INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP. John Cleman, North Yakima, Wash. C. M. O'Donel, Bell Ranch, N. Mex. H. H. Huffaker, Silver City, Iowa. D. B. Zimmerman, Dickenson, N. Dak. Overton Lea, Nashville, Tenn. R. M. Allen, Ames, Nebr. Mrs. Lillian Gregory, Kansas City, Mo. Theo. L. Schurmeier, St. Paul, Minn. W. C. McDonald, White Oaks, N. Mex. A. P. Bush, jr., Colorado, Tex. 5. Memorial of the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, praying for the enactment of legislation to make more effective the work of the Interstate Commerce Commission. [Presented by Mr. Quarles, January 7, 1902.] Joint resolution adopted by the Wisconsin legislature at its session in 1901. Whereas various decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States during the past few years have rendered many of the most important provisions of the interstatecommerce law inoperative, in consequence of which the law in its present form fails to afford the relief to the shipping interests of the country which was the purpose of its enactment; and Whereas a bill is now pending in the United States Senate, known as S. 1439, commonly called the "Cullom bill," which is understood to have been framed by a member of the Commission, with the approval of that body, comprising such amendments to the interstate-commerce act as in its belief will remedy the defects found to exist therein and render it effective in accomplishing the purposes of its original enactment; and Whereas the said bill has received the indorsements of the principal commercial organizations of this State and of most of the similar organizations of importance throughout the country, and of the National Board of Trade, and its passage was urgently recommended to Congress by a national convention held at St. Louis November 20 last, consisting of delegates from ten national trade organizations, representing various lines of business, and twenty of the most important State and local organizations of similar character in this country: Therefore, be it Resolved by the assembly (the senate concurring), That the Congress of the United States be, and is hereby, requested to speedily enact said Senate bill No. 1439 into law, and we urgently request that the Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from this State cooperate in promoting the passage of said bill and use their best endeavors in securing for it precedence over other pending legislation as its great public importance demands. Resolved, That the governor be, and he is hereby, requested to transmit copies of this memorial to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each of our Representatives. 6. Petition of the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States, praying for legislation to enforce the findings of the Interstate Commerce Commission. [Presented by Mr. Frye, January 20, 1902.] Hon. Wм. P. FRYE, President United States Senate. JANUARY 18, 1902. DEAR SIR: At the tenth annual meeting of the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States, held in Philadelphia, Pa., January 8-10, 1902, it was 66 Resolved, That the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States petition Congress to pass such legislation as will confer upon the Interstate Commerce Commission power to enforce their findings." A. WARREN PATCH, Very respectfully, Secretary. 7. Petition of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers' Association praying for the enactment of legislation to make more effective the work of the Interstate Commerce Commission. [Presented by Mr. Quarles, January 28, 1902.] Resolved, That this convention regards the present freight rate of 33 cents per hundred pounds on cheese from southern Wisconsin points to Chicago as unjust, burdensome, and out of proportion to the rate on articles of like character and of more than double the value. Resolved further, That a committee of three be appointed to devise ways and means to cause a reduction of said freight rate to a just amount. Resolved by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers' Association, That our representatives in Congress, both Senators and Representatives, be urgently requested to use their best efforts to secure the passage of the amended laws on interstate commerce to make the decision of the Commission effective, and that the secretary be directed to write to every one. Resolved, That this association indorses the movement by Manitowoc and Calumet County cheese makers of forming an association for practicing and furthering their interests. The committee on legislation heartily approve and indorse the resolution offered by the committee on resolutions recommending that the State traveling cheese instructors have a general supervision of the sanitary conditions of cheese factories and the milk product delivered at cheese factories. And be it further resolved, That we favor a suitable appropriation from the State to make a proper exhibit of the dairy industry of the State of Wisconsin at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1903. 8. Resolution passed by the Retail Dealers' National Association October 3, 1902, favoring the passage of a law extending the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission. [Presented by Mr. Gamble, January 30, 1902.] DES MOINES, Iowa, October 3, 1901. