The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-22
$I,8o0,I5o,67o
r ailway E Earnings
Nearly Two Billion
Dollars

ted to congress today says in part:
The preliminary income account for
the year endiag June 80, 1903, shows
railway returns for 2O1457 miles Of
line which is approximately 9S per
cent of the entire mileage in the Unit
ed States. Gross earnings for that
year amounted to S9O,15O679. OF
$s,3S2 per mile Of ihle. Operating ex.
penses aggregated S1,24S,52O, ,4ss. or
$6,197 per mile, leaving net earnings
of s641630,196, or $3,tS5 per mile.
Fifry-three million dollars in taxes are
not included in this statement Of op-
erating expenses. Compared with
the previous year the net earnings are
greater by some "a millions and stock
dividends are greater by S6,122 and
operating expenses $4,1O6 per mile of
line.
The report discusses at length the
Eiltins law. The commission says that
the original law, the act to regulate
commerce, embraces two distinct OBJ
jects or seeks to correct two kinds of
railroad abuses: First, to secure the
publication of tariff rates which shail
be just and reasonable and free from
determinations; and. second, to com.
pei carriers to observe the tariffs so
published without variation or exccg-
tion. Broadly speaking, the latter
class of offenses only are affected by
the Ellins act, the provisions of which
are mainly designed to prevent or
more effectually reach those infrac-
tions of law, like the payment of re-
bates and kindred practices, which
are classed as misdemeanors. Under
this amendment the railroad corpora
tion is liable to prosecution in all
cases where its officers and agents
are liable under the former law. This
change corrects a defect which has
always been source Of embarrass-
ment, because It gave Immunity to the
principal and beneficiary of guilty
transaction. 1t is believed that much
benefit will result from the fact that
proceedings can now be taken against
the corporation
This amendment abolished the pen
atty Of Imprisonment and the only
punishment now provided is the impo-
sitiqn Of ines. Whether the good re-
suits claimed for this change will be
realized is by no means certain but
the present plan should doubtless be
continued until its utility is further
tested,
An essential provision in the amend
ed statute is the one which confers
jurisdiction upon the circuit courts of
the United States to restrain depar-
ture from published rates, or amy dis
elimination forbidden by law" by
writ of injunction or other appropriate
process. This writ or process is en-
forcible as well against parties inter.
ested in the traffic as against the car
rier. The commission feels warrant
ed in saying that The beneficial bear
ing of this amendatory legislation be-
came evident from the time of its PAS
sage, and that It has proved wise
and salutary enactment II has cor
rected serious defects in the original
law and greatly aided the attainment
of some of the purposes for which
that law was enacted II is believed I
that never before in the railroad his (
tory Of this country have tariffs been
so well or generally observed as they
are at the present time. Other things.
however, have contributed to the inn
proved conditions now prevailing. and
among them is the great Increase in :
traffic which In most parts of The
country continues TO move in unpre-
cedented volume.
The test Of the law viii come when
a lessened volume Of competitive
traffic invites sharp contest for busi-
ness. The other class Of offenses
which the original act prohibited is
not at all restrained by the amend
ment question Valuable as such
amendment is. It has added nothing
whatever to the power Of the com
mission to correct a tariff rate which .
Is unreasonably high OF which oper-
ates with discriminating effect II
greatly aids the observance OF tariff
charges. but affords no remedy for
those who are injured by such charges,
either when they are excessive OF
when they are inequitably adjusted
The commission further points out
that the effect Of the Elkins amend