The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-01-19
ANNUAL REPORT.
Interstate Commerce Commission Makes
strong Plea 90 Congress 10 Up
hold Their Hands.

1tAnf hN Ah''AT
state commerce commission Monday
made public its thirteenth report.
The feature OF the report is the
strong plea made that congress up
holds the hands of the commission by
amendments making the interstate
commerce law more effective. The
report says the commission a year
ago called attention TO the fact that
In vital respects the present law has
proved defective and inadequate, and
that until further legislation Is pro-
vided the best efforts at regulation
must be feeble and disappointing.
The requests OF the commission for
needful amendments have been sup
ported by petitions and memorials
from agricultural. manufacturing and
commercial interests throughout the
year. yet. says the report. not "A line
of the statute has been changed and
none Of the burdensome conditions
which call for relief has been re-
moved or modified. The existing sit
uution and the developments of the
past year. II u added, render more
imperative than ever before the neces-
sity for speedy and suitable iegisla-
lion. Nine-tenihs of the people know
that any railroad company can charge
for i's service whatever II pleases and
a. much az IL plenscs, 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 ag-
grieycd shipper. and they are sub
stnntially OF one mind IN desiring
that this and other defects In the
statute be promptly rcmedied. ship
pers generally also have been prac-
ilcally unanimous In favor Of a sim
gle classification Of freights. one that
will be uniform for all roads and oil
sections Of the country. and reason
ably stable when established.
This general public dissatisfaction
has been frequently expressed in reso-
buttons Of various national organizl-
tions. and az a conference in Chicago
last November. attended by rcprcsen'
tafiscn from a number OF national az
sociations Of manufacturers, mer-
chants aud Others, bin embracing
The more important amendments rec.
commended by the commission was APP
proved. az the meausre which would
I best meet the requirements OF huN-
ness and commercial interests. This
/ hill. Seuator Cullom has introduced,
aud the report significantly suggests
whether continued failure 10 perfect
the regulating statute on reasonable
lines will not soon result In an ir-
rcprcssiblc demand for almost radical
and drastic legislation.
Continuing IL adds: 1t h. matter
Of common knowledge that vast
| schemes 81 railway control are now
I in process Of consammasion and that
/ fhc competition Of rival lines Is 20 bc
restrained by these combinations.
While this movement hns not yet
| found full expression In the actual
consolidation Of railroad corporations
enough has ;ranspired 10 disclose a
unificntion Of financial interests which
will dominate the management ani
harmonic the operations of lines
heretofore independent and competi-
tive. This II to-day the most notice
able and important feature 81 the
railway situation. II the plans al
ready forcshadowed are brought 10
effective results. and Others Of sinai
lar scope arc carried 10 execution.
/ there will be vast Capitalization Of
railroad properties. with all the pow
or involved In such far-rcaching COM
| binations. yet uncontrolled by any
public authority which can he effect
ually cxerted. The restraints OF com
petition upon excessive and unjust
rates vii, In this way be avoided. and
whatever evils may result will be rem
edilrss under existing laws"
The Increase Ia railroad business
the past year has beec so great. the
report .ays. that many carriers found
| their equipment inadequate for the
service required. Revenues Increased
rrea Nv, while railway failures fell
ON The rush Of business contrib
u,ed TO the improved Observance OF
published rates and diminished the
/ frequency OF those practices which
IRE made criminal misdemeanors by
| the statute.
Reference il made to the several
conferences had with high railway Of
fcials early In the year with a view
90 gaining from each promises 10
maintain their published rates and 20
/ the good effect OF these conferences
| In checking the rate decentralization
| then prevailing. II is denied that the
conferences sought TO secure agree
mcnts TO maintain rates. their only
purpose being To secure good faith in
observance Of published tariffs.
GermRny Friendly Toward 10.
Washington. Jan. l6.-According TO
| Consul General Mason. ut Berlin, much
friendly feeling il developing in Ger.
many tosnrd the United States which