The New Student's Reference Work/Interstate Commerce Commission, The

In′tersta′te Com′merce Commis′sion, The, of the U. S., is a body of five members chosen according to the provisions of the interstate commerce act of 1887, with powers to regulate railroad rates, to establish uniform rates, to insist upon the publication of accounts and to inquire into infringements of the act. The Constitution vests the power “to regulate commerce . . . among the several states” in Congress, and the Interstate Commerce Commission has been very efficient in preparing statistics of railroad rates, in leading up to the enforcement of state regulations of these rates and in hindering unjust discriminations against certain parties. It was largely through the Interstate Commerce Commission that the new rate bill of 1907 was brought forward by President Roosevelt's administration. The weak point in the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission was that it had not been able to enforce its injunctions. This led to the passage in 1906 of a law increasing the powers of the commission.