The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-12-12
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Annual Report Of the Commits
sion Sent to Congress.
Various Recommendations for Amend
ments to the Act Are suggested--Cor-
porations Should be Made lndict-
able and Subject to Fine for
violation OF the Statute.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The eighth an
nual report of the Interstate commerce
commission, which was sent to congress
yesterday, ranges through a variety of
subjects.
Regarding criminal andcivil procedure under
the law, the commission In calling attention
upon this point, explains its duty to report to
the department of justice OF facts concerning
alleged violations of the penal clauses OF the
act and says this does not clothe the commits
sion with detective or prosecution functions, Its
connection with the criminal side OF the law
ending with such report TO the department OF
justice.
1t is the duty Of shippers railroad managers
and citizens generally says the commission, TO
assist the government in running down viola
tions Of the statute designated to protect their
interests. Transportation should not be re-
garded as q part OF the private business of ship
pers, 1t should be viewed as an agency pro-
vided upder government sanction. 1t recon-
mends that the carrying corporations be made
indictable and subject to fine for violation OF
the act.
The report speaks of the unreasonable freight
rates from Chicago and Cincinnati to northern
points: OF the unreasonable rates on wheat,
and Of the failure Of many carriers TO post
their tariffs as required by law. tME
Speaking OF the classification of freights,
the commission refers TO the progress already
made toward harmonious railroad operation
which is desirable for the public interest, and
explains the necessity to provide asingle class
I ification Of commodities for the whole country
Concerning overcharges and un6ercharges,
the report declares that carriers ought to pub
lish their tariff rates and schedules plainly
J fania
to enable them to correctly quote the rates to
shippers.
The commission refrans from expressing any
opinion on the subject of government owner
ship OF railroads, and states its reasons for not
J investigating the great strike Of 1894, among
which are facts that the controversy includes
matters outside of the commissions jurisdic-
tion.
! Referring to railroad financial embarras-
mentS the report intimateS thatmany receiver
ships were the natural sequence OF misman-
agement, over-capitallzation and ill-adviseu
projecting.
( The report bristles with figures in its allu-
sionS to railway statistics, showing that on
June So 1893 there were 607 miles of line
in the United States, being an increase during
the year of 4,s3755. The tendency toward con-
solidation is shown by the fact that twenty
eight roads were merged, twenty roads were
reorFanzed and sixteen roads consolidated in
to o.hcl q, stems.
Among tie several recommendations Of the
commission are that the statutes be amended
so as to provide a procedure for the establish
ment Of through routes and through rates: that
the commission be directed to prescribe uni
form classification for frclghts and that car
riers be required to conform to such classifca'
tion; that for the purpose OF preventing over
charges and undercharges for interstate trans
portation the act be amended so as to connec
the contract Of shipment and its performance
by the carriers with their duty to receive onl!
such rates as have been put in force according
to law that corporations subject to the act b.
made liable to indictment for offenses agains
the statute and that the present provision
subjecting individuals engaged in railway serv
ice to punishment by fine or imprispRmeqt 70
prohibited acts be retained
Various recommendations for amendments +
the act are suggested in accordance with plan
mentioned in the body OF the report which
among other things, convey suggestions re
garding legislation authorizing the commissio
to investigate threatened labor contests o
railways and to require annual reports fror
various companies whose business Is closel
related to that of transportation