The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-16

Tunde pupuc lt5 tniFteenlh annual re-
port. The feature of the report is the
strong plea made that Congress uphold
the hands of the commission by amend
mcnts making the interstate commerce
law more effective. The report says
that the commission a year ago called
attention to the fact that in vital re-
spects the present Law has proved de-
fectlve and inadequate, and until fur
ther legislation Is provided the best
efforts at regulation must be feeble
and disappointing. The requests of the
commission for needful amendments
have been supported by petitions and
memorials from agricultural. manufae-
turing and commercial interests
throughout the country, yet says the
report, not a line Of the statute has
been changed and none of the burden
some conditions which call for relief
have been removed or modified. The
existing situation and the developments
OF the past year, 1t is added. render
more Imperative than ever before the
necessity Cor speedy and special legis-
latlon. Nlne-tenths of the people know
that any railroad company can charge
for It's service whatever It 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 aggrived ship
per- and they are substantially OF one
mind in desiring that this and other
defects in the statute be promptly REM
edled. Shippers generally also have
been practically unanimous in favor Of
a single classification Of frelghts, one
that will be uniform for all roads and
all sections of the country and reason
ably stable when established.
This general public dissatisfaction
has been frequently expressed in reso-
buttons Of various national organiza-
lions and at conference in Chicago
last November attended by representa-
lives from number OF national ASSOC
Citations 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-
qulrements of business and commercial
interests. This bill Senator Cullom has
introduced, and the report significantly
suggests whether continued failure to
perfect the regulating statute on rea-
sonable lines will mot soon result in an
Irresistible demand for the most radical
and drastic legislation.
Continuing 1t adds:
1T Is a 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 comblna-
lions. While this movement has not
yet found full expression in the actual
consolidation Of railroad corporations.
enough has transpIred to disclose a
unIhcation of financial interests which
win dominate the management and
harmonlze the operations OF lines here
tofore Independent and competitive.
This is to-day the most noticeable and
Important feature of the railway sltua-
ton. II the plans already foreshadow-
ed are brought to effective results, and
others Of similar scope are carried to
execution, there will be vast centrali-
zatIon OF railroad properties, with all
the power involved in such far-reaching
combinations, yet uncontrolled by any
public authority which can be efiicient-
ly exerted. The restraints Of COMPETE
ton upon excessive and unjust rates
will in this way be avoided. and what
ever evils may result win be remediless
under existing laws"
The Increase IN railroad business the
past year has been 50 great, the report
says, that many carriers found their
equipment inadequate for the service
required. Revenues Increased greatly
while railway failures fell OF. The
rush Of buginess Contributed to the
improved observance of published rates
and diminished the frequency of those
practices which are made criminal mis-
demeanors by the statute.
"Colncident with these schemes Of
unified control. and while this excep-
tlonai movement of trahic continues.
the carriers 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 classified
tlon Of freight articles. It is not In
tended to Intimate that these advanced
rates are unlawful and no opinion Is
expressed as to their actual or relative
reasonablcness. But the fact that such
extensive Increases in railroad charges
have been brought about by the meth.
cd described must be of significant i'm
port and furnish a weIghty argument
In favor Of measures which will be eff
fectlve to secure compliance 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 ought to be 50 amended as to
insure determination whether the
rates are Just and reasonable and re-
dress II they are found unjust
Reference is made to the several con-
ferences had with high railway officials
early In the year with view to gain