The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-01
AN IMPORTANT oPINIoN.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
on Tariffs n Cl~asslncations.

Ou AuIlHn hlu tl~HHaluCutiOnN.
WAsmSoroS, March 30.-In the Interstate
Commerce Commission an opinion was today
filed by Commissioner Walker containing
1.-THE results reached In respect 10 the invcsti.
CATION Of the tariffs and cinssiRcaiions Of the
railroads operating In the South, which was
held by the commissiohsi IN December last.
The methods employed by the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association in max.
ing rates from the Eastern cities and cities In
the Northwest 20 association points In the
Southern States are fret described.
The opinion then takes up the tariffs Of
the several leading lines operating In the
Southern States and reviews their methods
81 preparing tariffs and OF classifying freight
With considerable detail. The principal
points discussed are the measure Of compli.
anco which has boon yielded 20 the fourth
section Of the act TO regulate aud
the forms In which the tariffs havc been
made up for publication and nling as re.
quircd by the sixth section.
The Interpretation u thc short haul claus,
Of the act which wAs announced by IN,
Commission In the Louisville & Nashvill,
case IL adhered 10. II was the intention OF
the law That the carriers In the int instance
should prepare their tariffs according u
their individual Judgment aud the Commits.
sion urged that Ia doing 20 they should be
hfuught much nearer ~ conformity with a.,
general rule Of the fourth section than ha,
BEEN their previous custom. The present
Investigation has been Tor the purpose Of 10
viewing the progress made a. the present
time, and II making such sugrcstionsas may
he appropriate in respect a. further modih.
cations. IL appear that upon many II the
lines considerable changes have been male
since The passage 81 the act 10 regulate com.
mcrcc. Their Tariff on the chesapeake a
Ohio, In the State u Virginia, Do not Violate
The strict rule Of the section. the inrins OF
Tie Norfolk a Western also conform a. the
short haul rule. with a single exception.
namely; Tariff from the Western aud south.
cm states 10 points on the limo OF this road
IN NiiEinlh tariffs a the Richmond K Dan.
VILE and its associate lines have ALEC been
brought quite generally into harmony with
the rule Of the law some exceptions ~.
main which arc described, and The grounds
on which the company claims 20 Justify Ga,
same given.
The same l. true Of the Cincinnati. New
orleans 4 Texas. The tariffs Il the Hast Ton.
ncssrc, Nindnia & Georgia are Treated nd con.
siderable length; the changes which have
btcn made in The direction III conformity Ii
We law are pointed out, together with other
changes which seem 10 be required on thi.
llne both in the matter uf classification aud
IN respect 10 the construction of its tariffs.
The condition Of The thrila of the Louirylllf
n Nashville 90 the time of tie bearing had
not been materially changed since Toe pass.
age 81 the law. The results brought ont arr
given at considerable lcn1th, and are rrti.
ciscd IN many respects II nppCarss how.
ever, that new tauis wprO filed by tlTs mad
on March - iHs3. in which che entIr sys.
tom was changed, o. local classification snr.
rchdcrrd and new schedules prepared which
arr substantially In conformity 10 ihc uo.
quirrmcnu Of section q If the oct. The tar.
lHs also show changes on the main line aud
IN many 0i The branches in the direction of
conformity 10 section g.
Tho disparity which formerly existed be.
tween rates % local points aud TO moro iis.
4 tant competitive points has been materially
brought into conformity with the short haul
(, rule. Changes made by the Ccntml Railway
. u Banking Company Of Georgia arc nl9o
= described, aud an effort made on the part of
the company b. bring ~ methods into morn
apparent conformity 10 the law n observed.
Examples are given respecting the lines VI
this company In Southwestern Gcoria.
Upon tho whole Il a the conclusion II the
commission that 10 fnr a. the introduction
and application Of the short haul rule has
extended IN the Southern States. that the
evils which were anticipated have not been
found 90 exist and thatthc relations between
the carriers aud their patrons In some sec.
uons OF the country have been quite mate.
rally improved. The movement Ia this
direction should be still further pressed.
IN conformity with various suggestions
made. The Encouragement Of rates Of the
hlmplilcation Of classincatlons are matters
which the carriers should undertake aud