New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-16
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
THE COMMISSION URGES CONGRESS TO
MAKE THE LAW MORE EFFECTIVE.


Washington Jan. 15-The Interstate Commerce
Commission to-day made public its thirteenth
nual report. The chief feature OF the report is
strong plea that Congress uphold the hands OF the
Commission by amendments making the Interstate
Commerce law effective. The report says
that in vital respects the present law has proved
defective and inadequate, and that until further
legislation is provided the best efforts at regua
ton must be feeble and disappointing. The re-
quests Of the Commission for needful amendments
have been supported by petitions and memorials
from agricultural manufacturing and commercial
interests throughout the country; yet says the re-
port, not line of the statute has been changed
and of the burdensome conditions which call
for relief have been removed or modified. The ex-
listing situation and the developments of the last
year. it is added. render imperative than ever
before the necessity for speedy and suitable legs-
lation. Nine-tenths of the people know that any
railroad company charge for its service what
ever it pleases and much 1t peases. without
any real power in this Commission any other
tribunal court to limit the amount of such
charge for the future when complaint is made by
an aggrieved shipper. and they substantially of
one mind in desiring that this and other defects in
the statute be promptly remedied. Shippers gen
orally have also been practically unanimous in ia
Vor OF a single classification of freights that will
be uniform for all roads and all sections of the
country and reasonably stable when established
This general public dissatisfaction has been fre-
Quenty expressed in resolutions Of various National
November, attended by representatives from num-
Der of National associations of manufacturers
merchants and others. bill embracing the more
important amendments recommended by the Com
mission approved the measure which would
best meet the requirements of business and
mercal interests. The bill Senator Cullom has in
troduced, and the report significantly suggests
whether continued failure to perfect the regulating
statute on reasonable lines will not 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
cons Gonsummation and that the competition Of rival
IIeS Is 10 De restrained by these combinations.
Whle this movement has not yet found full ex-
Porations, enough has transpired to disclose uni
hcation of financial interests which will dominate
lines heretofore Independent and competitive This
is To-Day the most noticeable and important feature
Swallowed are brought to effective results and
there will be vast Capitalization of railroad pTop
critics, with all the power involved in such far
public authority which can be efficiently exerted
unjust rates will in this way be avoided and w6at
ever eylls may result will be remedess under ex-
INCREASE OF RAILROAD BUSINESS.
The increase in railroad business the last wear
has been so great the report says that many car
riers found their equipment Inadequate for the SER
vice required Revenues increased greatly, while
railway failures fell The rush of business con-
tributed to the improved observance of published
rates and diminished the frequency of those prac-
tees which are made criminal misdemeanors by
the statute
Coincident with these schemes of unified control.
ana while this exceptional movement of traffic con-
tepsive and important territoy have recently made
substantial ana In many cases very large increases
IN their scale Of charges. These advances in rates
nave been mainly effected by concerted and agreed
changes In the classification of freight articles
1t IS not intended TO intimate that these adj
pTeSsed ae IS are ti menu and no opinion is ex-
ness. But the fact that such extensive increases
N n ratqad charges have been brought about by
ana furnish Weghty argument in favor of meas
with the primary requirements of the
These changes were made without hearing and
against protests of shippers, and whatever may be
the merits OF the complaints the report urges that
s5d whether the rates are just and
RefeTe1ce o rs NESS thgy are FOUND unjust
high railway officials early in the year, with a |
their published rates, and the good effect of these
conferences f IN checking the rate Decentralization
conferences sought to secure agreements to main
in Observance Of published 9 tariffs if s00o
Fifteen cases are pending in Federal courts to
cases are awaiting trial in Louisiana, Texas and |
During the year 1899 there were 1879 employees
aI5e 9 a d6 3SS9 in5ured on eghty-nine roads,
ATTRIBUTED to the more general equipment of the |
ioaos Win satety apPhances:
state commerce affairs during the year Concern |
Ing the refusal of the Circuit Court for Northern !
Illinois to declare unreasonable the terminal charge
OF 81 per car made live stock brought into |
Chicago, the report says:
The Court seems to have overlooked what it be-
HeVed to be the dominant consideration in the |
case namely, that If the through Chicago !
was a reasonable rate before January l. 1894 it !
became an unreasonable rate when the 81 terminal |
charge was added on that date. To make rea-
sonable through represent less service than |
formerly and add another charge for the part
of the service formerly covered by the through |
rate plainly may make the total charge unreason-
able, and that, the Commission says, done IN
this case"