Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-18
WILSON VETOES
RAIL RATE BILL
President Opposed TO Restoring
Pre-War Powers to Inter-
state Commission
FEDERAL CONTROL USEFUL
BY the Associated Press

Washington. Nov. is. President
Wilson today vetoed tn" bin restoring
to the Interstate Commerce Commission
it's pre- war rate making power.
The President said the immediate
effect of the proposed law would be
to deprive the federal government Of
the ability TO cope promptly and de-
cisively with operating emergencies
which are now arising and must con
tinuc to arise during the existing period
of heavy traffic.
Concrete Example OF L. y. Control
The message gives as an example of
the need Of such ability the recent fact
that refrigerator cars We're being un-
duly detained by consignees at a time
when there was urgent demand for an
enlarged transportation use of such
cars. anG said the railroad administra
tion was able substantially and prompt
ly to correct this situation by the i'm
position of an emergency charge. such
Il step. he added, could not have been
taken promptly if it had been neccS-
sary to consult also state authorities
throughout the Union.
Conccdng that it is desirable to get
the fullest practicable benefit Of local
advice upon local matters as we'll in re e
spcct of local interstate rates and prac
ticeS in given portion of the country
as in respect Of intrastatc rates and
practices covering a similar extent in
the same locality. the President said
"In the last analysis. while the fed
cral government is solely responsible. II
seems to me that entirely independent
and final power as to large proportion
of these vital matters should not be
transferred to the respective states.
'The broad question of general prin-
ciplc which | have just discussed might
perhaps be waived in view of tho short
duration of federal control. but the
practical emergencies to which ! nave
first referred are matters with which
the federal government must deal day
lay in the discharge Of its rCspOn
| sibility, and / do not think its ability
to deal with them promptly and con
cusively should be impaired even during
brief period of federal control.
| Suggests Notifications
| The leading principle of this bill
which is to givn the Interstate Commerce
! Commission power, pending its provid'
| ing thereon, to suspend rates, practices
etc. initiated by the President. is en-
tirely acceptable to me, although if II
! the future the bill should be repasseG
! should hope to see some modification
! in detail which would avoid attaching /
presumption Of unreasOnableness Ia
! this bill appears to do to changes 81
initiated in rates, practices. etc.
II should also hope to see anothe
modification which would avoid an,
possibility of bringing in question tn
validity of orders which already hav,
been made by the railroad administrn
tion in the discharge of its responsi
! bility.'
] Chairman Cummins, of the interstat
commerce committee, author of the bill
said it was not likely that any attemp
would be made to pass the measure
over the President veto, as the rate
making powers of the commission woulC
! be restored when the roads were re
! turned to private operation January !.
! Legislation authorizing the creation
/ of an equipment trust to reimburse tn
government for S40O. 900, 900 spent fo
| locomotives and cars during federal con
troll of the railroads was passed toda.
BY the House and sent to the Presiden
for approval.