Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-03-07
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE new senator from Nevada,
! Senator Henderson. who has taken
Senator Newlands' place, is already
! highly distinguishing himself in the
senate by his dignined bearing and
his intelligent consideration OF meas
ures now before the senate. He was
called TO the chair a few days ago to
preside in the place OF the Tice-pr
ident during a very important debate
on the railroad bill. with which he
has shown his great familiarity. We
publish a description OF the bill he
has already introduced with the long
and short haul subject. which is OF
very great interest to people who live
in our western states particularly and
the attention and consideration which
Senator Henderson receives argues
we'll for his standing in the senate
anu his ability for high service. Ne
vada, like Delaware, is a small state
in population-indeed. Delaware has
twice as many people as Nevada.
Nevada seems to have done well in
choosing her new senator, who Is a
lawyer of great ability and high stand.
ing in his state and brings to the SEN
ate ripe judgment and the possibilities
of great future service.
Senator Henderson has introduced
bill providing for the amendment OF
the fourth section OF the act to regu-
late commerce in such manner as to
make the long and short haul clause
absolute. AS the law now stands It
provides that there shall be no higher
charge for a shorter than for "a longer
haul on the same line in the same d.
rection, the shorter being included
within the longer; but, 1t allows the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
grant exemptions from this rule in
special cases after Investigation. These
exemptions have been so sweeping and
general in their character that they
have in effect become the rule, while
the main provision of the law amounts
to very little more than an exception.
The senator thinks that no power
should exist anywhere to make ex.
emptions from a transportation rule
which is manifestly just and fair upon
It's face.
Two other bills looking to the same
end have been introduced one by Sen.
ator Shafroth, of Colorado, and the
other by Senator Poindexter, of Wash
ington. These bills are intended for
the same purpose but they differ from
the Henderson bill in verbiage as well
as somewhat in substance. The Sha,
froth bill makes no reference either In
its title or in its body TO the fourth
section OF the Interstate Commerce
act. II is entitled an Act to amend
section eight OF the act creating the
commerce court which section eight
itself amends section four of the act
TO regulate commerce. Further, the
ShafrOth bill makes no reference to
| passenger fares. This omission was
owing to the fact that there had never
been any custom established of charg.
| ing higher fares for the shorter than
the longer haul: but the Nevada sena.
tor thinks that 1t is well to safeguard
against any such action in the future
and hence his bill includes both pas,
sengers and freight
ION the other hand the PoIndexteI
bill is so worded that 1t is open to the
Interpretation of not including freight
at all, although OF course such was not
the purpose. Furthermore, this bill
contains a provision to the effect tha
when n rail carrier reduces its rates
in order to meet water competition, II
shall not be allowed to raise them
without the consent OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission. The purpose
OF this is of course. to prevent the rail-
carriers from first lowering their rate
so as to destroy the water competition
and then having driven their compel.
itors from the field TO raise the rates
CONTINUED on page thrcc)