Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-18
OR 1882 Per MILE OF LINE.
yet Earnings Per Mile We're S3,ISS-
Too Early to Tell Full Effect of
The New Law.
eLxINs AMENDMENT DISCUSSED.
4, Has Been Beneficial in the Main,
But There is Need of Fur
Their Legislation.

washington, Dec. 1S--The seven
,sentb annual report of the Interstate
commerce commission, transmitted to
Congress today, says in part
The preliminary income account FOR
tbe wear ending June 30, 1903, shows
railway returns for 2Ol,i57 miles OF
ype, which is approximately rs per
cent Of the entire mileage in the United
States Gross earnings for that year
amounted to 1880, 1jO,6J9, or ss,SS2 per
mile Of line. operating expenses as-
cr,qated 81 ,24S, 500, Asa, or S6,l9l per mile,
leaving net earnings Of s6il,6SO, 1876, or
KISS per mile Fifty-three million
dollars in taxes are not included In this
statement OF operating expenses
Compared with the previous year the
moi earnings are greater by some S3l,-
OOOOO and stock dividends are greater
nv nearly 100000 In 1897 the gross
earnings averaged only s6,l22, and OPP
Grating expenses $i,l06, per mile of line'
ELKINs LAWS DISCUSSED.
The report discusses at length the
rlkins law. The commissioners say
that the original law, the act to regu--
late commerce, embraces TWO dlstlhct
oblects-Or seeks TO correct TWO klhus
OF rallroad abuses; First, to secure the
publication of tariff rates when shall
be lust and reasonable and free from
determinations and, second, TO compei
carriers to observe the tariffs SO pup
..t.,tt .., an.
oFFENsEs AFFECTED.
Broadly speaking, the latter class OF
ofienses only are affected by the Eiklls
act. the provisions Of which are NANNY
designed to prevent or more etee'ua,ly
10 reach those infractions OF law, IKE
,bo rayment OF rebates and kindred
rractises. which are classed as misde-
mtanors. Under this amendment the
railway corporation itself Is liable to
trosecution In all cases where It's oil-
GERS and agents are liable under the
former law. This change corrects de-
feet which has always been source OF
embarrassment because II gave mn
munity to the principal and benenclary
OF guilty transaction, II is behsVeu
that much benefit will result from the
fact that proceedings can now DC taken
against the corporation
This amendment abolished the PEN
ally Of Imprisonment, and the only pun
ishment now provided is the imposition
Of fines. Whether the good results
claimed for this change viii be real
tied Is by no means certain, put tne
present plan should doubtless be con-
tinued until its utility is further tested
AN IMPORTANT PROVISION.
An essential provision in the amend
Cd statute Is the one which conters )ur-
isdict0n upon the circuit courts or the
United States to restrain departure
from published rates, or amy discrim.
nation forbidden by law by writ or
Injunction or other appropriate process.
This writ or process is enforceable az
well against parties interested in the
traffic as against the carrier.
The commission feels warranted In
saying that the beneficial bearing OF
this ampndatory legislation became ev-
ldent from the time OF its passage, ana
that n has proved a wise and salutary
Enactment 1t has corrected serious de-
iects In the original law and greatly
aided the attainment Of some of the
purposes for which that law was enact
90. II Is believed that never before in
NE RAILROAD history Of this country
nave tanG rates been 80 well or gem
orally observed as at present, O her
lhlngs however, have contributed 10
me improved conditions now prevail
ing, and among them Is the great in
crease In traffic which, in most parts
OF the country, continues to move In
Unprecedented volume The tests Of the
Jaw VIII come when lessened volume
or competitive traffic invites sharp con-
Test Tor business.
FURTHER REMEDY NEEDED,
The other class of offenses which the
VIlgmal act prohibited is not Mt all re-
GRAINED by the amendment IN question
,Huaole as such amendment is, II has
etutu nothing whatever to the power
y, the commission 10 correct tariff
,ale which is unreasonably high or
nmeh operates with discriminating eff
~, ~ greatly aids the observance OF
,a.'u charges but affords no remedy
.vI lhose who are injured by such
.narBes, either when they are excess
ave- or when they are inequitably ad-
INCREASE OF CHARGES.
,"e commission further points out
, WAY the effect Of the Elkns amend
r ".,nt mas been to bring about In many
TN an increase OF railroad charges.
na. S S doubtless one explanation OF the
moi ,Neu increase In the number of for
scr so.HpIalhts made to the commits
,b c, uuI ing the present year. The fact
t,gnIs such complaints multiply is highly
onn, ,'',unt Yet the authority of the
bss ''as'oh IN respect to these matters
M u9' oeen enlarged In the least by
or.Hument In question.
,,n,,es.u' me most significant things IN
year. operations for the past three
aayan mas been marked and general
tliss IN rates. Such Increase APP
inv III almost all sections Of the coun :
hcrS a,,u 10 all kinds OF traffic. These
IN tba are general and they amount
Tbe N'Bsregate 10 an enormous sum,
10 rnect OF these advances has been
hn von.I.,spondlngly increase the tax
nnd C cp me general body OF producers
benee,, u ns IN this country for the
ertv r 1t the owners Of railway prom
w. utSe advances have been usual
certed nol always, the result OF con-
ide - acton by the carriers. II is
W say that where such n condItion