Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-01-19
WANTS LAW CHANGED.
Interstate Commerce Commfssion
Asks Congress to Make Some
Needed Amendments.

washington, Jan. 16.-The Interstate
commerce commission Monday made pub
lie its thirteenth annual report. The
feature of the report Is the strong plea
made that congress uphold the hands OF
the commission by amendments making
the interstate commerce law more ef-
fective. The report says that the commits
sion year ago called attention to the
fact that in vital respects the present law
proved defective and inadequate, and that
until further legislation Is provided the
best efforts at regulation must be feeble
and disappointing. The requests OF the
conn. 'ssion for needful amendments have
been supported by petitions and memo
rials from agricultural, manufacturing and
commercial interests throughout the coun-
try, yet. says the report not a line of the
statute has been changed. and none OF
the burdensome conditions which call for
relief has been removed or modified. The
existing situation and the developments OF
the past year, II Is added, render more i'm
perative than ever before the necessity for
speedy and suitable legislation. Nine
tenths Of the people know that any rail-
road company can charge for its 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 complaint is made by an
aggrieved shipper. and they are substan-
TALLY of one mind in desiring that this and
other defects in the statute be promptly
remedied Shippers generally also have
| been practically unanimous in favor of
single classification of freights, one that
will be uniform for all roads and all sec
| tions of the country, and reasonably stable
when established.
This general public dissatisfaction has
| been frequently expressed in resolutions
| Of various national organizations and at a
| 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 recon-
mended 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 sug-
gests whether continued failure to per-
| feet the regulating statute on reasonable
lines will not soon result in an irresistible
| demand for the most radical and drastic
| legislation.
| Continuing. 1t adds:
''It is q matter 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 re-
| strained by these combinations. While
| his movement has not yet found full ex-
preston in the actual consolidation oil
| 'ailroad corporations, enough has trans
| oired to disclose unincation of financial
| interests WnlCn Will tHe iudHdBe-
nent and harmonize the operations OF
ines heretofore independent and compete
i've"
The increase in railroad business the
past year has been so great the report
says, that many carriers found their equip
ment inadequate for the service required
| Revenues Increased greatly while railway
failures fell Off. The rush of bushes:
contributed TO the improved observance
Of published rates and diminished the fire
auency of those practices which are mad'
criminal misdemeanors by the statute.
"Coincident with these schemes of uni
led control. and while this eNceptiona
movement of traffic continues, the carrier
operating throughout an extensive and i'm
oortant territory have recently made sub
'tantial, and in many cases very large, In
nreases in their scale of charges. Thes
advances in rates have been mainly effect
I'd by concerted and agreed changes in tn
classification of freight articles.
1T is not intended to intimate that thes
advanced rates are unlawful, and no opin
lon is expressed as to their actual or rela
live reasonableness. But the fact that sue
extensive increases in railroad charge
have been brought about by the metho
described must be of significant impor
and furnish a weighty argument in favo
Of measures which will be effective to sc
sure compliance with the primary require
ments of the act"
| Reference is made to several conference
had with high railway officials early in tn
year with a view TO gaining from eac
promises to maintain their published rates
/; | md to the good effect of these conference
checking the rate Generalization the
prevailing. 1t is denied that the confer
Inces sought TO secure agreements to main
tain rates, their only purpose being to sc
cure good faith in observance of publishe
.ariffs
Fifteen cases are pending in federf
rourts to enforce orders of the commits
sion and criminal cases are awaiting tris
IN Louisiana, Texas and Georgia.
During the year 1899, there were 1893 en-
ployes killed and $3.50 injured upon SO road
against 209 killed and 5,4S4 injured in 1S9
result attributed to the more genera
equipment of the roads with safety al
: pliances.
A review is made of judicial decisions O
interstate commerce affairs during tn
r year. Concerning the refusal of the Gil
suit court for northern Illinois to declar
unreasonable the terminal charge of tw
dollars per car made on live stock brougf
r into Chicago, the report says:
q 1.-The court seems to overlooked what
| believed to be the dominant considerable
in the case. namely. that If the through raj
5 to Chicago was reasonable rate befol
5 January /. 1894. 1t became an unreasonab
!. | rate when the two dollar terminal chars
was added on that date. To make a reason
I able through rate represent less servit
: than formerly and add on another chars
4 for the part of the service formerly co..
;. cred by the through rate plainly may mai
the total charge unreasonable: and tina
I the commission. says. was this case.
A NHNoTJC M TT nDYCIJT rrTYD Z