The effect of a similar law, passed in England, as shown by the testimony of Mr. Acworth, confirms the views of the committee which have been expressed in this report, that with such a provision embodied in the present interstate commerce law, there would be few reductions or advances in American rates. If it had the effect in England of destroying the flexibility of the rates of the carrier and interfered with the development of England's commerce, as well as her railroads, how much more serious would be the result in this country, that is in the process of rapid development, both as to its commerce and territory? It has been credibly stated that the Board of Trade of England is now seriously considering a recommendation for the repeal of that provision of the statute. AN ANALYSIS OF THE COMMUNICATION TO THE COMMISSION--MANY OF ITS OBJECTIONS APPLY TO THE AMENDMENT OFFERED IN COMMITTEE. 9. When this bill was referred to your committee for its consideration the chairman addressed a letter to the Interstate Commerce Commission, inclosing the bill, and requested the opinion of the commission as to the wisdom of incorporating the amendment into the interstate commerce law. The chairman replied in the following communication: "INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, "_Washington, January 29, 1908._ "HON. STEPHEN B. ELKINS, "_Chairman Committee on Interstate Commerce_, "_United States Senate, Washington, D. C._ "DEAR SIR: The Interstate Commerce Commission has the honor to submit the following in response to your communication of 24th instant, transmitting a bill (S. 423) to amend section 6 of the act to regulate commerce, introduced by Senator Fulton December 4, 1907, and requesting the commission to 'advise the committee before its next meeting, January 31, their opinion of said bill and what action they would suggest thereon.' "Whilst the views of the entire commission can not be definitely ascertained within the time named, because of absences on official business, a majority of the commissioners and probably all of them would not be disposed to favor the enactment of this measure. "To give to the protest of a single shipper the effect of preventing the advance of any rate until the reasonableness of that advance was affirmatively determined by the commission would establish a hard and fast rule of doubtful fairness to the railroads and questionable advantage to the public. Under existing conditions we are of the opinion that it would be unwise to adopt the arbitrary limitation which this bill proposes, whatever may be found desirable or necessary in this regard in the future.