Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-12-06
eoMMERoE COMMISSION.
Points In tho Report OF tho Intcr-stat.
CnInmcrcn Com nllaalnnnra.-

POINTS IN mo Report or tho lntcr-otnte
Commerce Comuilssioners.
WASHINGTON, Dec. a--Tho annual rcnort Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission is now
In type, and The completed volume viii he
ready for distribution IN Tow days Tho foi
lowing summary Of ita contents Is gtcnl
From the best information nod available tho
railroad mileage OF the country on tht 8oth day
OF Jupe, 1889, was estimated at i52,7si Of which
a3i2 miles had been completed and brought
into operHtion within the six months preceding
that day. The railway construction IN 1886 Was
S45i miles; IN 1881 u was i2,ess miles. The
humber Of corporations represented in the.mile.
age is 1881 but by reason OF leases or other
contract arrangements many corporations hold
control Of and operate one or more roads owned
by other corporations and the whole number
making reports Of operation at the date named
was COS.
A summary Of the formal complaints Is rs fol.
lows or q total Of i07 cases submitted the re-
cord Isl Heard and desidcd, Bot not yet De
cided, Q; Heating not completed, ?; Withdrawn
nnd settled, %; suspended by request 10; %.
signed for hearing. o.
reference is made TO the long and short haul
case OF the Chicago. st. Paul & Kansas City
railroad, which is set for hearing on the 18th
inst. 'ae case Is an important one and will t'e
thoroughly Investigated
The report then takes up the subject Of the
eject OF the Interstate Commerce act upon
common carriers, and says that although some
railroad managers have declared IL 70 have had
a damaging effect the Commission Is possessed
OF no evidence showing that the general result
has been otherwise than beneficial
Railroad business has suffered IN the past
year not because OF the Interstate Commerce
act but owing 70 strikes, new parallel lines,
and rate wars. With reference 10 the rate
wars, in the Northwest and among the trunk
Limos during the ycau ihe report saysi
MAe IL cofnfunulv the raaa in rate .xaFl ffr
/ trunk line dinculties resulted from suspicious
/ on the part OF carriers respectively that their
/ competitors were cutting the open rates. aud
reductions were made to recover freight which
parties 70 the agreement claimed was their
due but which they were not getting because
/ OF this secret cutting by others
"rsotts Oh The Commission 70 bhi,in uVl-
! dence OF the practices suspected have been
| wholly incnortual and the war Of rates pro
ceeds without possibility OF external authority
| intcrposing % bring u 20 IN end, The lerul
/ right Of the roads 10 redure their aenctal scale
/ oi rates 10 any oxtont under the law as It now
stands is believed TO be unquestionable; they
| have done so, and whether, with any ultimate
benefit TO themselves, is at least very question
able"
The making Of unreasonaby low rates, the
report intimates, is often for stock. .iobbmg pur-
| poses or 10 compel the purchase ofthe road by
| competing lines Good service aud unrenson.
| lie will never object 20 fhit rates hut Y viii
never be eniightehed as to what are fair rates
| or disposed steadily to assent to their mainte-
nance so long as railroad managers, in their alb
| surd and destructive wars are perpetually and
/ in the E.ost emphatic manner by cutting their
rates, informing the public that something less,
| perhaps greatly less, can be afforded.
The report says; 1T Is reasonable TO expect
/ carriers OF the country will, where practicable,
mats 'o'n, s'rahgehen's s5 TIA. thb puMls
shall find an arrangement with one adequate
for the purposes OF any single transaction.
! There should be some means OF enforcing among
| carriers the obligations, moral or legal, that
would grow out Of such arrangements. The
only efiectual means by which good faith
: can be enforced was the pooling Of
| freight or earnings, but pooling - now
| out Of their power, being forbidden
| by law The tendency among the railroads
seems llkoly 70 be m the direction OF oonsolida.
/ ton a. the omit means Of mutual pr1tecton
| against rate wars. But any thing equivalent 70
| the creation OF what is now technically denoini.
| mated as q trust, could hardly be supposed POS
sble, even n the parties were al liberty 10 form
! 10 at pleasure. n tho parties could come into
/ harmony on the subject an argumon, ofthe sort
| Would be 50 powerful In its cOhtrpl over The
| business Interests o. the country and
/ so susceptible 20 uses FOR uiischievors PERSONS
/ that public policy ronld not fer q biamant sagn.
tun H. al least unless by statute II were held IN
| close legal restraints and under public control
/ Like arrangements IN Other Lines Of business
/ are slg eady suhc'Untg rhrcateuing 20 the pub
l llc Interest, anu the most ardent advocate Oi
/ the concentration Of railroad authority can not
/ rcasonab expect that any thing OF the sort TO
control the transportation OF the county will
| be provided for by legislation.
/ "While this Commission Is not at this time
| prepared 20 recommend general Legislation
I tUwutds the establishment ahd promotion OF
] rnInfNana fk,Na
/ subserie the public lntorcst tran ih1ss which
| gre nov som'nsn, Z, must, nevertheless, look
| forward 10 the possibility OF something OF that
natu re becoming at some time imperative, un.
! less great improvement in the existing condi.
/ tions Is voluntarily inaugurated."
| The report next considers the subject Of the
! effect OF the law upon cities, showing that the
| Rct has IN some Cases, benefited consuming In.
/ terror cities ana iniurlously affected distfihu,'
l ing points formerly fatored In rates The coin
/ mission beiietes shifbr'nits n classification rs
! fast as possible without setioas mischief is No
| s.rable.
Immigrant transp, Ration is next considcted
and various facts stated which werc dcteloped
unor tTd Investigations helu In New fors CitSi
/ Legislation 20 deal with tue evils Is wanted
/ from Congress
] No recommendation is made concerning con.
elusive bills OF lading
The subject Of oyor-capitallEation Is recog-
NlAHA n hii tANfiNuHiF IuiNoENANA NNHf NAA " -
bclieted thot q uan any be handled gradually
and In detail II has been found impossible 70
/ satisfaetoiv obtain Immediate information
| which shalt shew tie to1t n rglr-pf p-obstt'
/ Embellishments ana equipments The reqdife.
ment Of annual returns from carriers by water
has not been overlooked, and the Commission
/ renew recommendations made IN It's preceding
4 report.
Tho Commission believes notice Of intention
] 20 rcdutt ANY fatt 1lrrt 10 be buiJisheH not
/ less than three days before the fsductidu
/ There are utOylsiohs agafnsi rilao huiinr
! classihyati0h, weighing OF repor, OF weight, OF
| unreasonable preferences or advantages. The
/ Commission believes that The penal provisions
| against wrongs Of this nature ,hould embrace
] also the owner OF the property or any party
acting Tor the owner or cOnsignOf n property
| who shall be party % such unlawful g1udnsL
! tn. Cuiuhlss6. -tTresr ftt ihs Question
| inm. rnIael be snttlnl hn nrnrnsa nrn,L.lnna