The Penn's Grove record., 1900-01-19

the past year render more imperative than
ever before the necessity for speedy and
suitable legislation. We therefore renew
the recommendations heretofore made
and earnestly urge their early considera-
ton and adoption"
The report refers to the recent advances
In freight rates, mainly effected. It saws. bv
concerted and agreed changesin the classi-
~feation OF freight articles by roads, both
connecting and competing. and adds:
ut Is not intended to intimate that these
advanced rates are unlawful. and no
opinion Is expressed rs to their actual
or relative reasonableness. But the fact
that U extensive increases In rail-
road charges have teen brought about
by the method described must be OF
significant import and furnish q weiRhty
argument in favor OF measures which viii
be effective to secure compliance With the
primary requirements OF the act. These
advances In rates have been agreed upon
by the carriers without opportunity. az q
rule, for shippers, dealers, or
to be heard. 1t IS inevitable that changes
SO numerous and important. affecting
public interests throughout SO large q part
OF he country, will give rise to
many complaints, both In respect Of the
r-easonableness Of particular rates COM
planned OF IN alleged Determinations In
the relation OF rates. But so long as carriers
are practically free to make and apply
such rates as they choose, whether acting
independently or by concert, and whether
competing or otherwise, and there is at the
same time no adequate provision for de-
termining whether such rates are lust and
reasonable. or for preventing the exaction
OF those found unjust and unreasonable.
although declared by the statute to BIZ
unlawful, the injustice which may result
must be without available redress"
b report describes the recent investi-
CATION held by the commission in regard
to proposed changes In the Official classi-
hcation and the discontinuance OF COM
modify rates by carriers In the East. It
says that the petition hled With the COM
mission by shippers, hlieging that the In
~vestigation had disclosed violations of the
Antitrust law, together with the testimony
taken, was, ut the request of the petition
ers, submitted to the Acknowledgement
who In his reply, held that no violation OF
the Antitrust law had been made to APP
pear, and he declined, therefore, to insti-
tute the proceeding for enforcement Of
that law which the &hippers requested.
The report adds:
"The complaints r{pcived by the COM
mission in regard to t Is action OF the car
riers came from sevd& ty-three cities and
towns and fourteenk Stntes, and were
signed by 1874 persona firms, companies,
corporations or nssOcAetfons. The COM
mission deemed 1t Important that this
large number of shippers, representing
80 many diverse business interest In
practically all portions OF the north
ern and eastern sections OF the United
States, should be officially informed
OF the limited powers lof the commission,
the necessarily general character OF the
inquiry, n the result Of the investiga-
tlon. Accordingly, the commission notified
the complaining shippers Of the results OF
the general Investigation which had been
bad and that any formfl complaint directed
against such changes In classification or
rates would have prompt attention. It was
stated, however, that while the commits
sion can order the kdlscontinuance Of
wrongful Determinations and unreasonable
rates. It is without authority, as the act
now stands, to prescribe reasonable rates,
for future Observance BY the carriers or to
prompt endorsement Of any Of its