The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-04-23
THE RAILROADS.
An Order by the Commission Affect.
ing Southern EIdnes-Kevievv Of she
Workings Of the Law

NOfkSn:sS Oh the Law.
WAsHINGToN, March 30--The Interstate
Commerce Commission filed to-day an opinien
by Commissioner Walker containing the resnlt
reached i'll respect 10 the investigation of the
tariffs and clasSllcatiors of the railroads one
raling in the Southern States which WAS hold
by the commission in December last The order
OF the commission IS, that the carriers named in
the order 0i notice comply with the statute in
particular, ana respects pointed out without un-
necessary delay, and make report to the commits
sion ot ihcr action in The premises If The
action 50 reported snail seem TO fall sbnr, of
what is required by law, further action will be
taken.
The methods employed by The Southern rail-
way and steamship associations in making rates
from Eastern cities and cities in the Northwest
to association points in the Southern States are
first described. The opinion then takes M the
tariffs on several of the leading lines operat,ng
IN the Southern States, and reviews their methods
OF preparing the tariffs and of Classifying freight
with considerable detail.
THE PRINCIPAL POINTS
discussed are the measure OF compliance. which
has been yielded to the fourth section of The act
10 regulate commerce, and the forms IN which
the taiiiis haye been made up ;or publication and
filing as required by the sixth section The in
terprctailOn OF
THE SHORT HAUL CLAUSE
OF the act which was announced by the commits
SION in the Louisville and Nashville case is ad
hered 10. IL was The intention of the laxy ,bat
the Carriers, IN the first Instance, should prepare
their allii, according to their individual indg
menls, and the commission urged that in doing
SO they should be brought much nearer In CON
formly with the general rules of the fourth sec
ton than had been their previous custom
The present Investigation has been for the
purpose ol reviewing the progress made to the
present tlne, and Of making such suggestions as
may be appropriate IN respect to further modif-
cations. 1t appears that upon many of the lines
considerable
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE
since the passage OF the act TO regulate com
merce. The tariffs Of he Chesapeake and Ohie
i'll the State of Virginia do not violate the strie,
rule ot The section the tariffs of the Norfolk
anu Western also conform to the short haul rule.
win single exception, namely, the tariff from
The western and Southern States to points on
the line OF this road in Virginia The tariffs of
the Richmond and Danvile. and its associate
lines, have also been brought ouite generally
into harmony with the rule of the law. Some
exceptions remain which are described, and the
grounds on winch the company claims to Justify
the same ATE given The same is true of the
OlnclnnaIi, New Orleans aud Texas.
The tariffs OF The East Tennessee Virginia and
Georgia are treated al considerable length. The
Changes which have been made in the direction
Oh ConiorHty to the law are DOiDted oui TO-
geiher' Win other changes which seem TO be
required On This iine bO IN in The matter of class;
hcdtion q ud Ia respect TO the construction of its
tarlff~.
Ihe condition OF The
LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE
at the time "i the hearing had not been mater-
ally changed since the passage Of the law The
results brought out are given at considerable
length, and criticised in many respects. It
appears, however, that the tariffs were filed
by this road on March 2S, 1889, in which the
entire system was changed It's local classification
surrendered, ana new schedules prepared. which
are substantially IN conformity 10 the reouire-
ments Oh section q Of the act.
The tariffs also show changes on the main line
and on many OF the branches in the direction OF
conformity !" section
The disparity which formerly existed between
the rates ln local points and To more distant
competitive points has been materially reduced,
and on some parts OF the line the tariffs have
been brought into conformity with the short-haul
rule.
The changes made by
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD
and Banking Company of Georgia are also de-
scIibed, and an effort made on The part of that
company TO bring It's methods into conformity
to the law is observed. Examples are given re-
speciing the lines Ol this company il Southwest
ern Georgia.
1t is the opinion of the commission that so far
the Introduction and application of the short
haul rn!e has extended in the Southern States
the evils which were anticipated have not been
found 10 exist, and that the relations between
THE CARRIERS AND THEIR PATRONS
in some sections of the country have been quite
materially improved
The movement in this direction should be still
further pressed in conformity with The various
Suggestion made.
The rcarranging oi rates and the simplifica-
tons O ciaSSlflcalOnS are matters which carriers
should undertake aud carry forward for them
selves. Many questions OF detail involved,
with which ii would not be easy Tor the commits
sion Ia deal, In order to effect the reforms recon-
mendea. Much Labor aud care necessarily
required, and Il reasonable time Tor the purpose
shouldshe alleged.
'-NOf aSuIiS. buI Business