The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-18
RAILWAY COMBINATIONS
THEY ARE COMBINING COMPETITION
TO NARROW LIMITS.
The p. & l.. Els Model ShOps-AnOther
Tunnel Company Planned at New
York for Erie and Lnckawanna.

Inc tendency TO combine continues the
most significant feature of railway devel-
opment, according 10 the annual report Of
the Interstate-commerce Commission, is
sued Monday. The report says: 1T is not
open to question that the competition be-
tween railroad carriers which formerly
prevailed, had been largely suppressed, or
at least brought to the condition of eff
fective restraint. The progress or con-
solidation, in one form or another, will at
no distant day confine this competition
within narrow ana important limits, be-
cause the control of most railway proper
ties will be merged in a few individuals,
whose common interests compel them to
act In concert While this will insure,
probably as nothing else can in equal de-
gree, the observance of published tariffs,
and so measurably remove some of the
evils which the act was designed to pre-
vent, the resulting situation involves con-
sequences to the public which claim the
most serious attention. law which
might have answered the purpose when
competition was relied ON to secure rea-
sonabe rates is demonstrably inadequate
when that competition is displayed by the
most far reaching and powerful combina-
calls for corresponding change in the regu-
lating statute
The commission reaffirms it's recon-
me ndations for amending the interstate
commerce law, and urges the grave neces-
sity for legislation. The report says the
fact that no convictions have yet been OBJ
tained or indictments found in the cases
of the roads which We're shown by an in
vestigation last winter to be giving secret
rates TO grain shippers, emphasizes the
fact that the criminal provisions of the
present interstate law are practically
dead letter.
The commission says the effect of issuing
injunction to compel roads to observe pub
hshed tariffs has been to materially adj
vance on the commodities the rate actually
received by the carrier and actually paid
by the shipper, and, that their operation as
applied to the present condition of railroad
ownership enables advances in rates which
might not otherwise be made and main
tanned While the producer of grain Will
undoubtedly pay from now on from D TO Z
cents. in some instances 10 cents per 100
pounds, more to transport that grain from
the field to destination than he had paid
for some time before these injunctions
took effect, this is not to be regarded as
an argument against the injunctiOns.
There ought to be some power which cam
the published rate. but which can compel
them to publish a fair and reasonable rate.
Thirty-eight formal proceedings. double the
number brought in the preceding year, and
involving rates and practices of three hum
dred railroads were instituted during the
year.
To promote more general compliance
with the spirit of the safety appliance law
in the use of airbrakes the commission
recommends the passage of act forbid
ding the running of trains in which less
than one-half of the cars are equipped with
power brakes and empowering the COM
mission TO issue general orders requiring
the use of power brakes on more than SO
per cent. of the cars in train whenever ii
shall find such increased use to be prac-
ticable. and also permitting the commission
to permit for a specified per cent. the rum
ming of trains with power brakes in use
on less than 80 per cent of the cars therein.