New-York tribune., 1918-03-08
Leaders Hope to Send the
Measure 10 President
Tomorrow
Rates Dispute Ended
Commission May Review
Tariff; Must Heed Ex-
ecutive's Plans


agreement on the Administration bill
to govern Federal control of the rail
roads was reached to-day by Senate and
House conforrees. Leaders hoped to-
night to have the measure ready for
the Presidents signature by Saturday,
although this plan may be upset by
opposition in Tic House TO the rate
making section, giving the Interstate
Commerce Commission power to re-
view rates after their initiation by the
President
With the exception of limiting Fed
cral control to twenty-one 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 same form as when
it passed the Senate.
The principal dispute between the
conferrces was on rate fixing. Under
the House draft the President got com
plete power to fix rates. while the SEN
ate left the power with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Failing to COM
pose their differences, the conferrces
to-day adopted compromise agree
ment, drafted by Senator Robinson Of
Arkansas. under which the President is
authorized to initiate rates, subject to
review by the commission.
Power Is Qualified
In determining the fairness Of rates
the commission is required to take into
consideration the fact that the carriers
are being operated under unified con
troll and that such readjustments in
rates as are proposed are for the pur-
pose Of obtaining additional revenues
The House provision bringing under
Federal control all the so-called short
lines which either connect or compete
with roads already taken over was ac-
cepted by the conferrees, who also in
serted in the bill provision limiting
the ratio Of taxation Of railroad prop
crty in the various states to q rate not
higher than that for the year previous
to the taking over Of the roaTis.
The adoption of a provision fixing
the war at twenty-one months was a
compromise between the conferrees, the
Senate having fixed the time at egh-
teen months and the House at two
years.
Terms of Compromise
The compromise substitute for the
ratemaking section, drawn by Senator
Robinson, of Arkansas, follows:
"That during the period of Federal
control whenever in his opinion the
public interest requires, the President
may initiate rates, fares, charges,
classifications, regulations and prac-
ticfs by filing the same with the Inter
state Commerce Commission, which
said rates, fares. charges, classifca-
tlons. regulations and practices shall
pending final determinations
Said rates shall be reasonable and
just and shall take effect at such time
and upon such notice as he may direct
but the Interstate Commerce Commits
eslon shall, upon complaint, enter uDon
hearing concerning the business and
reasonablcness Of SO much of any order
OF the President as establishes or
changes any rate fare, classification.
charge. regulation or practice, of any
character, under Federal control, and
may consider all the facts and crun-
stances existing at the time of the
making Of the same.
I'm determining any question con
corning any such rates, fares, charges,
classifications, regulations or practices
or changes therein, the Interstate Com
nlerce Commission Shall give due con
sideration to the fact that transporta-
ton systems are being operated under
unified and coordinated national con-
trol and not in competition
The remainder of the section en-
powers the President to certify to the
interstate Commerce Commission the
necessity Of increasing the income Of
the railroads and directs that the com
mission shall take into consideration
such Recommendation as he may
make"