Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-01-18
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
The In.er.,n,e Commeree Commi-.io


Commerce law have finished their annua
report aud the Washington dispatches Civ,
summaries Of the leading points which ar,
touched upon The commissioners evident
" believe that the law has come to stay il
spite Of the talk about its repeal, and in
spite of n proposal for its repeal which ha,
been made in the House 10y Democratic
member. 1t is evident, however. that all
the tendencies in Congress with respect tc
their act are toward perfecting and strength
ening it rather than toward repeating it,
The commissioners are candid in saying
that the act is not perfect, and they make
important recommendations Of amendments
which they think are desirable They urge
Congress again to Indicate in plain term.
whether the express business and letter
transportation 10y carrier specified in the
act shall be governed by its provisions
The question is still an open one whether
the express companies are to be regarded
within the meaning Of the act as common
carriers, and the commission has declined
to pass any opinion upon this point, and
has referred the subject to Congress for
specific definition
The commissioners are Of opinion that
the provision against the sudden raising of
rates without notice ought to be clearly
made applicable to joint rates, as well as to
others, and the commission ought to have
authority to bring out something like uni
/ fnrmty in the method Of constructing and
| publishing rates An amendment to this
effect has already been proposed, and is
nov pending in Congress. The commits.
sioners believe that the power suddenly to
reduce rates without notice Of intention
to do So is often exercised in such a manner
as to cause annoyance and loss to the indi-
vidual and to carriers, and sometimes 50
that the effect is equivalent to the giving Of
"A rebate The commission believes that no
tee Of intention to reduce any rate to II
carrier subject to the rate should hc given
not less than three days before the reduc.
tiou shall take effect, and recommends u
Congress that the act bc amended ia this
particular The commissioner, also ask
Congress tn make some clear provision in
the law that the point cannot he raised
that carriers engaged in transportation
from one point in state to another point
IN the same state. although passing through
another state while ~ transit, are not sub
lect to the provisions of the act This con
structiou Of the law has been maintained
pass through New Jersey aud rrunsy wanna
and line, from Northern Louisiana 10 New
Orleans which pass into and out uf Mt.-is
,ppi IL has been claimed that these car
Iiris are NOT subject to the act since the
property or persons transported are rrrrlv
ed for carriage from point to- puint within
the same state, aud not from one state to
another The commissioner, admit that Il
certain plau-lhility l. given to this cunstruc
ton by the fact that the carriers engaged
in transportation from point to point in the
United States through a foreign country
are expressly made subject to the act.
Willie the same words are not applied to
carriers engaged III transportation from
point to point IN state, but through an
other state. The commission suggests that
Nuf 'iufNllbH lHu~ IdlNtl I've NttAlf'l ny TX
pressed provision
The commissioners ~ further than Con
gress ha, hitherto he,n disposed to go in the
matter Of extending the act 10 carriers 10y
water routes There was sharp coutro-
versy upon this subject when the Till VAS
under discussion IN the two houses and it
was claimed that the water ways should be
free from the control of the act, as the
competition which they create makes them
an effective check upon any combinations
for increased rates ON the part Of railroad,
Now, however, the commission recommends
that the carriers engaged independently in
interstate traffic upon the rivers and lakes
aud other uavigable waters Of the country
be put. in respect to making, publishing
and maintaining rates, on the same footing
with the interstate carriers 10y rail The
commissioners believe that these carriers
will be benefited rather than harmed there
by, and that the excuse now made 10y car.
riers by rail for great disparities in the
rates for adjoining districts, and betw cen
points which are and points which not are
affected 10y water competition, would there
10y to a large extent be taken away.