The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-06
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The Commission Sends Its Report to
Congress-.

Congress.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The eighth an
nual report Of the interstate commerce
commission, which was sent to congress
to-day. ranges through a variety Of sub
jects
The report says it is the duty OF the
shippers. railroad managers and citizens
generally asst the government in run
ming down violations Of the statute de-
signed to protect their interests. Trans
pOrtation should not be regarded a part
of the private business of shippers 1t
should be viewed as an agency provided
under government sanction. II recon-
mends that carrying corporations be made
indictable and subject TO fine for violation
of the act.
The report presents at length state
ment of the work of the commission and
discusses the long and short haul clause.
Due observance Of that clause. IL says. will
encourage legitimate and restrain illegit-
innate competition in the carrying trade.
The report presents the facts cOnsti-
tuting what is known as the southern
freight war, that is. the freight war that
has been going on in the territory south
of the Potomac river during the past sum-
mer, showing the causes of the war. the
great injury resulting TO numerous places
and dealers therein, etc, and says the
rate adopted in that territory was ill-con-
SAANANA anu a. 1OSAAg NAAbAA ~ punish 0AAt
or two competing carriers.
1t taught no new lessons and brought
about no guarantee of future observance
of the rates by the parties whom the cut
was designed to injure.
Among the several recommendations Of
the commission are that power be con-
ferred upon the commission to prescribe
minimum as well as maximum rates; that
section three Of the statute be amended so
as to provide a procedure for the establish
ment of through routes and through rates;
that the commission be directed TO pre-
scribe uniform classification for freights
and that carriers be required to con-
form TO such classifications; that for the
purpose of preventing overcharges and
undercharges for interstate transporta-
ton the act be amended so as to connect
the contract of shipment and its per-
Torrance by the carriers with their duty
to receive only such rates as have been
put in force according to law; that cor
porations subject to the act be made
liable to indictment for offenses against
the state, and that the present provisions
subjecting individuals engaged in the rail
way service to punishment by fine or i'm
prisonment for prohibited acts be re-
tanned, but that shippers, consgnees and
individuals not connected with railroad
employment be relieved from liability to
fine and Imprisonment under section ten,
except for such fraudulent acts as false
billing, false classification, false weigh
ing, false representation of the contents
of its package, or false report Of weight:
that the word line" when used in the
act, shall be construed to be a physical
line; not a business arrangement. Nari-
Gus recommendations for amendments to
the act are suggested in accordance with
plans mentioned in the body OF che re-
port, which among other things convey
suggestions regarding legislation author
izing the commission to investigate
threatened labor contests on railways
and to require annual reports from COM
panies whose business is closely related to
that of Transportation