The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-16
n POWERS EXTENDED.
,.rsr. REPORT OF INTERsrATE
snsarERcn COMMISSION.
.,.ss That the Law Under
8 -,S,eh they Are Acting IL Defect
4 s., 3, "a That They Can Do Little
v.svl.tins Until II IL Changed.

Il s.. - That They Can Do Little
-..rlnting Until II IL Changed.
Z So sufNGTON. Jan. 1.-the Interstate
@srca commission today made puphc
NJ ttirteenth annual report. Inc feature
Y ~ report Is the strong plea MADE tnat
.ssess uphold the hands OF the commas
-. ~ amendments making the inter-
Sd Z. commemrce law more effective.
eM rsrort says the commission year
s.iilad attention to the fact that ~
"A sesnects the present law has proved
ps-..tvs and inadequate and that until
sssr ,eeislation is provided the best ef-
- regulate must be feeble and dis
s,,tnr. vet not line of the statute
zen changed and none OF the BURDEN
= conditions which call for relief have
~ semoved or modified. The existing
us.1,tions and the developments of the
~ war. II is added, render more imper-
80 than ever before the necessity Tor
SSsdv and suitable legislation. Nine
ysfhs Of the people know that any rail-
"A company can charge Tor It's service
Estsver It pleases without any real pow
" s Ills commission or any other tribu-
"a - court to limit the amount OF such
1900. and they are substantially OF one
S,sd n desiring that this and other de-
sris n the statute be promptly remedled
S,nners generally also have been prac-
,lrsIiy unanimous In favor OF single
s .-siecat;on Of freights, uniform for all
,e.is and all sections Of the country, and
,Ssonably stable when established.
This general public dissatisfaction has
- freouently expressed in resolutions
4 various national organizations, and at
s7conference In Chicago last November,
attended by representatives from a num-
M Of national associations OF manufac-
inrers. merchants and others, a bill en-
hsscing the more important amendments
commended by the commission was APP
nfuved as the measure which would best
fnset the requirements Of business and
xllom has introduced. and the report
snrrests whether continued failure to
affect the regulating statute on reason
sbie lines will not soon result in de-
sad for the most drastic legislation.
Continuing. the report says:
VT the plans already foreshadowed are
Nought TO effective results and ethers
d similar scope are carried to execution
thsre would be vast cent ira OF
yolYed In such far-reaching combinations
vet uncontrolled by any public authority
which can be efficiently exerted. The
restraints of competition until excessive
I'D unjust rates are put in force will in
Ills way be avoided, and whatever evils
nay. result will be remedied under exist
~ laws"
he increase in railroad business the
past year has been so great. the, report
says that many carriers found their
equipment Inadequate for the service re-
CURED. Revenues increased greatly,
While railroad failures fell off, The rush
Observance OF published rates and dim
inished the frequency of those practices
which are made criminal misdemeanors
BY the statute.
fCoIncident with those schemes Of uni
fed control and while this exceptional
movement of traffic continues, the carriers
important territory have recently made
Substantial and in many cases very large
Increases in their scale of charges. These
sdsances in rates have been mainly ef-
itcted by concerted and agreed changes In
tie classification of freight articles
IL Is not intended to intimate that these
advanced rates are unlawful, and no opin-
lon Is expressed as to the actual or rela-
tive reasonableness. But the fact that such
extensive Increases in railroad charges
hye been brought about by the method
described must be of significant import
d measures which will be effective to Sc
cure compliance with the primary require
rnents of the act"
These changes were made without hear
Ing and against protest of shippers, and
whatever may be the merits of the COM
.
Q be so amended as to insure a determine
ton whether the rates are just and rea-
lonahle and redress II they are found I'M
Just.
Reference Is made to the several con-
ferences held with high railway officials
early in the year, with a view to gaining
from each promises to maintain their pub
isned rates and to the good effect OF these
conferences in checking the rate demoral-
nation then prevailing. 1t is denied that
the conferences sought to secure agree
ments to maintain rates, their only pur-
pose being to secure good faith in obser-
vance OF published rates.
Fifteen cases are pending in Federal
courts to enforce orders of the commits
nop and criminal cases are awaiting trial
Louisiana, Texas and Georgia
During the year 1899 there were 1893 en-
p93es killed and $3.50 injured upon eighty
nine roads, against 200 killer and 5,4S4 in
lured In 1893. a result attributed to 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 Tor Northern Illinois to declare un-
", ,sss s the terminal charge Of 81 per
~ made on live stock brought into Chi
esso the report says: 1.-THE court seems
2 have overlooked what Is believed to
Y me dominant consideration in the case,
namely. that IL the through rate to Chi
sago was reasonable rate before jan
saIy 4 1874, It became an unreasonable
TIE when the ~ terminal charge was add
y on that date. To make a reasonable
sAIougn rate represent less service than
mrimerly and add on another charge for
palt OF the service formerly covered by
ae through charge plainly may make the
lotal charge unreasonable. and that the
"mmission says was the case"
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