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, assembled in the Fiftyseventh Congress: The Grain Dealers' National Association in convention assembled, at the city of Des Moines, Iowa, on the 3d day of October, 1901, does hereby respectfully memorialize your honorable bodies to enact into law such amendments to the existing interstate-commerce act as will effectually remedy the defects that have been found to exist therein and will insure its proper enforcement in the protection of public interest in relation to transportation, and yet will in no way impair the just rights or privileges of common carriers. It is the belief of this convention that the present law has been rendered practically inoperative by recent decisions of the Supreme Court, and that the public is without redress from unjust and unreasonable exactions and discriminations on the part of common carriers. Your petitioners therefore earnestly pray that your honorable bodies will give the subject the consideration which its great importance demands, and provide speedy relief to the public by the enactment of such amendments to the law as will give it full force and effect. The foregoing memorial to Congress was unanimously adopted by the Grain Dealers' National Association in convention, at the place and on the date above mentioned. B. A. LOCKWOOD, President. CHARLES S. CLARK, Secretary. Attest: 9. Petition Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs, Colo., for amendment to interstatecommerce law. [Presented by Mr. Teller, February 11, 1902.] Resolved, That the Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs, comprising a membership of 320 representative citizens and business men in all walks of life, resident in and about Colorado Springs, does hereby indorse and recommend the passage of the bill (known as bill H. R. 8337) to amend the "Act to regulate commerce," introduced into the House of Representatives January 9, 1902, by Hon. John B. Corliss of Michigan; but we are of the opinion that said act should be further amended by giving the Interstate Commerce Commission full rate-making powers. We make this recommendation for the reason that the recent combination of great railway systems, either by amalgamation or community of interest relations, will, in a large measure, destroy the competition that has heretofore existed, and for this reason it is highly essential for the protection of the people of this country that the Interstate Commerce Commission have full power to adjust and fix railway rates. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., 1). B. FAIRLEY, President. GILBERT MCCLURG, Secretary. 10. Resolution of the Jobbers Union of St. Paul, Minn., protesting against the enlargement of the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Hon. KNUTE NELSON, [Presented by Mr. Nelson, February 17, 1902.] Senate Chamber, Washington, D. C. ST. PAUL, MINN., February 8, 1902. DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the executive committee of the St. Paul Jobbers Union the following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Resolved, That in the opinion of the members of this association the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission should not be enlarged, and that it would not be in the interest of shippers to transfer the rate-making power to men unacquainted with local conditions and necessities throughout the country. That the powers of the commissioners are ample to carry out the purpose for which they were created. That the demand for increase of power comes almost entirely from the members of the Commission, certain interested railroads, and not from shippers. "Resolved, That the president and secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to each of the Senators and Representatives from Minnesota." J. W. COOPER, President. 11. Petition of Goshen Milling Company, of Goshen, Ind., praying for the passage of the proposed amendment to the interstate-commerce law. [Presented by Mr. Fairbanks, February 19, 1902.] Senator FAIRBANKS, Washington, D. C. GOSHEN, IND., February 14, 1902. DEAR SIR: Please do all that you can to promote the passage of the proposed amendment to the interstate law, giving the Commission power to enforce its findings. Just at present manufacturers of flour are unjustly discriminated against by the railway companies, being compelled to pay higher rates on export flour than is charged on the raw material-wheat. Yours, very truly, THE GOSHEN MILLING COMPANY, 12. Resolution of the legislature of the State of South Dakota and of other States, and of commercial bodies, favoring enactment of legislation enlarging and extending the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission. [Presented by Mr. Gamble, February 22, 1902.] WASHINGTON, D. C., February 20, 1902. DEAR SIR: Permit me to call your attention to the following expressions, as evidence of the strong public desire and need for prompt amendment of the "act to regulate commerce.' President Roosevelt, in his message to the Fifty-seventh Congress, said: "The act should be amended. The subject is one of great importance and calls for the earnest attention of the Congress.' The last State legislature of Michigan, by concurrent resolution, appealed to Congress to amend the act "so as to enable the Interstate Commerce Commission to put into full force and effect its rulings and decisions." The last State legislature of Wisconsin, by concurrent resolution, petitioned Congress to "speedily amend the act," and requested the Senators and Representatives of that State "to cooperate in promoting the passage of the measure to that end.” The last State legislature of South Dakota, by concurrent resolution, memorialized Congress, urging prompt amendment of the act, "authorizing and empowering the Commission to fix reasonable and just rates, and also adequate and well-defined procedure for the proper enforcement and carrying into effect its decisions and orders. This enlargement of the statute is imperatively needed to give the law efficiency, so that the objects and benefits originally designed may be fully secured to the people." 