New-York tribune., 1892-12-20
RAILROAD REGULATION.
WORK OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
COMMISSION
.xyr,1. REPORT TO CONGRESS NOTIFICATIONS
or THE LAW sUGGrsTED-soo,ooo TARIFF

ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ss-MoDIF-cATloNs
OF THE LAW sCGGI-STED-Soo'ooo iAi'iff
SCHEDULES on FILE.
,.os,,,cton Dec 1e-The report Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission for the year ended november
IN 1900 wos to-day transmitted TO congress- IL
onens with review OF the reasons that iiluuceo oe
massage OF the to regulate commerce. "''''h "''
given in view Of results realized In ADMINISTERING
tho net and the necessity for amendments WHICH
oxperencc has disclosed. 1t states that the comms-
s,on il gratHcd at being able to add that many rail-
os managers of the highest standing now concedc
tho necessity OF Government regulation, ald avow the-
so,vcs I'm nyor Of such further cnaclnents as VIII make
the regulation effective.
nThc Interstate Commerce law the report says,
although the outgrowth Of an aroused ana de'er-
mined public sentiment compromise bill between
divergent theories and conflicting interests Du' tose
who contrast the practices which obtained prior TO the
law with methods and conditions now existing VIII
bove no doubt Of the potential value OF the statute
in correcting public sentiment, restraining lhjusuce
and enforcing reasonable charges and equal ucahent
=, far from condemnlng public regulation, experience
ha, established It's Importance ana ih'ehSiheu i'S
nnces,ty ard the very respects in which the law mas
f,ir.d ia meet public expectation demonstrate tie
utility OF Government supervision. 1t Is not TOO much
To say that judicial Interpretation mas hhiled the
meaning Of the law. and ascrbed to 1t an Intent
not contemplated when 1t was passed But the encct
OF these decisions has been greatly exaggerated, )u-
dIcaI construction has not invalidated the essential
features OF the statute. nor condemned the general
prlncpe on which 1t Is founded and only in respect
Of appliances provided for carrying It's main purpose
into effect has the law been weakened by the ludg'
mcnt OF The courts. The original act, passed nearly
SIX years ago, was, In n measure experimental out
ONLY two amending acts have been adopted and 1t
Is surprising that 50 much has been accomplished with
so little aid In the form Of needed amendment"
foft tln iicsin X ,et
Including tho interesting statement that there are
now on file with the Commission 100000 tanR
schedules aso review OF the h"ailngs ana investsa-
fonS and the disposed Of during the year. Ike
spcctIng thcsc the report says: The character OF
proceedings before the Commission indicates that the
main causes OF complaint arise from Determinations
and preferences In rates and facilities ana not from
rate, nrcasonable In themselves
Al tl. request OF the senate Committee on Finance
the Cominisson during the last year, directed lts
auditor to collect statistics showing changes In rates
from the earliest period for which IL possible 10
obtain data the present time. These statistics,
which will be- Included In the report OF that committee
to Congress on the subject OF prices and wages SHOW
material ,ne In rates and classihcaons prescribing
rntcs which appear, universal, and the Commission
thlpi, The minimum la, not yet been reached
nder the head Of Proceedings IN United states
Courts are described In the courts which grew
out Of cases decided and Investigations made by the
COmUi~ sion. AMI Whlch l3Nc Dcch IOh tiH'
- time a, they occurred. The recent opinion of
Justice Brewer IN the Circuit Court Of Appeals, de-
iding lons and short haul Cuse. IS discussed, aud
the dctum in the opinion that c.c total Joint rate OF
twD roads f. Independent line from lines
formed by either road and not 10 be considered In
determining the local rate Of ehcr road and therefore
may bc even les, than the intermediate or local rate,
is shown TO be without foundation either In the de-
bates In Congress the practice OF carriers since the
rl'l ~ lc Commission,
witch nevertheless cci In that opinion rs sup
portins the new theory. To protect all intermediate
oairs and Inland from the disastrous effects
II this judicial Interpretation Congress is earnestly
urged to make such immediate action as Will give
legislative construction - the word line In the
statute.
Several amendments recommended by the Com.
mission for the purpose of strengthening the law
arc discussed especially those growing out OF the
dcci,, oi the supreme Court that the provisions
Of section rdO OF the Revised statutes. granting
immunity winc,se, required to testify concerning
Illegal act in which they have participated. not
broad enough Ia meet N" safcgtars guarantee 10
snch a witness by the Constitution. and Judge Grcsh-
am, more decision that Congress cannot con-
sttutlouauy rrIur" the Federal courts TO use thcr
proce>, compl the production oi testimony tclorr
non .ludlcla tribunal Regarding the p;o"oscd amend
mcni by which pooling = 10 b. permitted the report
The attempt 20 secure the public from dl,c1minl-
ton cNiorun. fIvorltism undue preference. ana 10
secure To- every citizen Just and reasonable nte,. and
matters Is the very essence. spirit and purpose OF
the Inv. and II would lie vain & protect carriers
from competitive attack, upon each other. n the
general public cannot lc protected from the greater
evils above enumerated. II IN" law Is 20 bs amended
the two Glasses of amendments should 90 hand IN
hand th,ll the law T. mad" strong Us frnmers
Intended In the matters ot fair aud stable rates.
equal treatment aud Suppression Of all iavorii>m 1t
Is Idle 20 seek 10 protect carriers whose immunity,
under the authoritative constructions Of the law from
restrictions Intended bv Cor eTes, seems OF the
remarkable facts I'm current history"
Other subjects treated IN thr report are Canadian
ifion >fuf trlfi
statistical work - the Commission for the end
lng June 30 l7pl and 1892. Government aided rail-
roads and telegraph lines. fourth convention ~ rail-
road commissioners. relations of railway companies
and their cmDOVcg