The sun., 1900-01-16
COMMERCE LAW IS NEAK|
Sc States the The Annual Re-
port Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
STRONG PLEA TO CONGRESS-
Declaration is Made That Until
Further Legislation j. Provided
AZ Efforts 10 Better Things
viii Prove Feeble and
Disappointing.

nasAi I'D 1aU ll-rhr intnra'e
re ncr commission has Just mad,
I Fl its tEilecutil annual report I'll
citurc of tir report is The strongest plea
mn,le thai congress uphold the hands u
tht commission by amendments making
III Interstate commerce law more effect
i've
The report says that in vital respects
thn present law has proved defective
n"l inadequate ana that until furthe
LEGISLATION is provided the best efforts III
rvEuatnns must b. feeble and disnp
pointing. The requests Of Tho commits
sen for ncndfnl amendments have been
supported by petitions and memorial,
flVu agricultural manufacturing aud
commercial interests throughon, Il,
@ lntry; yrt, says The report, not i in,
o! the statute has becn changed. and
ncnc Of the burdensomc conditions Mhirl,
@ ! for relief has been removed of mudi
fed.
ihe existing situation and tho develop
inrnts Of the past year, it il added, rem
der moro imperative than ever before
tln' necessity for speedy and suitable leg
iSiItion. Nine-tenths of the people know
that any railroad company can charg,
H. its service whatever 1t pleasrS and Hs
n ch rs it pleases without any real pow.
er in this commission Or any other trbu
n'. or court 10 Limit The amount If such
charge for the future when complaint Is
made by an aggrieycd shipper and they
are substantially OF one mind in desiring
that this and other defects in the statute
lc promptly rcme,licd. Shippers general
| q also have been practically unanimous
u favor Of single classification OF
! raights, one that viii be uniform for
m roads and all sections Of the country
| rad reasonably stable when established.
! Decentralization Expressed.
The general public dissatisfaction has
! "@en frequently expressed in resolutions
! ( various national Organizations, and at
conference in Chicago last November
-,tended by representatives from a mum
ter of national associations of manufac-
lugers, merchants and others a bill EN-
| bracing tho more important amendments
recommended by the commission was ap
| proved as the measure which would best
meet the requirements of business and
commercial interests. The bill Senator
Cullom has introduced end the report
| significantly suggests whether continued
failure to perfect the regulating statute
on reasonable lines will not soon result
in an irresistible demand for the most
radical and drastic legislation. Continu'
ing, it adds:
1T is a matter OF common knowledge
that vast schemes OF railway control are
now in process of consummation and
that the competition Of rival lines is to
b. restrained by these combinations.
While this movement has not yet found
| Al Az l.
ton of railroad corporations, enough ha~
anspircd to disclose a uniication Of
financial Interests which VIII dominate
4 8 management and harmonize the
oqerations Of lines heretofore indepcnl
r,t and competitive This is today tn
II ost noticeable and important feature
IL the railway situation. If the plan
ready forcshadowed are brought to cf
+ tive results and others Of similar scope
tsc carried to execution, there will be o
ast Capitalization Of railroad proper
US. with al the power involved in such
preaching combinations yet uncontrol
l.i hy any public authority which can be
i.icicntly cxcrteA. The restraints Of
Bipe,itiot upon excessive and unjus'
.,nS VIII ii this way be avoided. and
atcvcr evils may result will be lcme-
Gtrss Under existing LAWS"
More Railroad Business.
The increase in railroad business the
rast year has been so great, the report
saws, that many carriers found theM
equipment inadequate for the service re-
9uirel Revenues increased greatly.
lille railway failures fell OF The rush
\ business Contributed to the improved
observance Of published rates and dimin-
Shed the frequency Of those practices
watch are made criminal misdemeanors
ly the statute.
"Concidcnt with these schemes Of uni
FED control ana while this exceptional
royrment Of traffic continues the cerri.
NJ operating throughout m extensive
and important territory have recently
made substantial and In many cases very
large increases in their scale Of charges.
These advances in rates have been mainly
Effected by concerted and agreed changes
in the classification of freight articles.
Ii is not intended TO intimate that these
advanced rates are unlawful, and 10
opinion is expressed as to their actual
llur or relative reasonablenesS. But
the fact that such extensive increases III
railroad charges have been brought about
~ the method described must bc " sig
niicant import and furnish Il weighty ar
euncnt in favor of measures which VIII
lr effective 90 secure compliance with
the primary requirements Of the act"
These changes were made without
hparng and against protests Of shippers
ld whatever may be the merits Of the
complaints the report urges that the law
aaghl to hc SO amended as to insure de
termination whether the rates are just
! va reasonable and rclrrss il they arc
{ found unjust.