Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Interstate Commerce Commission

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, a body of nine members, authorized by Federal law to regulating inter-state trade, transportation, etc., in accordance with the clause in the Constitution placing commerce between the States under the jurisdiction of Congress. The original act to regulate commerce, approved Feb. 4, 1887, provided for a commission consisting of five members. By various amendatory and supplementary enactments the powers of the commission have been increased and the scope of the regulating statute materially widened. Among the more important of these enactments are the acts of March 2, 1889; the Elkins Act, approved Feb. 19, 1903; the Hepburn Act, approved June 29, 1906; the Mann-Elkins Act of June 18, 1910; the acts of Aug. 24, 1912, and May 29 and Aug. 9, 1917; and the Transportation Act, 1920. The number of Commissioners was increased under the act of June 29, 1906, to 7 members; under the act of Aug. 9, 1917, to 9 members; and under the Transportation Act, 1920, to 11 members. (See Interstate Commerce.)