Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-20
as reported, to prohibit charging more for
shorter than longer haul
DOES NOT Go FAR ENOUGH

ehorter than longer haul
DOES NOT Go FAR ENOUGH
to provide against the evils Of discrimin
ton complained of by shippers all over t!
country.
At the last session of the Forty-eiehi
Congress, when bill somewhat similar
the one now under consideration was b
fore the Senate, but which did not contai
any provision to regulate charges for Ion
and short hsuls. advocated an ament
ment substantially the same as the one no
proposed.
l have always been of the decided opir
ion that provision prohibiting the chars
ing more tor shorter than longer hau
which embraced the shorter haul, en-
bodied the most important feature ths
could be embraced in any bill for tn
regulation Of transportation, and | an
more and more imprt ssed every day will
the comprehensive justice and importsnc
of such provision, unqualified by limita
tions and exceptions. In my opinion it i
the key to the whole transportation prob
lem to prevent determinations and I,
force the railroads to properly adjust rate
rom competing points. The principle i
fair to both railroads and shippers unde
ell circumstances, and there should be u,
exceptions to the rule.
The fourth section of the bill as re
ported is intended to recognizs this princi
pie, but it's limitations and provisos de
stroy its force and value and renders i
inadequate to meet the universal de
msnds of all sections of the country upor
this subject. The committee in its report
recognizes this principle.
lquote from page 1876:
RATES on LONG AND SHORT HAULs.
The most popular remedy proposed tor
the prevention Of unjust discrimination
between places and persons on account oi
distance has been what is called short
haul law" or the prohibition Of create
aggregate crsrge for shorter than for a
longer distance as between shipments OF
the same kind over the same road and 90
ing in the same direction.
No question connected with the prob
lem of railroad regulation has given the
committee more perplexitY than that rela
ting to the utility and expediency OF lepis
lation prohibiting a carrier from charging
more for shorter than for q longer haul
under any circumstances. not that we have
any doubt as to the injustice Of such a
charge under most circumstances, but be
cause it seems iuexpedent to enforce such
regulation under all circumstances.
. "Palpsble determinations, peculiar to
no State or locality, but too common, sp.
parently, to al, would seem to be remedied
by such a provision. 1t is asked for and
urged to preclude the carriers from REIN.
bursing out Of local rates and shippers what
they lose By reckless and needless compe-
tition upon through rates 1t is too plain
to be made palmer by Argument that, with.
in certain limits and under certain oft oc.
curing conditions, the provision would be
useful and fair one.
ut does not seem as if there could be
any justification for charging one shipper
more for hauling car OF grain so miles
than he or another is at the same time
charged for hauling another car Of grain
100 miles over the same road and in the
same direction. The unfsirness of the
greater charge for a shorter distance is sp
parent, and yet when careful consideration
ia given to such instances and illustrations
ss have been cited 10 the committee it is
GGGp}hjfpa niat' no gfesSer cnafge should
be made for shorter than for longer
distance is just and right, exception to the
general rule may sometimes be warranted
even in the case of individual roads. And
when the effect OF the proposed prohibition
is considered With reference TO the whole
internal commerce OF the United States
and especially with reference TO the nece
sity of preserving the prevailing cheap rates
for long distance transportation, there lie
reason to fear that the result Of rigidly en-
forcing the proposed regulation would b.
10 s,ihe competition in numberlesg cass'
where it now exists and u to the general
public inters.., and perhaps to deprive the
country OF the benefits of the low through
rates now and for years given TO and from
the tide water, without practical or sppre-
cisble advantage to intervening points.
The barpose to be accomplished By
prohibiting greater charges for shorter
than for longer hsuls is to eqnalize the ex.
listing differences between through and
local rates. 1t is intended ior the pro'ec-
ton Of those most in need OF p-o'ection,
the shippers at interior nou-compe'iiiVe
points, and to prevent corporate carriers
from charging such shippers unreasonable
rates in order to recoap the losses sustain
ed in reckless rate wars aud by carrying
through freights at less than cost
The accomplishment OF the purpose
aimed at IL q contamination most de-
voutedly to be wished, and the necessity Of
remedying the determinations complained
OF is apparent. The real qaeslion to be
considered is, therefore, whether On sbso
ute prohibition Of greater charge for q
shorter than for longer distance would
accomplish the result desired By tbo:e who
favor such lsgislation.
Mr. Pretldent, think the committee
would have been fully justified in saying
that it is too plain 10 be made palmer BY
Argument, that such rule Ia
SUSCEPTIBLE OF UNIVERSAL APPLICATION
and would, under all circumstances, be a
useful and fair one. The justice Of the
general principle eeems now 10 be admitted
on oil sides. The extent and msnrcr o.
its application seem to be the only ques
| ton.
If the fourth sect;0a had stopped al the
me OF the provision prohibiting charging
more for Q shorter than longer haul owe
he same road and in the same direction
leaving out tie words, from the SAM
original points Of departure" in lines
and 6. and then had left ou. the entire pre-
viso following, the section would have &C
complished the obj>c, intended 10 De pro
vided for BY the proposed amendment, su'
the object which ought 10 be provided 10
and without which any bill will fail 4
N eet the widest field Of necessity Tor tb
tasssge Of a lay regulating inter sta
commerce.
The section az it now stands limits tb
provisions against charging more for
shorter than Q longer haul 10 shipment
from the same original point of~depsrtur'