The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-01-16
Interstate Commerce
Commission

WASHINGTON, JAN. 15-The in
terstate commerce commission today
made public it, thirteenth annual re-
port The feature of the report is the
strong plea made for congress 10 up
hold the hands of the cOmmiss on by
amendments making the interstate
commerce law more effective. The re-
port says that the commission a year
ago called attention to ehe fact that
in vital respects the present law has
proven defective and inadequate and
that until further legislation Is pro-
vided the best efforts ak regulation
must be feeble and disappointing. The
requests Of the commission for need
full amendments have bee Unsupported
by petitions and memorials from agri-
cultural. manufacturing and CONNER
cial interests throughout the country,
yte. says the report, not line Of the
statue has been changed and none Of
the burdensome conditions which call
for relief has been removed or modi-
fed The existing situation and the
developments Of the past year, II is
added, render more imperative than
ever before the necessity for speedy
ard suitable legislation. Nine tenths
Of the people know that any railroad
company can charge for it's services
whatever II pleases and as much as II
pleases without any real power in this
commission or ony 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 substantially OF one mind In
desiring that this ard other defects In
the situation be promptly remedled
Shippers generally have also been
in favor OF a single classification OF
freights. one that will be uniform for
all roads and all sections OF the coun-
try and reasonably stable when estab-
llshed.
This general dissatisfaction has
been frequently expressed in resolu-
tions OF various national organizations
and at conference in Chicago last Mo-
vember attended by representatives
from number OF national associations
Of manufacturers merchants and others
bin embracing the more important
amendments recommended by the com
mission were approved, as the measure
WHICH N0AAl btrA meet Int IEQulIt-
ments OF business and commercial in
eerests. This bill. Senator Cullom has
introduced and the report significantly
suggests whether continued failure 10
perfect the regulating statute on reas-
enable lines WIN not soon result in an
irresistbla demand for the most radical
and drastic legislation. Continuing it
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 rlcal lines
I sto be restrained by these combna-
t.ons While this movement has not
yet found fun expression In the actual
consolidation Of railroad corporations,
enough has transplred no 'sclose a uni
fcation OF financial interests which
will dominate the management. and
harmonlze the operation Of lines here
tof0re independent and competitive
This is today the most noticeable and
important feature Of railway sftua-
c.on. II the plans already foreshadow-
/ ed are brought % effective results and
others OF similar scope are carried 90
I execution there will be a vast centrall-
. eeNNfNAA ~ ANAtAANtNA ~ NlNAAAtrf VIII ali
/ the power involved in such far preaching
/ combinations, yet uncontrolled by any
/ public authority which can be efficient
/ ly exercised. The restraints OF compe-
ttion upon excessive and unjust rates
win Ia this way be avoided and what
4 ever else may result VIII be remedhess
under existing laws"
lhe increase in railroad business the
past year has been SO great the report
says that many carriegs found their
equipment inadequate for the service
required Revenues increased greatly
while railroad failures feli on. The
rush of bug ness Contributed To the
improved Observance Of published rates
and diminished the frequency OF those
practices which are made erin, nal mis-
demeanors by the statute.
CONFIDENT with those schemes OF uni-
4 fed control and while this exceptional
I movement OF traffic continues ghe car
/ rlers operating throughout IA eXaeu-
sive and important territory have rec-
emily made substantial and In many
cases very large increases In their scale
( uf charges. These advances in rates
have been mainly effective By concerted