New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-06
COMMERCE. BETWEEN STATES
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COM
MISSION.

| FREIGHT CLASSlF1cAlloN - oiHi''''
OF THE RAILWAYS = ADDITIONAL
IEGIsLATIoN RECOMMENDED.
| Washington Dec. 5.-The eighth annuai repo'' "
| the Interstate Commerce Commission "hich Wa
| sont IN Congress to-day. ranges through variety
| of subjects opening with that OF court ueci'oi.''
| o,,rg that in the case of Crimson and others the
| Supreme Court held that Congress may ehpios any
| orrronr,ate means to accomplish the objects OF the
| law Granted TO 1t by the Constitution ana tha'
| Congress has plcnary power to prescrioe '"e nc
| regulating Interstate commerce; that the Pio''
| OF the twelfth section of the act 10 regulate Cum
nerce recurring the courts to use their process IN
| aid of inquiries before the Commission Is co"s''
tional and valid: that proceeding 10 co'hpe' .''
| attendance and testimony OF witnesses Deiore the
| Commission or to compel the production OF poohS'
| papers and documents, Is case OF "n'c", ""ue'
| the Constitution, a Federal Court may TAKE CUB
nIzance that failure to obey an order OF the cou'
| requiring the giving Of such testimony OF 'e p'1
| duction OF documents before the Commission %
| properly punishable contempt OF court
| Regarding criminal and civil procedure under the
law the Commission calling attention 10 msap-
| prehenson upon this point. explains 's ou'S "
| report TO the Department OF Justice 1ac's conoe'"
ing alleged violations of the penal clauses OF the ac'
| and SAYS that this does not clothe the Commiss'o"
,,,,b adjective or prosecuting functions, Its con-
| nection with the criminal side of the law endins
| with such report to the Department OF JUSTICE
| The report says that 1t is the duty OF Shippers
railroad managers and citizens generally to ASSIST
| the Government In running down violations Oh 'ne
| statute designed to protect their interests II
| recommends that the carrying corporations DE
| made ndictabe and subject to fine for VIOLATIONS
| of the act The report presents at length state
| ment of the work of the Commission ana discusseS
| the long and short haul clauses. Due Observance
OF that clause. 1t says. Will encourage ies'''na'e
and restrain illegitmhte competition In the carry
|
| sttuting what is known the Southern freisht
| war showing the causes OF the war; the great III,
fury resulting from II, therein. etc. ana says Una.
the rate adopted in that territory was III
and n costly effort to punish one or TWO co"pe''"s
| carriers.
| c,o,Lt,g NJ the classification Of freghts, the
| commission refers to the progress already made
| toward harmonious railroad operation, which Is ue-
sirable for the public interest and explains the me-
cessty TO provide single classification OF com
| modities for the whole country. UNIFORM c'aSS'"
] cation the report says depends upon the passage
| Of a statute requiring It's accomplishment anu inc
commission recommends that II be directed to make
| and prescribe such classification
The matter OF transportation and carriers SUBJECT
IN tho statute and the relation OF railroad receivers
t. the law arr also referred to- Upon the iast-meh-
| TONED point II 4, urged that the attitude OF re-
ceivcr To the law IS precisely that OF the corpora
,,on whose affairs have not been taken control or
| by the court. Concerning overcharges ana under
charges the report states that the railway ser'oe
which pertains to. shipping billing ana the STATE
| rent collection and correction OF charges, espe
cialIy as 10 trafnc over connecting roads IL con-
| Quoted with much uncertainty. lack OF system ana
regularity go that ustines charges OF gross care
essness and disregard Of the rights OF the shipping
public Carriers ought to publish their tarin rates
| and schedules plainly enough. and employ agents
sufficiently skilled enable them correctly TO quote
rates to shippers The fact that carriers undertake
| .f n
same while right and proper In Itself does not
furnish an excuse or justification for the practice
OF overchargng to the extent TO which II IL carried
| on. The present method OF adjus,inVciaims OF ths
| character Is attended with such delay and vexa-
ton TO claimants that II IL extremely usatisfac-
tory resulting in great injustice TO shippers and
| consigneea tnderChargss also result In grave IN
justice shipper conssnees ana railroad "a, oci Ia,
ter telegram for information as TO rates IN force
which WI oe PrSmp gwen to I p4svens oVep and
| under charges In large measure. but 1t r. urged
that the only way effectively TO correct the evil Is
Other topic. considered by the mission are
| ana through rates. pooling OF freish,s and owls
| ions OF earnings -,
| % 1898. are given. On that date there we're 49,
isO7 miles OF line in the United states being ar
| tendency toward consolidation is shown by The
fact ,ha, twenty-eighi roads were merged twenty
roads we're reorganized. and sixteen roads consoh-
| dated into other systems There were forty-t"o
| operating companies having nlehge III excess OF
| lOpl miles. The capitalization OF the roads report
ing was $40 sos 225 40 equivalent So 2i per mile
| OF line. The number OF passengers carried was
| red was 7s.ilsIs2. The gross earnings were
eay i T net eaf an ' o ss sC57 which Is
| equivalent to t2.3li per mile OF line. Adding 10
| this the income from other sources TO the amount
| OF $40 Gis G5 gives the amount available for the
| payment OF fixed charges and dividends. Si2.
100 From this there was paid Si3l. ~ l26 AZ fixed
| charges and dividends and other payments from
| M .f = he
J s7s 62 being Increase over the previous year OF
an Increase OF l73. and the number Injured was
Si.'2S an increase Of 5.4@ The number OF pas
| crease OF only two over the previous year.
| Among the recommendations OF the Commission
are that power be conferred upon 1t TO prescribe
| minimum as well ~ xmum rates: that Section
OF the statute be amended so as 10 provide pro
cedurc for the establishment Of through routes and
rates that the commission be directed To prescribe
a uniform classification for freights. and that car
| rers be required by suitable provision TO conform
10 such claSshcation that for the purpose OF pre-
venting overcharges and undercharges Tor inter
| connect the contract u shipment and performance
by the carriers with their duty TO charge or receive
only such rates as hay been nu. IN orcs M
| made liable to Indictment for offences against the
saue and that The presnHt ,np}sGt9s
but Ss RSS sSa nj
under section 10. except for such fraudulent acts
| false representation OF the contents Of package
| or false report Of weight that the word line
| hvsicsI line not Il business arrangement. Vari-
| ous other recommendations for amendments to the
act are made regarE 6reatensd labor
| on railways. and to require annual reports from
various companies whose business Is closely related
| TO that OF transportation
|