Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-15

The increase in railroad business the past
year has been so great. the report says
that many carriers found their equipment
inadequate for the service required Reve-
Hues increased greatly, while railway fail
ures fell off. The rush of business con
tribUted to the improved observance Of
published rates and diminished the fire.
p'ieHcy OF those practices which are made
criminal mis'ttmr anOrS by the statute
"Coircident with these schemes of unified
control. and Will this exceptional move
melt of traffic continues, the carriers oper-
aliI!g throughout an extensive and import
ant territory have recently made sub
stantial, and in many cases very large, in
c.eases i'll their scale of charges. These ad-
Nances i'll rates have been mainly effected
by concerted and agreed changes in the
Classification of freight articles
1t is not intended to intimate that these
advanced rates are unlawful and no opin-
ion is expressed as to their actual or reia-
tive reasonableness. But the fact that such
extensive increases in railroad charges
have been brought about by the method de-
Scribed must be of significant import and
furnish weighty argument in favor of
measures which will be effective to secure
compliance with the primary requirements
of the act.
These changes were made without hearing
and against protests of shippers and what
ever may be the merits of the complaints
the report urges that the law ought to be
whether the rates are just and reasona bic
and redress If they are found unjust.
Reference is made to the several confer
ences had With high railway officials early
in the year with a view to gaining from
each promises TO maintain their published
rates and TO the good effect of these con-
ferences IN checking the rate demoraliza-
ton then prevailing. 1t is denied that the
conferences sought to secure agreements
to maintain rates. their only purpose Being
to secure good faith in observance of pub
NShed tariffs
Fifteen cases are pending in federal courts
to enforce orders OF the commission and
criminal cases are awaiting trial in Loui-
sldna, Texas and Georgia.
Fewer Employees Killed and Injured
During the year 1899 there were 1870 en-
poyes killed and $50 injured upon eighty
nine roads. against 209 killed and 54S4 in
jured in 1898, a result attributed 10 the
more general equipment of the roads with
safety appliances.
A review is made of judicial decisions on
interstate commerce affairs during the year
Concerning the refusal of the circuit court
for Northern Illinois to declare unreas SON
able the terminal charge of s. per car made
on live stock brought into Chicago the
report says:
The court seems to have overlooked what
it believed to be the dominant consideration
lit the case. namely, that IL the through
rate to Chicago was reasonable rate be-
fore January l, 1884. 1t became an unrea-
sonablc rate when the 81 terminal charge
was added on that date. To make a rea-
sonable through rate represent less service
than formerly and add on another charge
for the part of the service formerly COW
cred by the through rate plainly may make
the total charge unreasonable, and, that
the commission says. was this case