The Washington times., 1916-04-10
ADAMSON
EXPLAINS ATTITUDE
Writes Letter to President Civ
ing Facts in Bill of Lading
Legislation.

Chairman william c. Adamson, of the
House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce, made public today
a letter he has written to President Will
son explaining his attitude toward the
Senate bill for a uniform bill OF lading
which Frank y. James and others in
terested in the legislation claim is be-
Ing smothered In the House Committee.
Ihis letter to the President was writ
chairman of the Committee on Conn
lnerce,' Trade and Commercial Law OF
the American Bar Association, an
nnounced his plan to 60 70 the White
House to OBTAIN the Presidents aid In
Chairman Adamson expresses the hope
that the President will suggest to his
prospective callers that the House Com
mnttee be allowed TO attend to Its busi-
ness In regular course.
Mr.. Adamson also made public a let
ter written to Mr.. James. Furthermore.
nc asserts that the Interstate Commerce
commission says no bill OF lading legis-
lalion Is needed.
The correspondence published below
MAS given out following publication In
The Times OF the complaint OF Mr..
James about his inability to get a hear
ing.
Courtesy Not Involved.
Discussing the statement that he had
been "dIscourteous" to Mr.. James,
Judge Adamson asked that this state
mcnt be- printed in reply:
IN vitw OF the conduct of the gen
tIemen Interested In this case 1t had
not occurred to me that courtesy was
involved"
Mr.. Adcmson's letter to the Presi-
dent says In part:
am inclosing you a very peculiar
letter from a lawyer in this city. ! shall
aNWRa. a Na.N-
tics which seem to he adopted as TO the
committee and content myself with re-
efetting tina. these gentlemen are 80 in
sistent as to burden you with their APP
Deals.
Il am aiso inclosing you COPY of my
reply TO the letter, with program
adopt ~ this committee and list OF
the DillS referred to the committee
pressing for consideration.
They seem to have the idea that II
tncy can't force revolution OF our pro-
gram that you can and will"
In part of his letter to Frank b.
James. Judge Adamson says:
Il have your favor OF this date.
know OF no power to prevent you
carrying the matter to the President
II YOU SO insist, but IL you or your
delegation advise the President that
you have not had due courtesy and
consideration from this committee
shall send a copy OF this letter "a
precede you to contradict the state
ment.
This committee has a number OF
times considered the main proposition
In the Pomerene bill. passed IL through
me House once or twice and finally in
lVlO In amending the act to regulate 9
commerce We disposed OF the matter
by giving to the Interstate Commerce
commission full Jurisdiction over the
FORM and substance OF bills OF lading
The Senate has several times has
tily passed the Pomerene bill with
out much consideration. and every
time 1t has come to this committee We
have referred IL to the Interstate
Commerce Commission and received
the emphatic reply that no further
legislation was needed for bills VI
sdinR.
This bill. ] think. among Others
awaits the dtsDositlon OF that Joint
resolution. the Newlands resolution. n
not otherwise obstructed. hut the com
mtttee has been hard at work all IN,
gress would permit trying 10 dispose o,
the bills referred 10 it,"