The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-12-15
RIGHTS OF SHIPPERS.
Report of the Interstate Com.
merce Commission.
VARIETY OF SUBJECTS TREATED

Il Declares IN Favor Of . Single Clsssi-
aeastos Of Cs.sDsaisies for the whole
Country Congress Csn Prssesibs
Rules Regulates CsDnsres.
WASHINGTON, December 9.-The eighth
annual report Of the Interstate Com.
merce Commission, which was sent TO
Congress yesterday, ranges through .
variety Of subjects, opening with that Of
court decisions, noting the case OF Brim-
con and Others. The Supreme Court
held that Congress may employ any ap-
propriate means to accomplish the OBJ
ject Of the law granted to it by the con-
stitution, and that Congress has plenaEy
power to prescribe the rules regulating
interstate commerce; that provisions Of
the 18th section Of the act to regulate
commerce. requiring the courts to use
their process in aid OF inquiries before
the commission, are constitutional and
the attendance and testimony of wit
nesses before the commission or to cum
pei the production Of books. papers and
documente, in . case of which under the
constitution Q Federal court may take
cognizance. the failure to obey an order
Of the court requiring the giving of such
testimony or the production OF docu-
ments before the commission is properly
punishable ~ contempt of court.
Regarding criminal and civil proce-
dure under the law the commission, CALI
ing attention to misapprehension upon
this point, explains that its duty 10 to
report to the Department OF Justice facts
concerning alleged violations Of the Pc
nal clAueee Of the act, and says this does
not clothe the commission with detective
or prosecuting functions, its connection
with the criminal side OF the law ending
with such report to the Department OF
Justice. The report says that it is the
duty OF shippers railway managers and
citizens generally to assist the govern
ment in running down violations OF
statutes designed to protect their inter-
ests. Transportation should not be re-
garded as q part Of the private business
OF shippers. 1t should be viewed az an
agency provided under government sane
ton. 1t recommends that the carrying
corporations be made indictable and
subject to fine for violation of the act.
The report presents at length state
ucuI ot tuC WIN III kiC
and discusses the long and SHORTHAND
clause. Due observance Of that clause,
it says, will encourage legitimate and ~
strain illegitimste competition in the
carrying trade.
Speaking of the classification OF freights
the commission refers to the progress al.
ready made toward harmonious railway
operation, which is desirable for the pub
lie interests. and explains the necessity
OF providing single classification Of COM
modities for the whole country. The
advance in the past, ii asserts, demon
etrates that uniformity is practicable.
| and the failure to secure satisfactory
progress in this work is due to the fact
! that the three classitications now in use
have been separately developed by the
associated lines operating in sections
where the classifcations apply, and that
each group OF carriers has accomplished
it's separate task, but seems unable to
agree upon and enforce a single classifi-
cation. Uniform classification, the re-
port says, depends upon the passage OF
Q statute requiring it's accomplishment,
and the commission recommends that it
be directed to make and prescribe within
| time to be named for such classihca-
ton.
UTAH COMMISSIONS REPORT.
| WASHINGTON, December 9.-The an.
nual report OF the Utah Commission sub
mitied to the Secretary Of the Interior
| yesterday reviews the general perform
ance OF its duties in the supervision OF
the elections in that Territory. The
commission SAYS the registration of vot-
ers preparatory to the general election
| Was made in fairness. About s 0oa reg
istration offices were appo,tionea among
| the twenty-six counties and over 1000
judges Of election appointed. The total
amount Of appropriations for the COM
mission for the fiscal year was $50 900,
| and the disbursements SO, 675.