The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-16
FREIGHT RATE FACTS
THEY ARE DWELT. UPON IN RE
PORT OF INTERSTATE COM
MERCE COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE

Com mission Hands In Its Annual Re
port, Covering the Work of That
Body, and Making Suggestions as
to Future Action Toward Rail-
roads and Shippers - Railway
Combinations Commented Upon.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The inter-
state commerce commission today made
public its thirteenth annual report The
feature Of the report is the strong plea
made that congress uphold the hands
Of the commission by amendments MAX
ing the Interstate commerce law more
effective. The report says that the COM
mission year ago called attention to
the fact that in vital respects the present
law has proved defective and Inadequate,
and that until further legislation Is pro-
vided the best efforts at regulation must
be feeble and disappointing The re-
quests Of the commission for needful
amendments have been supported by Pc
titions and memorials from agricultural,
manufa curing 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
Il
removed or modified.
The existing situation and the develop
ments of the past year, it Is added, rem
der more imperative than ever before
the necessity for speedy and suitable leg
islation. Nine-tenths of the people know
that any railroad company can charge
for It's service whatever 1t pleases, and
as much as 1t 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 COM
plant Is made by an aggrieved shipper,
and they are substantially of one mind
in desiring that this and other defects
in the statute be promptly remedied.
Shippers, also, have been practically
unanimous in favor of a single classif1ca-
ton of freights, one that will be uniform
for all roads and all sections Of the
country, and reasonably stable when es-
tablished.
This general public dissatisfaction has
been frequently expressed in resolutions
of various national organizations, and
at conference in Chicago last Novem-
Der, attended by representatives from a
number Of national associations Of man
ufacturers, merchants and others, bill
embracing the more important amend
ments recommended by the commission
was approved as the measure which
would best meet the requirements Of
business and commercial interests. This
bill Senator Cullom has introduced and
the report significantly suggests whether
continued failure to perfect the regula-
ting statute on reasonable lines will not
soon result in an irresistible demand for
the most radical and drastic legislation.
Continuing, 1t adds,
RAILWAY COMBINATIONS.
sit Is matter Of common knowledge
that vast schemes of railway control
are now in process of contamination,
and that the competition of rival lines
is to be restrained by these combinations
While this movement has not yet found
full expression in the actual consolida-
ton Of railroad corporations, enough has
transpired to disclose uni1cation of
financial interests, which will dominate
the management and harmonic the OPP
erations Of lines heretofore independent
and competitive. This is today the most
noticeable and important feature of the
railway situation. If. the plans already
laforeshadowed are brought tos effective
results and others Of similar scope are
carried to execution there will be a vast
Capitalization Of railroad properties, with
all the power involved In such far-reach-
Ing combinations, yet uncontrolled by
any public authority which can be
efficiently exerted. The restraints Of COM
| petition upon excessive and unjust rates
! will, in this way, be avoided, and what
ever evils may result will be remedy
| less under existing laws"
| The increase in business the paat
| year, the report says, was so
great that many carriers found
their equipment inadequate for the serv-
ice required Revenues increased greatly,
while railway failures fell off, The rush
| of business contributed to the improved
| observance of published rates and d.
minished the frequency OF those prac-
| tees which are made criminal INSIDE
meanors by the statute
| FREIGHT RATES ADVANCED.
| "Coincident with those schemes of uni
| fled control, and while those exceptional
| movements Of traffic continue the CARR
| ers operating throughout an extensive
and important territory have recently
| made substantial, 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. =" It Is not intended
| to intimate that these advanced rates are
| unlawful, and no opinion is expressed as
| to their actual or relative reasonableness.
| But the fact that such extensive increases
| about by the method described must be
| of significant import, and furnish a
| weighty argument In favor Of measures
| which will be effective to secure compli-
ance with the primary requirements of
the act.
These changes were made without
hearing and against protests Of ship
pers, and whatever may be the merits
Of the complaints, the report urges that
the law be so amended as to insure de-
termination whether the rates are just
and reasonable, and redress If they are
found unjust"
ferences had with high railroad officials
early in the year, with view to gain
ing from each promises to maintain their
published rates, and to the good effect
of these conferences In checking the rate
Generalization then prevailing. Tt Is de-
MED that the conferences sought to secure
agreements to maintain rates, their only
purpose being to secure good faith in
observance Of published tariffs.
Fifteen cases are pending in federal
courts to enforce orders of the commits
sion. and accused persons are awaiting
trial in Louisiana, Texas and Georgia.
During the year 1899 there were 1893 en-
p1oyes killed and 5, 1893 injured upon eighty
nine roads, against 209 killed and s, 4S4 In
jured In 1898, q 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
year. Concerning the refusal of the cir
cult court for Northern Illinois to declare
unreasonable the terminal charge Of 50
per car made on live stock brought Into
Chicago. the report saysi
HFha IN how r.I