Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-08
CONFEREES REACH
FULL AGREEMENT
ON RAILROAD BILL
Return Lines to Their Own
crs Twcnty-Onc Months
After Peace Is Made.
QUESTION OF RATE-FIXlNG
SETTLED BY COMPROMISE
President Authorized to Initiate
Schedules, Renewable by
Commerce Commission.
LIMIT STATES TAXING POWER
May Not Fix Ratio Higher Than for
Year Previous to Taking
Over Roads.
LIMIT STATES TAXING POWER

wASHINGTON. March Final
agreement on the administration bill
20 govern Federal control OF the rail-
roads was reached by Senate and
House confercca today.
Leaders hoped to-n!gh, 10 have the
measure ready for the Presidents sig
nature by Saturday. although this plan
may be upsc; by opposition in the
House to tho ratc-makinG section Civ
ing the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion power 20 review rates after their
Initiation By the President.
With the excepting OF limiting Fed
cral control TO twentyonc months
after peace Is declared and providing
for the taking over OF short-line rail
roads. the bill as finally agreed upon
is virtually in the form it passed tho
Senate.
PRINCIPAL DISPUTE
WAS on RATE-EIXING
The principal dispute between tho
iccnfcrccs was on ratc-nxins. Under
the House draft the President wax
given complete power 10 FIX yates.
while the senate left the power wi,h
tho Interstate Commerce Commission.
Failing 10 compose their differences,
promise agreement drafted ~ Senator
Robinson, OF Arhanaag. undcr whicr
tho President - authorized TO initiate
rates. subject 20 review by N" com
inisSinn. In determining THO fairness
of the rates til" commission Is re-
quircd to take into consideration the
!act that the carriers arc being oper-
atcd under unified control and that
such resdjIatmerts IN rates as are
proposcd for the purpose OF OBJ
iuiniaS additional revenues,
TAe text OF the Robinson compro-
|nl!sc on ratc-ma!hIS follows:
That during the period of Federal
acutrcl. whenever in his opinion The
public interest REQUIRES. The PresjGcu.
hay initiate rates. fares. char5cs.
clussifca;:ons, regulations and pgac-
;iccs by filing the same with The In
,ors,atc Commerce Commission. whicr
said rates. fares. charges. classiiica-
Ions, regulations and practices shall
no, BE- suspended by Tho commission
pending final determination
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
COMMISSION FINAL RESORT
said rates shall be fair. reasonable
ana just, and shall take effect at such
lime and upon such notice as he may
biircct. but the Interstate Commerce
'ommission shall upon complaint.
enter unon hearing concerning the
business and rcasonablcncss OF so
much OF any order OF the P-csid mt
rs establishes or changes any rate.
ARE charge, classification, regulation
pr practice OF any carrier under Fed
.ral control and may consider ali the
Facts and circumstances existing at
he time Of the making OF the same.
n determining any question concern
ksng any such rates. fares, charges.
flassihcations. regulations or prac-
ices or changes therein, the Interstate
commerce Commission shall give due
consideration 10 the fact that the
transportation systems arc being oper-
,tcd under unified and co-ordinated
iational control and not in compcti-
ion.
after full hearing the commission
nay make such findings and orders as
ire authorized by the act 10 regu!at tc
ommercc amended, and said findings
md orders shall be enforced as pro-
'idcd in said act
provided, however, that when the
president shall find and certify TO the
Interstate Commerce Commission that
n order 10 defray the expenses of Fed
'Tdl tonlIoi tHu operation talTiS
tharEeabe 10 railway operating cx-
'enses. and also to pay railway tax
.ccruals. other than war taxes. net
cnts for joint facilities and equip
ncnt and compensation to the car
iers. operating as a unit, it is neces-
airy to increase tho railway operating
cvcnues, the Interstate Commerce
Commission In determining the just
Joss and reasonableness Of any rate
arc. charge. classification, regulation
practice shall take into considcra-
ion said finding and certificate by the
resident, together with such recon-
lendat!ons as he may make"
tOUSE PROVISION AS TO
SHORT LINES AGREED TO
The House provision bringing under
cderal control all the So-called short
ines which either connect or compct @
ith roads already taken over was ac-
cpted by the confcrees. who also in
ertcd in the bill a provision limiting
he ratio OF taxation of railroad prom
rty In the various States TO a rate
OF higher than that for the year pre-
ious to taking over of the roads.
The adoption Of a provision fixing
,he period Of government contro! after
ne war at twenty-one months was n
ompromise between the conferees. tho
,enate having fixed the time at cigh-
Zen months and the House at two
ears.