Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-31
SHORT-HAUL RULE.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. CONFUSION
REPORT.
formed to the Provisions Of
the Law.
tRr talnrraph Q the pi,pntch.l

WASHINGTON, March JN.-In me inuefrtste
Commerce Commission an oninion to-day
gas tled by Commissioner Walker contain
ing the results reached in respect TO the In.
yestigation OF tariffs and classiications OF
railroads operating in the southern states,
which was held by the commission IN De-
cemser last. The srder OF the commission
Is that the carriers named In the order oil
notice comply with the statute in particulars
and respects pointed out without unnecessary
delay, and make report TO the commission oil
their action in the premises. II the action
so reported shall seem 10 fail short OF WHAT'S
required by law further action will be taken.
The methods employed by the Southern
Railway snd Steamship Association 10
making rates from eastern cities and cities In
the Northwest TO ASSOCIATION points Ia the
southern states are first described. Ihe
opinion then takes M the tariff OF several
leading lines operating in the southern
States and reviews their methods OF pre-
pairing tariffs and Of classifying freight with
considerable detail. The principal points
discussed are the measures OF compliance
which has been yielded TO the fourth section
OF the act 10 regulate ana the
forms in which the tariffs have been made up
for publication and fling as required by the
sixth section.
The Interpretation Of the short-hauI clause
Of the act which was announced ny the
commission in the Louisville and'Nashyllle
case is adhered to. IL was the intention OF
the law that carriers in The INST instance
should prepare their tariffs according 10
their Individual judgment, and the commls'
sion urged, in doing 30. thit they should ne
brought much nearer To conformity WIN
the general rule OF the fourth section than
bad been their previous custom. The pres
ent infestlgatlon bas been fOrthe purpose OF
reviewing the progress made to the present
time, and OF making such suggestions as
may be appropriate in respect 90 further
modification.
IL appears that UpoD many OF the lines
considerable changes have been made since
the passage OF the act to requisite commerce.
The tariffs OF the Chesapeake and ONO IN
the State Of Virginia dc not violate the strlct
rule OF order, The tariffs OF the Nrriolk ana
Western also conform 10 the shoTt-haul rule
with s single exceptiou-uamelv, tariff from
the western AID southern states TO points
on the line Of this road in Virginia. Ihe
tariffs Of tho Richmond and DanYilie and its
associate lines have also been brought qulte
generally into harmony with the rule OF ths
law. Some exceptions remain, when are ue-
scribed, and the grounds on which the COM
paDy claims to justify thessme are given. Ihe
same is true OF the Cincinnati, New Orleans,
aud Texas. Thetsriis OF the East tennessee
Virginia and Georgia sre read At considera-
bic leagtb. Changes which have been maze
in the direction Of conformity TO law are
pointed out, together with other changes
which seem to lie required on this line. both
iu the matter OF Qualification and In respect
TO the ceDstruc ion Of It's tariffs. The condi-
ton OF the tariffs Of the Louisville and Nash
vile Al The time OF hearing had not been ma
terially changed sincethe passage OF the law.
The results brought out are given at con'id-
cradle length and are criticised In many re-
spects. II appears, however, that the new
tariffs were fled by this road on March -,
1850. ia which the entire system was changed,
II. local classification surrendered, and new
schedules prepared which are substantially
IN conformity to the requirements oil section
c Of the act.
the tariffs also show TIE changes on the
main line and on many OF the branches IN
the di ectl0n OF conformity to section 4.
The disparity which formerly existed be-
tween the rates TO local points snd TO more
distant competitive points has been mate
rally reduced, and on some paris OF the line
tariffs have been brought into conformity
with the shOit-haul rule. The changes mace
nv lle ArlNldl lt.llN NaNt "iHA fNhNtA~ 49,
many OF Georgia ire also described, and an
eaort on the part 81 that company 10 bring
its methods INTO more apparent conformity
to law IS observed. Examples are given re-
specting the lines OF this company In South
western Georgia. Upon the whole It Is the
conclusios OF the commission that 30 FAR astae
introduction and application Of the short
haul rule has extended IN the southern states
the evils which were anticipated have not
bfen found 10 exist, and that the relations
bet aeeu the carriers and their patrons IN some
,eetloos Of the country have been quite mate
rally improved. The movement Ia this direc'
lion should be sin further pressed ID con-
formitv with tie various suggestions made.
The rearranging Of rates and the slmplihca'
ton OF Classification are matters which The
curriers' should undertake and carry forward
for themselves. Many questions OF detail
are involved with which II would not be
easv for the commission TO deal. In order
10 Effect the reforms commended much labor
and care are necessarily required, and a res
sorable time i0r the purpose should be al
lowed.