The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-16
COMBINATIONS ARE FORMING
WHICH WILL PUT SHIPPERS AT THE
MERCY OF THE RAILWAYS.
Meaning Of the Pennsylvania's New
Issue of stock-MonthIy Report of
the yandalia Receiver.


made that Congress uphold the hands of
the commission by amendments making the
interstate-commerce law more effective. The
report says the commission year ago
called attention to the fact that in vital
respects the present law has proved de-
fective and inadequate and until further
legislation is provided the best efforts at
regulation must be feeble and disappoint-
ing. The requests of the commission for
further amendments have been supported
with petitions from agricultural, manu-
featuring and commercial interests
throughout the country, yet, says the re-
port, not a line of the statute has been
changed and none of the burdensome condi-
tions which call for relief have been re-
moved or modified. The existing situation
and the developments OF the past year, it
is added, render more imperative than ever
before the necessity for speedy and suitable
legislation. Nine-tenths of the people know
that any railroad company can charge for
its service whatever it pleases and as much
as Ii pleases, without any real power in this
commission or any other tribunal or court,
to limit the amount of such charge for the
future when complaint Is made by an
aggrieved shipper. and they substan-
TALLY OF one mind in urging that this and
other defects in the statute be promptly
remedied. Shippers, generally, have been
practically unanimous in favor of a single
classification of freights, one that will be
uniform for all roads and all sections of
the country, and reasonably stable when
established.
This general public dissatisfaction has
been frequently expressed in resolutions of
various national organizations and at
conference in Chicago last November, at
tended by representatives from number
of national associations Of manufacturers,
merchants and others, a bill embracing the
more important amendments recommended
by the commission was approved as the
measure which would best meet the re-
qufrements of business and commercial in
terests. This bill Senator Cullom has intro
duced and the report significantly suggests
whether continued failure to perfect the
regulating statute on reasonable lines will
not soon result in an irresistible demand
for the most radical and drastic legislation.
Continuing, the report adds: 1T is mat
ter OF common knowledge that vast
schemes of railway control are now In
process of consummation and that the
competition of rival lines Is to be restrained
by these combinations. While this combina-
ton has not yet found full expression in
the actual consolidation of railroad cor
EOrdtlOHS enough mas trdnSplreQ 10 disclose
unification of financial interests which
Will dominate the action and harmonic
the operation of lines heretofore COMPETE
tive and independent This is to-day the
most noticeable and important feature of
the railway situation. If the plans already
foreshadowed are brought to effective re-
suits and others of similar scope are car
ried to execution, there will be a vast CEN
tralization of railroad properties, with all
the power involved in such far-reaching
combinations, yet uncontrolled by any pub
lie authority which can be efficiently ex-
erted. The restraints of competition upon
excessive and unjust rates will in this way
be avoided and whatever evils may result
will be remediless under existing laws.
The increase in railroad business the
past year has been so great" the report
says, that many carriers found their
equipment inadequate for the service re-
quired. Revenues increased greatly, while
railway failures fell off. The rush of BUSH
| ness contributed to the improved observ-
ance of published rates and diminished the
frequency of those practices which are
made criminal misdemeanors by the stat
ute. Coincident with those schemes of uni
fled control. and while this exceptional
movement of traffic continues, the carriers
operating throughout an extensive and i'm
portant territory have recently made SUBJ
stantial and, In many cases. very large
increases in their scale of charges. These
advances in rates have been mainly effected
by concerted and agreed changes In the
classification Of freight articles.
| advanced rates are unlawful. and no opin-
| ion is expressed as to their actual or rela-
| tive reasonableness. But the fact that
such extensive increases in railroad charges
have been brought about by the method de-
scribed must be of significant import and
furnish a weighty argument in favor of
measures which will be effective to secure
compliance with the primary requirements
of the act"
These changes were made without hear
| ing and against protests or shippers and,
| whatever may be the merits of the COM
plant, the report urges that the law ought
| TO be so amended as TO insure a determine
ton whether the rates are just and rea-
| sonable, and redress IL they are found un-
just
Reference Is made to the several confer
| ences held with high railway officials early
| in the year with view OF gaining from
| each promises TO maintain their published
/ rates. and to the good effect OF these con-
| ferences In checking the rate demoraliza-
/ ton then prevailing. II is denied that the
| conferences sought TO secure agreements
| TO maintain rates, their only purpose being
TO secure good faith in observance of pub
| lished tariffs.
courts 10 enforce orders OF the commission
| and criminal cases are awaiting trial in
| Louisiana, Texas and Georgia.
| During the year 1899 there were 1919 en-
| ployes killed and 5,339 injured upon eighty
| nine roads. against 200 killed and 5,4S4 in
| jured in 1895, a result attributed TO the
| more general equipment OF the roads with
/ safety appliances.
| A review is made OF judicial decisions on
| interstate-commerce affairs during the
| wear Concerning the refusal OF the Circuit
/ Court for Northern Illinois 10 declare un-
| reasonable the terminal charge OF & per
| car made on live stock brought into Chi
| cago the report SAYS: 1.-THE court seems to
| have overlooked what is believed TO be the
dominant consideration in the case-name-
| ly, that II the through rate to Chicago was
| a reasonable rate before Jan. l, 1884. IL be-
| came an unreasonable rate when the two
| dollar terminal charge was added on that
/ date To make a reasonable through rate
| represent less service than formerly and
| add on another charge for the part OF the
| service formerly covered by the through
L Ii L. lie the tnfal charces nnrna.