates. enforc-
ing the safety appliance laws. super
vising parcels post classifications ana
rates. investigating railroad accidents.
ard attending TO the numerous other
duties congress has saddled on the
commission is of huge proportions.
Every member of the commission puts
in long hours and there is no pink tea
air about anv corner of the interstate
commerce commission esta blishment.
SaddIins More Work on Board.
In recent years. the commission has
commanded the confidence of congress
and the, country. The effect Of this has
been for congress to load more ana
more work on il.
What form legislation by congress
for the relief of the commission is go
ing to take is not yet clear. Some ad-
yocate enlarging the commission but
this plan has objections. Members oil
the commission themselves do not see
how this would help them. The plan
of enlargement is open 10 the same op-
lection. for one thing, as the plan to
enlarge the supreme court. 1t wouio
add 10 the number Of differences OF
opinion in proportion as the memner-
ship was increased. Some have adVo-
Gated a commission of twelve or NJ
teen, then to have groups OF three
commissioners sit in different parts OF
the country. Still another plan IS 10
have deputy commissioners. who would
be well-paid and expert men. and VINO
would near cases in different parts OF
the country and decide them, subject,
however, to review by the entire COM
mission If either party to the case were
dissatisfied Such plan undoubtedly
would relieve the commission OF much
labor and those who advocate 1t hold
that ii would give better satisfaction
10 shippers. Probably this would de-
pend on whether thoroughly competent
men were made deputies.
In any event. it Is clear the commits
sion has to be relieved in some fashion.
Traffic lawyers, shippers. members OF
congress and others realize 1t. II is
likely the interstate commerce com
mittees in congress VIII soon give II
serious consideration.