New-York tribune., 1915-12-27
Progressives See Atten.
to Pack Commerce. :
Commission.
FIGHT ON WHEN
CONGRESS MHr,,
Gregory Weak In proseers,
Antitrust Cases, Is Char,.
by Senators.
tFrom 1-hs rrSun. Bu,,. I,

Washington, Dec. 26.-Ar ,,.
President Wilson to pack" ii, h.
state Commerce Commission NJ.
vocates Of further increas. I, a.
rates is feared by several nro.,.
Senators and Representative, ,sLs
underlying motive OF the pr..I.'-
proposal for general inQuir !.
the whole question OF railroad r.
tion.
Senator'S Cummins, Of Iov
Ciapp' Of Minnesota, both prorr.,,
Republicans and members Of ~.
terstate Commerce Committ.. a. =.
Senate, are among those who ,,.,
dering about the President. uo.,.
Most Of the suspicion OF the prcr,
sives is in regard 70 the ,ner.,,.
the number OF members OF "A. I,.x
state Commerce Commission. va
while not dwelt upon in the pr,,a.,.
message, was advocated In an i".
view with Chairman Newland, A. \.
committee, in The Tribune ju,, ~,
President Wilson delivered NJ, ~
sage.
The Progressives fear ths. N, ~
son wishes the power 70 enls,, =.
commission for the purpose Of az,
members who would side with his 50.
recent appointees 10 the comm,yw
Messrs. Hall and Daniels. rather N,
with those members who h,y, n,,.
the view that the charges o. ,s,nI
roads already are high enoGsf.
Kenyon Fears Packed Commlso,
Curiously enough, Senator Krw
of Iowa. ia one of the Progressive, ',
fears this. although he INTRODUCED
bill at the last session Of ConUs|
providing for a substantial incre,n \
the membership OF the Interstate Gel
merce Commission, with a view 70 \
lieving the tremendous burden Of "
now imposed on that body.
Among the progressive Repuhh1I
Senators there Is feeling amour,
TO a belief that President Wilson
tually forced the change In a,tltu:,
the Interstate Com.lerce CommiY
which resulted in the granting o.
per cent freight rate increase to .
Eastern railroads after the commiM,
had virtually refused the increase
few months before.
The same pressure from Pratg
Wilson was seen by the PrograIs
when the commission allowed II
Western roads their increase 81. !
a number Of appointments by the Prs
ident. II was recalled to-day thai Z
progressive group OF Senators -ia
a fight against the conhmsiiG Z
Commissioners Hall and Danisli q.
against the confirmation o. Jsaa
James c. McReynolds, whose coi:.a
in the Office Of Attorney Gensrs. a.
convinced them that his line Of thssr
was out Of sympathy with their 7r'
gressive ideas.
Many Senators Hostile
The fight on the Presldent. "a
is expected 20 come MP immeGtn
on the reconyening Of Congress Al
first meeting Of the interstate q,
merce committee, when the Nssr1
resolution. providing for q join, q,
mission TO make an inquiry /" {"
lined by the President, Is taken si y
TO the eventual passage Of this nN
tion there is little doubt since y
Wilson's inclusion Of II in hi; rs|
sage virtually makes 10 a part o. II
administration programme, but nH|
will be considerable grIlllng o. III
Presidents attitude toward tie {"
porations before the resolution -
lowed TO pass the upper house
Incidentally. il was said hen :
night that the course OF the D'''H
ment of Justice may come in fei COZ
siderable criticism during this t''ie
Many Senators believe that AH'nN
General Gregory has been rather 'al
in his prosecution Of the sna.ul
cases. while others believe ihs y
department Is merely weak u 'p
talent. with a few exception. -
1t is pointed out by those -,
this view that recently The d'H
ment, although not especially oun u
compared with previous periods u n
history, employed Louis D. brsi'a
Samuel Untermyer and Jesse {;
kins all on one case, despite the I1|
assortment Of assistant attorney III
erals drawing from $1,000 % VI
year, who might, soms think y
saved the government the big u"
.nao,,I ,nypaa1