Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-01
THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
The Gut Rates and Other Problems Csa-
sidered in the Annual Report.

The annual report of the interstate cSn-
merce commission, made public yesterday,
states that the railroad mileage Of the country
on the Soth day OF June. 1855. is estimated ~
lS2,7sl, OF which ASIA miles had been CON-
pieted and brought into operation within the
SIX months preceding that day. The railway
construction IN 1856 was SAL miles; in 1857 u
was l2-6sS miles. The number OF corporations
represented IN the mileage is /. 25i, but by req
son OF leases or other contract arrangements
many corporations hold control of and operate
tons, and the whole number making reports OF
operation at the date named was 665. In the
section OF the country north OF the Potomac
ana the Ohio and east OF the Missouri the cases
N which the greater charge is made for the
shot'er transportation are few, and their cir
cumstances are such that complaint il not Often
made that they operate oppressively.
As Is commonly the case in rate wars. the ex-
lsung uimcultie~ among the trunk lines had
thef origin IN suspicious on the part OF the
carriers, respectively, that their competitors
nere nor observing the open public rates, and
the feductions were made professedly for the
purpose OF recovering the proportions OF
freight which those entering into IL claifned
was their due, but which they were not getting
because OF the secret or unlawful practices u
Others. The legal right OF the carriers 20 re-
under the law as il now stands is believed 20 be
unquestlonable; they have proceeded 90 do 80
70 destructive extent, and whether with apy
ultimate benefit 20 themselves is az least very
questionable. The making of unreasonably
low rates. the report intimates IN often for
stock-iobbing purposes or 10 compel the pur-
chase OF the road by competing lines The dif-
hculties of the whole subject are freely admit
ted, but the manner in which they are now met
eanno, fail to be unqualifiedly condemned.
Nothing seems more surprising than the fact
that railroad manager who will neither take
steps by law to put stop 10 a secret cutting OF
rates which he publicly charges, nor furnish
evidence upon which others may do so, will
nevertheless sacrifice for his shareholders mil
lions OF revenue 20 punish it,
One Of the chief perplexities encountered in
dealing with complaints against railroad COM
panies arise from the fact that 10 the public
mind the railroad interest of the country seems
TO be IN some sense unity, so that when there
Is cause for complaint in the system anywhere
the whole interest il chsrgeable with some de-
gree OF moral IL not legal responsibility. Tho
old plan OF pooling. now prohibited, is dis
cussed at length with its advantages and disad-
yantages and the ruinous practice of cutting
rates Is said TO correspond TO methods whereby
IN barbarous age rude redress is sought by
force for individual injuries
The report next considers the subject OF the
effect OF the law upon cities, showing that the
result of the adjustment Of rates required by
the act has been in some cases 90 afford a
larger choice of points Of supply 20 interior
towns, and thus injuriously affect distributing
points formerly favored in rates. Immigrant
transportation Is next considered and warrior
facts stated which were developed upon tw,
investigations held in New York CITY, Severll
recommendations are made as 20 this traffc.
the principal of which is the removal Of Castle
Garden TO an island in New York harbor.
The subject of overcapitalization is recog-
nized as an exceedingly important one, but it
Is believed that II can only be handled gradu-
ally and in detail. The commission believes
that notice of intention TO reduce any rate
which any carrier subject 70 the act makes or
joins IN ought 20 be published not less than
three DAYS before the reduction should be given
effect. The commission also recommend that
the carriers engaged Independently in interstate
traffic on the rivers, lakes and other nsvigable
waters of the country be put, in respect 10 the
making, publishing and maintaining rates,
upon the same footing with interstate carriers
by rail. IL is believed they will be benefited
rather than harmed thereby, and that the e.-
cuses now made by carriers by rail for great
disparities in rates for corresponding trans
portations as between points which are not sf-
fected by water competition would thereby 10
a large extent be taken away.