Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-09
THIS IS BUSINESS.
What a Practical Trader Says Of
the Interstate Commerce Law.
ITS ALLEGED INEFFECTIVENESS,
No More Lies Against 1t Than as to Stat
utes Against Burglary, Etc.
SUGGESTIONS AS TO APPLICATION

Much has been said and written pro and
con regarding the Interstate commerce law,
but while the doctrinaires have had full
swing, the men who are vitality interested
have been heard to but a limited extent,
and the following from Mr.. John Hood,
whose experience of the law has been prsc-
teal, will be of interest, In answer to
some queries. Mr.. Hood replied:
You have had the say of the commissioner
and many railroad officers. therefore. l fear 1t
would be presumption in me TO make any
statements or suggestions that would be edify-
ing to your readers. The opinion of most Of
those who have spoken would indicate that the
law is here to STAY. Many have much fault to
find with the restrictions it imposes, and some
would be glad to see 1t repealed. They say 1t
gives water routes some advantages because
these rates are not regulated by law, and that
it drives traffic through Canada; and some
roads can get around the restrictions by CLASH
fcation and others by overlooking and under
billing, and some make secret cut rates to get
freight, and others depreciate the value of
stocks in the interest OF stock gambling, and
others say the result of the law will be to build
up large shippers and certain commercial CEN
tiers, etc. Therefore they reason that the
country would be better of if the law were
repealed, although it was to correct these
abuses the law was enacted.
SUCH OBJECTIONS APPLY TO L LAWS.
To repeal the law because it is violated
would be about as sensible as to repeal all laws
relating to highway robbery and burglary be-
cause they are violated every day. Tn law is
intended to prevent a favored few from lncreas-
ing their wealth at the expense of the many,
and would do so if executed. Hon. Franklin
B. Gowen estimated the amount thus secured
at about SlOOOOO,O 600 annually. OF course, that
amount is taken off the patrons of the rail
roads and the stockholders without giving any
value therefor.
There are several important amendments
pending now before Congress which may cor
rect some of the abuses complained of, as the
law was an experiment and time has developed
what amendments are a necessity.
In regard ia, classification, the commissioners
could suggest the proper remedies for that,
and those who ship via the Canadian route to
evade the law should be made to pay duty when
their goods are landed on American territory.
The present system OF posting rates might he
improved on to correct such rate-cut-
ting by requiring common carriers to post
notice of all reductions in rates at least five
days before they take effect, and it might be
well to require them to have a sign board in
every freight and passenger Office from the
general offices down 10 the receiving and de-
livering offices and platforms, including every
station on their line. on the sign board should
be printed in large letters, Freight Rates
and on the same should hang the pamphlets
containing the classification and rates, and
when a change is to be made a poster should
be placed on the same giving notice when all
changes are to be made in large type, not less
jn size than three-inch letters as follows. Say
winter rates are to be advanced De-
cember !, post as follows: Rates
will advance on December l." or say
April !. Rates will be reduced April s." With
such notice secret rate cutting would be haz-
ardous, even to those who change rates to infu-
ence the value Of stocks. The law should StIp-
ulate that no advance in any calendar year
shall exceed 70 per cent above the lowest rate
of the same year. Thus if a railway company
would for any cause name l5c for 100 pounds on
sixth class freight and other classes proportion
ately lower between Chicago and New York, it
could not advance the same above lSc per 100
on sixth class until the following January.
With that provision stockholders and bond
holders would be more careful in selecting Off
GERS TO manage Their property.
HOW TO MAXI IT EFFECTIVE.
The maximum penalty is now 5000, and the
lowest should be 5000, and one-half of all fines
should 60 to the prosecutor, provided he is the
injured party. Such persons would be
public benefactors. 1t involves so much ex-
pense and vexation for an individual to prose-
cute a railroad company that be is entitled to
half the fine. All lawsuits are costly and vex-
atious to individuals. but corporations and
their attorneys appear to enjoy them as a
luxury. and generally prolong the contest as
long as they can. and why should there not be
alimit to the time ali cases that are entered
under the law should be ended?
In regard to overlooking and undertaking
provisions should be made to weigh and re-
ceipt for all goods shipped when it is practical
bic to do so, and deliver the same amount at
destination. that would correct the overlooking
and undertaking dodge.
H STATES MUST COOPERATE.
To enjoy the full benefits of the law regulat-
ing railroad traffic it will be necessary to have
State laws in all the States in harmony with
the interstate law. Some of the States have
laws regulating State traffic, others have not.
The Constitution of Pennsylvania covers the
ground, but there are no penalties, and it has
been impossible to get a law passed by our
Legislature to enforce that provision of our
organic law, although every member takes an
oath to enforce by appropriate legislation the
provisions of this article. Why they disre-
gard their oaths and the wishes of their con-
stltuentS is a mystery to many people.
Some of the railroad officials wish to have
the section prohibiting pooling repealed, but
the experience shippers had with the old pool
that controlled 81 railroads extending from
Maine TO the Mississippi river, admonishes
them that a railroad pool means no competi-
ton and very arbitrary and unjust DEGREES,
which are more to be dreaded than the Stand
ard Oil Company Trust.
DOESN'T SWALLOW EVERYTHING.
Mr.. Hood shrugged his shoulders when some
OF the pleas in abatement made by railway
companies were rehearsed, and intimated that
he had been long enough in business and had
seen enough of discrimination to know that the
specific gravity of most of the excuses was
lighter than the uncomfortable ether supposed
TO fill the space between our atmosphere and
that of the celestial bodies that dot the range
of vision. He incidentally referred to the cases
of individuals and companies in times past
whom he had known to be favored and who /
grew immensely rich. while men with as much /
business tact and industry had hard work to
make more than a meager living. Mr.. Hood
thinks that spacious pleadings will not win
with any man of sense who has had regular
business with railroad companies for 20 OF Is
years past
EVERYWHERE throughout the land DR..
Bulls Cough Syrup is pre-eminently rec
commended.