CHAPTER XV

THE ELKINS AMENDMENTS (1903): THE HEPBURN ACT OF 1906

New causes of unrest in 1899, 487.--The spread of consolidation, 487.--The rise of freight rates, 488.--Concentration of financial power, 490.--The new "trusts," 491.--The Elkins amendments concerning rebates, 492.--Five provisions enumerated, 493.

More general legislation demanded, 494.--Congressional history 1903-1905, 495.--Railway publicity campaign, 496.--President Roosevelt's leadership, 498.--The Hepburn law, 499.--Widened scope, 499.--Rate-making power increased, 500.--Administrative v. judicial regulation, 501.--Objection to judicial control, 503.--Final form of the law, 505.--Broad _v._ narrow court review, 506.--An unfortunate compromise, 507.--Old rates effective pending review, 508.--Provisions for expedition, 511.--Details concerning rebates, 512.--The commodity clause, 513.--History of its provisions, 514.--Publicity of accounts, 515.--Extreme importance of accounting supervision, 516.--The Hepburn law summarized, 520.