Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1894-12-14
RIGHTS OF SHIPPERS.
Report of the Interstate Com.
merce Commission.
VARIETY OF SUBJECTS TREATED

~ DCCidECB HI shNOE VA - oAnBAO NAaSSh-
fIcation of Commodities for the Whole
Country = Congress Can Prescribe
Rules Regulating Commerce.
WASHINGTON, Decembe 9.-The eighth
annual report Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which was sent to
Congress yesterday, ranges through a
variety of subjects, opening with that OF
court decisions, noting the case Of Brim-
son 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 plenary
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
valid; that in proceeding to complete
| the attendance and testimony of wit
nesses before the commission or to COM
pei the production of books, papers and
documents, in case of which under the
constitution a 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 b-fore the commission is properly
punishable as contempt of court.
Regarding criminal and civil proce'
dure under the law the commission, call
ing attention to Misrepresentation upor
this point, explains that its duty is II
report to the department OF Justice factI
concerning alleged violations of the pc
nal clauses of the act, and says this doe
not clothe the commission with detective
or prosecuting functions, its connection
with such report to the Department o
Justice. The report says that it is tn
duty OF shippers railway managers ant
citizens generally to assist the govern
ment in running down violations O
statutes designed to protect their inter
ests. Transportation should not be re
garded as part of the private busines
OF shippers. 1t should be viewed as al
agency provided under government sane
ton. 1t recommends that the carryin
corporations be made indictable AM
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-hau
clause. Due observance of that clause
it says, will encourage legitimate and re
strain illegitimate competition in tn
carrying trade.
) Speaking of the classification of freight
the commission refers to the progress a.
ready made toward harmonious railwa
; operation, which is desirable for the pub
lie interests, and explains the necessit
: of providing single classification of CON
modities for the whole country. Tn
advance in the past, it asserts, demon
strates that uniformity is practicable
and the failure to secure satisfactor
. progress in this work is due to the fa'
: that the three classifications now in us
have been separately developed by th
;. associated lines operating in section
: ! where the classifcations apply, and thu
= each group OF carriers has accomplishe
= its separate task, but seems unable
: agree upon and enforce single classil
!. cation. Uniform classification, the r
u port says, depends upon the passage
!. a statute requiring its Accomplishment
y and the commission recommends that
J be directed to make and prescribe with
: time to be named for such classific
% ton.
!. UTAH COMMISSIONS REPORT.
70 WASHINGTON, December 9.-The a
d nual report OF the Utah Commission su
mitted to the Secretary of the Interi
yesterday reviews the general perforl
ance of its duties in the supervision
the elections in that Territory. i
commission says the registration OF vt
= ers preparatory to the general electi
was made in fairness. About 5000 re
istration offices were apportioned amo
the twenty-six counties and over 10
Judges of election appointed. The tot
amount of appropriations for the col
mission for the fiscal year was $32, on
and the disbursements $26. .673,