The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-06

washington, Dec. 5.-The interstate
commerce commission transmitted the
eighth annual report to Congress today.
The report says it is the duty of the
| shippers, railroad managers and citi-
zens generally to assist the govern
tment in running down violations of the
statute designed to protect their in
iterests.
1t recommends that carrying corpora
tons be made indictable and subject
to fine for violations of the act. 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 classifica-
ton depends upon the passage of a
statute requiring its. accomplishment
The report states the railway service
which pertains to shipping, billing and
collection of charges, especially as to
the traffic over connecting roads, is
conducted with much uncertainty, lack
of system and regularity, SO it justifies
the charges of gross carelessness and
disregard of the rights of the shipping
public. Carriers ought to publish their
tariff rates and schedules plainly
enough and employ agents sufficiently
skilled to enable them to correctly
quote rates to shippers.
Too Much Oyerchnrging.
The fact that carriers undertake,
after the collection of overcharges, to
adjust the same, while right and pro-
lper in itself, does not furnish an ex-
cuse or justification for the practice of
overcharging to the extent to which
| it is carried on. The present method
of adjusting claims of this character is
attended with such delay and vexation
to claimants that it is extremely unsat-
isfactory, resulting in great injustice
to shippers and consigners. Under
charges also result in grave injustice.
1t is stated the provision of law re-
lating to through routes and through
rates on account of the limited meaning
which has been given to. it by the
courts is practically imperative and it
is strongly urged that the law be
amended to give effect to the intention
of Congress in respect to this matter.
After a lengthy review of the rail-
road pooling bill, the report says:
1--WE submit for the consideration Of
Congress that pooling without other
remedial legislation is inadvisable.
Pooling under conditions to be approved
by the commission and rendered capable
Of easy and direct legislation with ac-
companying effective remedial legisla-
ton we believe might safely be tried.
On the government ownership of rail-
roads the commission refrains from eX-
pressing an opinion.
AS to the great strike of 1894 the
commission states it's reasons for not
entering upon an investigation of this
matter. The controversy included mat
tiers outside of the commissions jurfs-
diction. 1t is urged the commission
should have express authority, by
statute, to investigate the acts Of all
parties in relation to such matters.
On June 80, 1894, there were 1876 roads
in the hands of receivers. While the
financial depression has been a factor
in bringing about the embarrassment
of railways, it is said that many of
the receiverships were the natural con-
sequence of niSmana cement, over
capitalization and ill-advised project
ing.
Railway Statistics.
The commission includes in it's re-
port statistics for the year ending
June 80, 1898. On that date there were
liza, 461.77 miles of line in the United
States, being an increase during the
year of 4,S97S5 miles. The number of
railway corporations was 1870, being
an increase of SiXty-eight over the
previous year. The capitalization of
the roads reporting was $10,596, 2S5. 410,
the number of passengers carried was
500, 560,612 and the number of tons Of
freight. carried 745,119, 1872. The gross
earnings were '$1,220, 751, S74; operating
expenses. 1927, 921 ,2S9, leaving net earn
ipgs 1892, $50, SIS, which is equivalent TO
$2,314 per mile The commission stat
ed that all new cars ordered by the
railways are being supplid with auto
matte couplers and a larger proportion
with air brakes. The accidents of the
year show little decrease on account
of the use of automatic couplers.