The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-12-14
THE RAILROADS.
Report of the Interstate Commerce Conz
mission-FreIght Schedules Discussed.


eighth annual report to congress yes
terday. The report says it is the duty
of shippers, railroad managers and
citizens generally to assist the govern.
ment in running down violations of the
statute designed to protect their inter-
estss. 1t recommends that carrying
corporations be made indictabie and
subject to fine for violations of the act.
The report speaks of the unreasonable
freight rates from Chicago and Cincin-
natl to southern points. Also of the
unreasonable rates on wheat. 1t re-
fers to the failure of many carriers to
post their traffic as required by law.
The commission explains the necessity
of providing single classification of
freights for the whole country, saying
that experience has shown the neces.
sity for congressional action, and sup
ports the belief that uniform classif.
cation depends upon the passage of
statute requiring its accomplishment.
The report states the railway service
which pertains to shipping, billing and
the statement. collection and correc-
ton of charges, especially as to the
traffic over connecting roads, is con-
Quoted with much uncertainty. lack Of
system and regularity, SO it justifies
charges of gross carelessness and disre-
gard of the rights of the shipping pub
lie. Carriers ought to publish their tariff
rates and schedules plainly enough and
employ agents skilled enough to enable
them to correctly quote rates to ship
pers. The fact that carriers under
take. after the collection of over
charges, to adjust the same, while
right and proper in itself. does not fur
nish an excuse or justification for the
practice of overcharging to the extent
20 whica it is carried on. The present
method of adjusting claims of this
character is attended with such de-
Law and vexation to claimants that il
is extremely unsatisfactory, resulting
in great injustice to shippers and con-
signees.
Undercharges also result in grave in
justice. 1t is stated the provision of
law relating to through routes and
through rates on account of the limited
meaning which had been given to it by
the courts, is practically imperative,
and it is strongly urged that the law
be amended in order to give effect to
the intention of congress in respect to
this matter.
After lengthy review of the rail-
road pooling bill, the report says: I'VE
submit for the consideration of con-
gress that pooling without other reme-
dial legislation is unadvisable. Pool
ing under conditions to be approved by
the commission and rendered capable
of easy and direct regulation with ac-
companying effective remedial legisla-
ton we believe might safely be tried"
On the government ownership of rail-
roads, the commission refrains from
expressing any opinion.
As to the great strike of 1894, the
commission states its reasons for rot
entering upon an investigation of this
matter. The controversy included
matters outside of the commissions
jurisdiction. 1t is urged the commits
sion Should have express authority by
statute to investigate the acts of all
parties in relation to such matters.
AS to the financial condition of rail-
ways. reference is made to the financial
embarrassment of railways resulting
from the commercial depression and
other causes. On June 80. there were
156 roads in the hands of receivers,
while the financial depression has been
a factor in bringing about embarrass-
ment of railways. it is believed that
- l..
natural sequence of mismanagement,
over-capitalization and ill-advised pro-
jecting. Although the trait has largely
decreased during the year, the rates
have also declined, showing that there
has been unusual competition for the
decreased traffic.
The commission includes in its re-
port statistics of railways for the year
ended June 80. 1893. On that date
there were 174.461.77 miles of line in
the United States, being an increase
during the year of 4.S97.s5 miles The
number of railway corporations waD
1880, being an increase of sixty-eight
over the previous year. The capital.
ization of the roads reporting was S10,-
SOC, 1854 The number of passengers
carried was 500, $50, Gle. and the num-
Der of tons of freight carried was 74s.-
119. 4s2. The gross earnings were ST.
90, 751,s74. the operating expenses
Ss27. e21 ,299, leaving net earnings o.
1892 $50, 575, which is equivalent to ST.
314 per mile of line.
The commission calls further attep-
ton to the legislative enactment re-
quiring the application of automatic
couplers and other appliances on the
cars of the railways, and gives figures
showing to what extent equipments
have been fitted with such appliances
up to June 80, 1898. 1t is stated that
all new cars ordered by the railways
are being supplied with automatic
couplers and large proportion with
air brakes. The accidents of the year
show little decrease on account of the
use of automatic couplers, and such
result is not expected until more uni
fornity in such appliances has been
attained.
Horses Cremated.
HoPKINsvILLE, KY, Dec. 6.-The large
= IL