Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-06
0BEYING THE LAW.
Encouraging Report Rendered by the
Interstate Commission.
FEW INFRACTIONS DISCOVERED.
The Board of Ordnance Also Makes First
Class Return.
RAPID STRIDES TOWARD OUR DFFENSE

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 5.-The an
nual report of the Inter State Commerce
Commission states that there has been a
marked Improvement during the past year
in the disposition of carriers toward COM
pliance with the law. Infractions of its
provisions are less frequent rs respects un-
Just Determinations, unreasonable advan-
tages, favnrinC particular persons, places or
kinds Of business, but as regards the duty
of establishing and publishing rates and
charges little progress has been made.
Illustrations are given of certain devices
which have been adopted bv carriers for the
purpose of reducing rates without previous
publication of the contemplated reductions,
in respect both of passenger rates and
freight rates The public grievances arising
from the failure of the carriers to comply
with the law in these particulars are pointed
out
Upon the question Of connecting lines,
the most important subject treated is that
of Through routes and rates" Where con-
Meeting carriers fail or refuse to enter into
arrangements for the purpose of giving
these facilities very serious difficulties arise
in the administration ofthe act.
Necessity for Through R,tes
ga proper consideration of the public in
terests and the needs of commerce fire.
quently require that through routes should
be opened and through rates given over
connecting lines" says the report.
The question of legislative power to COM
pei connecting carriers grant these facil-
titles is discussed at some length: and while
difficulties are acknowledged and explained,
they are shown not to be nsuperable, the
conclusion being that the subject is proper
one for legislative action.
The power of Congress over carriers
whose slincS are confined within State
limits, hut who. neverth less, participate
in interstate commerce, is examined; and
the conclusion is arrived at that Congress
NAV undoubtedly exercise its regulative
powers upon such carriers. 1t IS shown
how, under the existing law, the commission
cannot compel connecting carriers to inter-
change business except a mere incident
where the main question involved is one of
unjust discrimination; and several illus
trations are given. Attention is directed
TO the dissimilaritv of the terms of the
various bills of lading in common use, and
the conflict of judicial opinion as respects
the rights and duties of shippers and car
riers under the same instrument is fully
presented
The dissimilar provisions and conflicting
interpretations of bills of lading affect traffic
of an Interstate character as well as merely
State traffic. and greater uniformity is de-
sirable in the interess of commerce. The
proposed uniform bill of ladng and the OBJ
iections of the shipping interests thereto are
discussed, and some of its features, es-
pecially the provision that property taken
at carriers risk shall be rated one class
higher than if taken at owners risk, are
disapproved.
The commission recommends a mode of
proceeding before the commission and in
the courts TO enforce commissions orders;
definite action TO compel the carriers to
adopt a uniform classification; that some
time be fixed within which carriers shall be
required to adopt uniform classification of
freights and that the tenth section of the
act shall be so amended that corporations as
well as their employees and agents shall be
indictable.
The Work of Defense Going On.
The report of the Board of Ordnance and
Fortifcatiou, embracing its operation from
1888 to 1891, was sent TO Congress to-day.
1t SAYS that there are now certainly two
great plants (Watervliet and Bethlehem)
where forgings up to 12-inch guns can be
turned out with reasonable dispatch, and
gun factory where the finished and
assembled types of S-inch, 10-inch and L.
inch guns have been completed and either
tested or are awaiting proof 1t is expected
that by January l, 1892, the factory will
have turned out nine S-inch, five 1O-inch
and two Pinch guns. Eleven guns of
S-inch caliber are under contract with the
West Point Foundry; 100 guns OF S-inch |
and 12-inch caliber are practically under
contract with the Bethlehem Iron Company;
7@ Pinch seacoast InSrtars are under con-
tract or completed.
Types of gun and mortar. carriages have
been procured and are undergoing tests:
considerable success has attended the eff
forts to produce an American slow-burning
prismatic powder that shall render the
United States independent of foreign man
ufacturers; beginning has been made on
the construction of gun and mortar bat
teries for the protection OF our most i'm
portant ports, while advance has been made
along the whole line of defensive prepara-
tion. Four years continuance of similar
legislation and activity, and it can no
longer be said that the United States is de-
fenSeless against foreign mowers