The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-18
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. REPORT
Recommends That the Law be- Amended 20
as to be Effective.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 17-Decisions
rendered during the year by the federal
courts involving important features OF
the act 10 regulate commerce are assign
ed prominent place in the tenth annual
repCr. of the Interstate Commerce CON-
mission, sent to congress today. During
the year the supreme court has rendered
three decisions of special Importance. In
one case the law has been upheld and
fortified in a most important particular,
but the outcome Of the others has either
emphasized the defects of the statute or
left its further interpreta tions so doubt
ful and uncertain as to increase the diff
culties Of efficient administration. These
cases were the important rate cases, in
volving ne question of differences in
chalg for Ike traffic. as between for
eign and domestic traffic; second, the So
cial circle case, involving the long and
short haul cause of the act, and. third.
the Brown case, concerning the right OF
a person TO refuse testifying on the
ground that it might incrimiuate him
self. A statement OF "civil cases pend
ing in the courts" showed twenty-five
cases to enforce regulating orders of the
proceedings to conipei carriers to file an
nual reports with tire commission. Forty
five cases. calling fer an investigation
Gocket of formal preceding during the
year. The central discomfort: with the
present transportation conditions. the re-
port says. s shown by petitions from so
many sections for the enforcement of the
statue. emphasizes the necessity OF
amending the law So as to give greater
force an1 finally TO the findings and de-
cisiOn Of the commIssicn
Considerable space is given to the sub
ject of the investigation by the commits
sion of grain rates. at Missouri river
points, but az the que stion involved In
the inquiry an now under consideration
by the commission, no opinion is ex-
pressed al this time on the methods and
practices disclosed by the investigation.
April last the commission requested the
carriers to show how far. up to April /,
their equipment had been made to con-
form to the requirements OF the safety
appliance act, relating to coupiers and
train brakes, which became effective on
Jan. /, 1888. Replies were received from
!, $50 companies. OF the 35,S9S passenger
locomotives mentioned in these replies,
0.o3 per cent have driving wheel brakes.
Of the 33,323 passenger cars reported in
use 97.02 per cent have automatic coupl-
ers and 9S.S7 per cent are fitting with
train brakes; 1,217,Os4 freight cars are
reported, of which 295S per cent have
train brakes and 37.41 per cent are equip
ped with automatic couplers. The re-
quirements of this law for a standard
height Of drawbars Or freight cars, ap-
pears from, inspection made at different
points during the year, to be fairly well
observed
As to ticket brokerage. the report says:
This illigitimate traffic has become a
positive scandal, and decisive measures
should be taken to put an end to these
illegal transactions. The-commission re-
commends that it be made penal of.
fense for any person to engage in the
business OF selling interstate passenger
tickets, unless ne is an authorized agen.
Of the carrier. duly constituted such by
written appointment
Under the head Of free transportation
of passengers. the report says that the
practice OF giving passes or reduced pas
senger rates 10 shippers or their employees
and of using complimentary passes 70
persons on account OF the profession II
which they are engaged. or the public
duties they perform. is strongly condemn
ed. The subject is submitted 10 congress
With the general recommendation that
prohibitory legislation be enact
ed
A number OF amendments TO the law
the recommended and they are. the COM
mission says. intended TO make the sub |
stance Of the law mean what IL was sup
posed to mean al the time OF its passage. !