Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-16
Interstate Commerce Commission
Again Appeals to Con-
gress
For Power to Enforce Some of
Its Rulings Regarding
Rates.
Unless Moderate Measures Arc
Enacted Radical Ones Are
Inevitable.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The inter-
state commerce commission has made
public its 18th annual report. The
feature of the report is the strong plea
that congress uphold the hands of the
commission by amendments making
the Interstate commerce law more
effective. The report says that the
commission year ago called attention
to the fact that in vital respects the
present law has proved defective and
inadequate, and until further legisla-
ton is provided the best efforts at reg
ulation must be feeble and disappoint-
ing. The requests of the commission
for needful amendments have been
supported by petitions and memorials
from agricultural, manufacturing and
commercial interests throughout the
country, yet, says the report, not line
OF the statute has been changed, and
none Of the burdensome conditions
which call for relief have been removed
or modified.
Need Becomes More Imperative.
The existing situation and the devel-
opments of the past year, it is added;
render more imperative than ever be-
fore the necessity for speedy and suit
able legislation. Nine-tenths of the
people know that any railroad COM
pany can charge for its service what
ever it pleases, and as much as it
pleases, without any real power of this
commission or any other tribunal or
court to limit the amount of such
charge for the future, when complaint
is made by an aggrieveda shipper, and
they are substantially. of one mind in
desiring that this and other defects in
the statutes be properly remedied.
Shippers, also, have been practically
unanimous in favor of a single classifi-
cation of freights, one which will be
uniform for all roads and all sections
of the country, and reasonably stable
when established.
This or Something Moro Radical
This general public dissatisfaction
has been frequently expressed in reso-
lutions of vafious national organiza-
tions, and at conference in Chicago
last November, attended by representa-
tives from mum Der of national asso.
Citations of manufacturers, merchants
and others, bill embracing the more
important amendments recommended
by the commission was approved as
the measure which would best meet
the requirements of business and com.
mercial interests. This bill Senator
Cullom has introduced, and the rep ort
significantly suggests whether contin-
ued failure to perfect the regulation
statute on reasonable lines will not
soon result in an irresistible demand
for the most radical and drastic leeis-
lation.
Continuing, it adds:
Vast Schemes of Consolidation Afoot.
cit is matter of common knowl-
edge that vast schemes or railway con-
troll are now in process of consumma-
tion, and that the competition of rival
lines is to be restrained by these COM
binations. While this movement has
not yet found full expression in the &C.
tual consolidation of railroad corpora
tions, enough has transpired to disclose
a unihcation of financial interests which
will dominate the management and
harmonic the operations of lines here
tofore independent and competitive.
This is today the most noticeable and
important feature of the railway situa-
tion. If the plans already foreshad-
owed are brought to effective. results
and others Of similar scope are carried
to execution, there will be vast GEN.
tralization of railroad properties, with
all the power involved in snch far
reaching combinations, yet uncontrolled
by any public authority which can be
efficiently exerted. The restraints Of
competition upon excessive and unjust
rates will, in this way, be avoided, and
whatever evils may result will be rem
edyless under existing laws"
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