The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-01
COMMERCE Law FAILS.
The Finding Of the Interstate CON-
merce Commission.
RAILROADS CHARGE LEGAL RATES

The Commission Declares That the Law In
It's Present Condition Cannot Be En-.
forced, and That a Large Part Of the
Railway Business Of the Country IL
Illegally Transacted.
WASHINGTON, D. G. Especially The an
nual report of the Interstate Commerce
Commission was received by Congress. It
reports what has been said In previous re-
ports, that the Interstate Commerce law,
in its present condition, cannot be en-
forced, and that until further and import
ant legislation Is enacted the best efforts
at regulation must be feeble and disap.
pointing.
MEANWHILE" the report says, "the
situation has become intolerable both from
the standpoint Of the public and the car
riers. Tariffs are disregarded, discrimina-
tions constantly occur, the price at which
transportation can be obtained is
huctuating and uncertain. Railroad
managers are distrustful OF each other, and
shippers all the while in doubt as to the
rates secured by their competitors. The vol
ume OF traffic Is so unusual as to frequently
exceed the capacity OF equipment, yet the
contest for tonnage seems never relaxed.
Enorm Gus sums are spent In purchasing
business and secret rates accorded
far below the standard Of published
charges. The general public gets lit
tie benefit from these reductions, for
concessions are mainly confined to the
heavier shippers. All this augments the
advantages Of large capital and tends to
the injury and often to the ruin OF smaller
dealers. These are not only matters Of
grayest consequence to the business well
fare Of the country, but they concern in no
less degree the higher. Interests OF public
morality.
"a large part OF the railway business Is
now transacted upon illegal rates, and in
certain quarters charging the published
rate Is the exception. The results are
gross discrimination between individuals
and gross preferences between localities,
which most always favor the strong
and oppress the weak. Probably no one
thing to-day does 30 much to forcs out
the small operator and build up those
trusts and monopolies, against which law
and public opinion alike beat in vain, as
Determinations In freight rates. A Afurther
result is that railroad business Is carried
on largely In conceded violation Of law. This
condition the present law is powerless to
control. The criminal remedies have been
applied and some convictions have been
had, but no substantial effect has been pro-
duced and no satisfying results can be OBJ
. tanned from that course. The fact may be
morally certain, but the name, the date,
the amount, cannot be shown with the par
ticularity and certainty required by GRIM
insl law"
The statistics OF railroads for the year
ending June 80 last shows total railway
mileage In the United States at that date Of
184, ,42S miles, an increase for the year Of
1861 miles. Including siaings, the total
was 24S, AL miles, an increase OF 1915 for
the twelve months. The amount of rail-
way capital outstanding June 80 was .S10,- :
6S5,008,074. The number OF passengers
decrease OF 22,S27, $50 compared with the
previous year, and the tons OF freight car
rled we're TAI, ,705, s46, or "a, 1856, ,4Ss te2e less
than In 1895.
The casualties from railroad accidents
resulted In 64S7 deaths and 36,731 injuries
OF varying character; 1898 OF the deaths
and 27,667 of the injured being railroad
employees. The report says there Is no
foundation for the impression that Ameri-
can railways are operated with greater
disregard to life and limb than the rail-
ways OF foreign countries. This comes, 1t
asserts, from a different system OF report.
ing railway accidents, the Continental
roads making no returns OF casualties
which do not disable the employe for cor.
tain specified periods.