regulation, and this bill passed both branches of Congress with a decisive majority.

For years amendments have been recommended to the act of 1887, known as the Reagon Bill, to more effectually regulate commerce and give needed relief to the shippers of productions throughout the country. Railroad managers generally contended that Congress had no right to interfere with the privilege the railroads had by virtue of their incorporation to transact business on any lines which would seem to be approved by their respective Boards of Managers. Every senator and representative seemed to have views of his own and there was little harmony prior to the passage of the act referred to and at times the difficulties seemed insurmountable of agreement on a measure which would secure the support of enough senators and members to insure its passage.

It is a fact that the National Association of Railway Commissioners was a formidable factor in the passage of this most desirable legislation. The salient features of the proposed law related to the adjustment of rates which might be established by railroads and challenged by shippers. The most thoughtful members of Congress seemed to be agreed that the Government itself should not fix rates, but its representatives should act in a semi-judicial capacity in determining the reasonableness or unreasonableness of rates which might be established by railroad managements. A large number of Congressmen were of the opinion that when the authorities representing the government had passed upon the reasonableness of rates, their findings in the case should be subject to judicial review. Others were of the opinion that the findings of the Interstate Commerce Commission, charged with the duty of passing upon the reasonableness of rates, should be final.

For many years the Committee on Legislation, consisting of one member of the Interstate Commerce Commission and of representatives from different states, recommended to Congress the passage of a law giving the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to pass upon the reasonableness of rates which should be established by railroad companies, the rates if found reasonable to be approved by the Commission, and if found unreasonable, rates to be substituted in lieu thereof which, in the opinion of the Interstate Commerce Commission, were reasonable, and the law also to provide that a specified time should be given to the railroad interests to appeal to the courts that the findings of the Interstate Commerce Commission might be reviewed, and approved or disapproved.

There had been no departure for several years from such a recommendation on the part of the National Association of Railway Commissioners, and at the Convention held in April, 1906 the report of

the Committee on Legislation elaborated to no small extent the proposition to extend such powers as have been indicated to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Convention was practically unanimous in its approval of the report of the Committee on Legislation, which was forwarded to the Senate and the House of the National Congress. The adjustment of rates complained of and the right for a judicial review were the two important features of legislation recommended to Congress. These very features were embodied in the act of Congress approved June 29, 1906.

Comparatively few people realize the importance of a national statute on so grave a question as the regulation of the transportation of commerce that is interstate in its character. In the history of civilization few subjects of legislation are of more importance and the members of the National Association of Railway Commissioners have exerted no little influence in the accomplishment of results which will prove to be mutually beneficial to honest railway managements and to the country in general.

Following this article on the National Association of Railway Commissioners is the law to regulate commerce as modified and amended by the act of Congress of June 29, 1906. Its importance to shippers and to railway managers warrants us in including it in the report of the Bureau of Railways of this Department.

The nineteenth National Convention of Railway Commissioners will be held in the city of Seattle, state of Washington, in August, 1907. The Secretary of Internal Affairs was retained in the position of Chairman of the Executive Committee, as was also Mr. Morgaridge as Chairman of the Committee on the Construction and Operating Expenses of Electric Railways.

To show the importance of the subjects to be considered and discussed at this Convention, the program as arranged by Hon. John S. McMillin, Railway Commissioner of the state of Washington, and President of the Association, is submitted herewith:

Officers of the Association for the Ensuing Year.

John S. McMillin, of Washington, President.

C. C. McChord, of Kentucky, First Vice President.

J. H. Wharton, of South Carolina, Second Vice President.
Edward A. Moseley, Secretary.

Martin S. Decker, Assistant Secretary.

Construction and Operating Expenses of Electric Railways.

W. W. Morgaridge, of Pennsylvania.
W. F. Ham, of District of Columbia.
Martin S. Decker, of the Interstate A. L. Judson, of New York.

George E. Bales, of New Hampshire.
Parker C. Spofford, of Maine.

Railroad Taxes and Plans for Ascertaining Fair Valuation of Railroad Property.

Andrew F. Gates, of Connecticut.

William T. Young, of Minnesota.

W. L. Foster, of Louisiana.

Martin A. Knapp, of Interstate Com

merce Commission.

O. B. Colquitt, of Texas.

Charles W. Bishop, of Massachusetts. N. S. Ketchum, of Iowa.

Amendment of Act to Regulate Commerce.

Franklin McNeill, of North Carolina.

J. H. Wharton, of South Carolina.
George T. Howard, of Vermont.
A. L. French, of Illinois.

Henry Fairfax, of Virginia.

C. S. Deisem, of North Dakota.
Adam Andrew, of California.

Powers, Duties and Work of State Railway Commissions.

Safety Appliances.

W. G. Smith, of South Dakota.

Joseph C. Phillips, of Arkansas.

Edward A. Moseley, of the Interstate Joseph M. Brown, of Georgia.
Commerce Commission.

S. D. McNair, of Mississippi.

Union B. Hunt, of Indiana.
William Kilpatrick, of Illinois.

AN ACT TO REGULATE COMMERCE.

Carriers and transportation subject to the act

Act does not apply to transportation wholly within one state.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, Sec. 1. (As amended June 29, 1906.) That the provisions of this Act shall apply to any corporation or any person or persons engaged in the transportation of oil or other commodity, except water and except natural or artificial gas, by means of pipe lines, or partly by pipe lines and partly by railroad, or partly by pipe lines and partly by water, who shall be considered and held to be common carriers within the meaning and purpose of this Act, and to any common carrier or carriers engaged in the transportation of passengers or property wholly by railroad (or partly by railroad and partly by water when both are used under a common control, management, or arrangement for a continuous cariage or shipment), from one State or Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbie, to any other State or Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or from one place in a Territory to another place in the same Territory, or from any place in the United States to an adjacent foreign country, or from any place in the United States through a foreign country to any other place in the United States, and also to the transportation in like manner of property shipped from any place in the United States to a foreign country and carried from such place to a port of trans-shipment, or shipped from a foreign country to any place in the United States and caried to such place from a port of entry in the United States or an adjacent foreign country: Provided, however, That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to the transportation of passengers or property, or to the receiving, delivering, storage, or handling of property wholly within one State and not shipped to or from a foreign country from or to any State or Territory as aforesaid.