The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-04
RATES OF THE RAILROADS.
Seventh Annual Report Of the Inter
state Commission.

Commercial Emancipation Claimed to
Have Been Brought About by the
Federal Commerce Law-The Iowa
Decision as to What Constitutes a
Railroad Line, Playing Havoc with
the Power of the Commission.
Washington, Dec. 3.-The seventhannual
report OF the interstate commerce commits
sion claims that, although all eXpecta-
tions have not been fully realized, the Op-
GRAFTON and administration of the statute
have brought reforms in transportation
which, compared with the evils that eX-
listed prior to the law, amount'to CONNER
Cial emancipation. The act provides
what the common law did not afford a
procedure by which to test the relation
of rates charged to different persons and
at different localities. Fear of discrimi-
nations or exactiOns no longer deters per
sons from complaining of carriers illegal
acts. A carrier has not now the power TO
punish shippers for protesting against its
wrongdoing.
LONG AND SHORT HAULs.
In regard to the long and short haul
clause the report says:
This provision OF the law Is nothing more
than an extension TO places of the rule for
bidding unjust discrimination between per
sons. The operation OF the provision was nc
Ceptel generally by the carriers But the
eject OF a decision Of the court of
appeals in an Iowa case wherein the
word Line in the statute was given a
wholly different meaning from that which the
commission had held was the proper con
strnction. has been startling This court de
CtsiOn has been followed and expanded by
other counts. These decisions hold in effect.
that one railroad is a line, and that the same
and another railroad is different line, and
three railroads are still another line, and so
on, and that rates on one Hn2 are not
to be compared with rates on another. The
commission holds that the word line me ms
Il physical line-the tracks of one or more
railrOads-and that "A line may be extended
over other roads by simply connecting the
tracks.
The courts coust ruction says the lines are
separate and independent while the cummis-
sion contends that the shortest line / q part
OF the longer line The interest Of nearly
every place where connecting roads Join. and
OF every LEGAL station it is urged, arc vitality
concerned in strengthening out this conflict
Of opinion and the need for prompt lcgisla-
ttOn Is urgent
MINIMUM AND MAXDIUM RATES.
The commission argues in favor of Civ
ing it authority to prescribe minimum as
well as maximum rates, and shows how
| the present depression of rates at large
| centcrS is working injury to the general
| public as well as to railroad investors.
| The commission recommends additional
| legislation, as follows
| To give legislative construction to the
word Zine" in the statute.
To provide for through rates and joint
| through rates.
| To give the commission power to pre-
scribe minimum as well as maximum
rates to competitive points.
| TO provide for the eadoption of a uniform
| freight classification.
| To make corporations subject to the act
| liable to indictment for violations of the
! law. and to provide penalty for failure
on the part Of carriers to file their annual
reports within a specified time.