The Washington times., 1915-10-02

rates In the country will represent
some form OF determination or APPROX
al by the commission.
Originated Section Plan.
Senator Dolliver was probably the
originator OF the idea Of a commits
sion working through sections. But
he had the idea Of geographical divf-
sions. with one group dominating in
the northeast. another In the Atlantic
states. another in the South. ana
others In the Middle West, Mountain
and Far Western States. He did not
ask Congress to write that provision
radical. But he believed, just as
events have demonstrated. that that
Dolliver act would multiply the duties
OF the commission to such point
that II would have to be relieved or
else would be swampej.
"a proposal to create a bunch Of
| Offices paying $4,000 a year is al
ways likely to md supporters In Con-
gress: and II will In the present case.
However. the Interstate Commerce
Commission has a large fund OF pub
lie confidence. and there is a power
full backing for any proposal tina,
| may come from II. Its recent rate
decisions have been broad and basic
enough to give the feeling that con-
hdence can be reposed in It, Even
hihohk people VINO wOulu De wllIlnR
| to see the commission method Of reg
ulation abolished, there is realization
that II is now pretty definitely estab-
| iished. and that the necessary thing
Is to make II work as well as possible.
II is assumed that the commission
ton along the lines laid down by
Commissioner Clark. This body is
not. like a Cabinet department, re-
sponsible directly to the President
alone. It is required to report to the
President and to Congress; It may
communicate to either; and. in short
occupies a curiously anomalous posi-
| itself.
A Candid Request.
| dozen years ago. when the commits.
sion was purely an ornamental body
with almost no real powers. It wrote
into an annual report on one occasion
the recommendation that II be either
given some powers that would justify
It's existence. or else be abolished That
was regarded as about the most candid
conlmunication any group Of well-pait
ofhcials had ever made to Congress. ant
II commanded attention to the recon.
mendations for increased authority.
The creation OF the Court Of Com
merce was intended as means to lon
ping of some OF the commission
poU.,s' ahu tHat court set ABOUT TO eS
tablish itself as a sort OF super-com
mission. But 1t did not win the conf
dence Of either Congress or the country
and the abolition Of the court was reaii,
very great victory for the plan O.
supervising the railroads directi,
through the commission. with tn,
court abolished. the commission becam,
the recognized inevitable. The Suprem,
Court has strengthened its position
vastly In recent time by sustaining tn,
grant Of quasi-legislative authority, an,
insisting that It could not interfere witt
the discretion OF the commission.
There Is little doubt that the commits
sion will have to be enlarged or reor
ganized In some manner before man,
years: and 1t Is likely that Congress
will do about what the commission
wants done. But 1t Is not at ali Ger
tain that the changes will be write,
into law at this time. A disp ositIon I,
conservatism about such measu D
observable among leaders Of hot!
parties. Not to act soon Is likely [,
mean considerable embarrassment I,
the railroads and the public alike; bu
legislation Is a slow process. especial,
with a Presidential election ioominj
!, only year ahead.