Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-01
eENAToR KENYON PLANS TO
PRESENT MEASURE 70 IN.
CREASE MEMBERSHIP.
WILL De OPPOSITION ).
BECAUSE OF WILSON
Fear in Many Quarters That Prssi-
Gsnti.; Appointments Wi! Be
Prsjutieial to Shippers Intsrssts-
Commission ovsrworksd and in Need
Of RsIisf-eurden's Growing.
Especial correspondence

Washington, Nov. 1.-Strong opposi-
ton will develop in congress this win
ter IL the effort is made to pass legis-
lation for the enlargement OF the in
terstate commerce commission. the
situation is being watched closely by
shippers and representatives OF snip
pers. !.
So much is going to be on the caro-
Tor consideration at the forthcoming
session of congress- that 1t may Wen
happen there will be no adequate time
for the consideration Of a measure or
measures effecting vital changes In the
interstate commerce laws. On the
other hand, there is plenty of evidence
that the interstate commerce commits
sion 10 overcrowded with work and
needs relief. The members of the
commission itself feel that relief Is
demanded. Enlargement Of the COM
mission is the plan the commissioners
seem to think most advisable. SEN
ator Kenyon Is expected to push a bill
whereby the commission will be en-
larged and branches Of it will be en-
powered to consider cases. the idea
being to divide the country into sec
lions, with a group of commissioners
ASSIGNED to each section. The COM
mission now has seven member and
enlargement to fifteen is suggested.
Strenuous Objection.
But 10 this idea there is bound to
be strenuous objection. When William
n. Taft was president he made over
the supreme court Of the United States.
thus exercising q measure OF power
seldom given to any man. IT the COM
mission Is enlarged as proposed. Prem.
dent Wilson would have chance to
make it over, thus giving him extra
ordinary power,
President Wilson'S appointments to
the interstate commerce commission
have not been such as to commend
them to those elements in congress
insistent on vigorous and drastic regu-
lation Of the railroads. The opposition
to the confirmation Of Commissioner
Daniels, Of New Jersey. IL illustrative
This opposition, in which a number OF
republican and democratic senators
concurred, was based on the belief that
Mr.. Daniels was unduly friendly TO
the railroad side Of the rate advance
question and other questions. Since
then. MI. Daniels has favored rate me
creases for both east and west. This
has aroused the antagonism OF ship
pers The instance OF Mr.. Daniels VIII
prove source Of much opposition to
any plan to enlarge the commission.
Commissions Burden Growing.
Various plans are proposed for deal
ing with the problem of how to relieve
the commission. It's burdens are grow
ing enorm ously. They will undoubted-
Nv grow more In the future, provided
government regulation continues to
obtain and government ownership does
not become a substitute for 1t. One
plan is to leave the commission OF the
present size but largely increase the
number OF it's subordinates. especially
in the appointment Of group OF
strong and able and well-paid exam
mers who would be clothed with large
powers in the conduct Of proceedings.
One OF the difficulties Of the situation
now is that the examiners who are
sent about the country to take testi-
mony in cases do not have the author
ity needed for such a purpose. This
results in referring back to the COM
mission numerous questions which
ought to be settled on the spot.