66 The last State legislature of Kansas, by concurrent resolution, petitioned Congress to amend the act so as to enlarge the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission and give to it authority to prevent unjust discrimination in the interstate carrying trade." The last State legislature of Louisiana, by concurrent resolution, petitioned Congress to amend the act and requested the Senators and Representatives of that State "to urge upon Congress the passage of amendments defining with more precision the powers and duties of the Commission." These and other State legislatures, recognizing the demand of the people for relief from present intolerable conditions, have been content to appeal to the United States Congress for remedial legislation. The Industrial Commission of the United States, in its final report to Congress, says: "It is incontestable that many of the great industrial combinations had their origin in railroad discriminations. A great change in the status and powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission has taken place since its institution in 1887. The decisions of judicial tribunals have greatly modified and, in general, reduced the powers and functions which the Commission was at first supposed to possess. We recommend that the authority of the Interstate Commerce Commission necessary for the adequate protection of shippers, and clearly intended by the framers of the law, be restored, and that the powers and functions of the Commission be enlarged." The Interstate Commerce Commission, in its fifteenth annual report to Congress, reiterates its appeal for speedy amendment of the act, and says: "The Commission has nothing new to propose. Knowledge of present conditions increases the necessity for legislative action upon the lines already indicated." The National Association of State Railroad Commissioners, in convention at San Francisco, June 5, 1901, by resolution appealed to the United States Congress to amend the act, and said: "Congress is earnestly urged to the prompt enactment of legislation to clothe the Interstate Commerce Commission with power and authority to fix charges when its judgments need to be so perfected;" and again, in convention at Charleston, S. C., February 15, 1902, reiterated its appeal in forceful language. The National Grange Patrons of Husbandry, in annual convention, appealed to Congress for amendment of the act, and said: "We furnish nearly 60 per cent of all freight carried by the railroads of this country. We believe that the Commission has tried to carry out the act, but by virtue of judicial decisions it has ceased to be a body for the regulation of interstate carriers. We approve the recommendation as to enlarging the powers and duties of the Commission, giving it and charging it with the duty of fixing maximum rates." The National Board of Trade, in annual convention in 1901, and again in 1902, urged Congress to promptly amend the act, and said: "Resolved, That the act to regulate commerce should be amended so as to empower the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce its findings."' The National Live Stock Association, in annual convention, appealed to the United States Congress to amend the act "so that the Interstate Commerce Commission be granted adequate powers to pass upon questions of unreasonableness and unjust railroad rates, and that some legal effect be given to their decisions when rendered." The Grain Dealers' National Association, in annual convention assembled, at Des Moines, Iowa, October 3, 1901, memorialized the United States Congress "to enact into law such amendments to the existing interstate-commerce act as will remedy the defects that have been found to exist therein and insure its proper inforcement. The League of National Associations, in convention assembled, with delegates from 41 organizations, petitioned the United States Congress to amend the act so as to insure its more effective operation in removing existing inequalities and unreasonable exactions in transportation charges and prevent the practice of discriminations now so prevalent." 66 " The Millers' National Association of the United States, in convention assembled, petitioned the United States Congress to amend the act "to restore to the Commission the powers necessary for the protection of the public and enable it to enforce its findings and orders." The National League of Commission Merchants, the National Hay Association, the National Business League, the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association, the National Wholesale Druggists' Association, and over 125 prominent organizations of shippers-national, State, and local-have in convention, by strong resolutions, petitioned the United States Congress for legislation amendatory of the "Act to regulate commerce." These petitions and appeals have all been filed with Congress and are of record. With the recent disclosures as to inequality of rates, discriminations, rebates, and utter disregard of published tariffs by the transportation lines of the country, evidencing the impotency of the act, and the expressions cited above, can it be maintained that the present law is sufficient and may be enforced or that there is not a strong demand from the people for prompt relief from Congress? Respectfully, FRANK BARRY, Secretary. |