The daily sentinel., 1903-12-29
TWO FORMS.

The seventeenth annual report of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
of the fiscal year ending June 30th.
1903. has just been issued
Doubtless it will be news 20 many
of our readers. and to members of the
Chamber of Commerce as we'll. to
know that all railroads and common
carriers are required by law to furu-
ish the Commission with n schedule
of their various sources of income,
and the exact amount under each item
and also detail OF their disbursement
accounts, showing in totals how they
spent their money. The difference in
the grand totals of these two accounts
is their profit or loss for the wear.
Nlnety- eight per cent of the total
mileage in the United States. or POI. 457
miles of line, show gross earnings
amounting to 81. $50. 100. 679. or 50. 3s2
per mile of line; operating expenses
We're 81, 24s, $50, 4S3. or S6, 1877 per mile
of line, leaving net earnings
$641 63O. 1856, or SO. 1856 per mile.
The aggregate taxes paid for the
year was fifty-three millions of dol
lars, not included in the above operat-
ing expenses.
The net earnings are thirty-fo
millions greater than those of the pre-
vious year. and the stock dividends
are greater by ten millions.
The Commission points ont that the
original act TO regulate commerce had
in view the correction of two forms of
railroad abuses: Otto secure the pub
lication of thrift rates which shall be
Just and reasonable and free from dis
and (2) to compel the
railroads to observe these tariffs with
out variation or exception The Elk
ins law. passed by the last Congress.
was designed to strengthen the latter
classes of offenses, and to put stop
TO the payment of rebates and to sim
liar practices. 1t makes the corpor-
alton itself liable instead of the off
GERS and employees, as formerly. The
Commission feels that never before
have the railroads stuck so closely to
their published tariffs. but it adds
that this NAV be due to the increased
traffic. and that only slump will
prove this to be true under contrary
On the contrary the
amendment in question adds nothing
to the power of llc Commission to
correct tariff rate which is unreas-
onbly high or which operates with
discriminating eject, both of which
have direct bearing on
Grand Junction. as we all know. 1t
greatly aids the observance of tariff
but affords no remedy TO,
those who are injured by such charges.
either when they are excessive or
when thev are inequitably adjuste ted
The Elkins amendment has brought
about in many cases an increase in
railroad charges. and as result of
the maintenarce of rates, has operated
to intensity whatever was wrong in
the tariffs themselves.
The Commission takes the railroads
to task for increasing by concerted
action. the tax upon the general body
of producers and consumers of the
country. by steadily increasing. dur
ing the last three years, the published
rates. not upon class goods. but upon
the commodities themselves, constit-
uting the bulk of railroad traffic. as
coal. grain. lumber. live stock. dress
ed meats and pacL ing house products.
This concerted action. which the
railroads say with emphasis is perfect
ly legal. and which practically cuts
ont all competition. nullifies that
section of the law which says that
the railroads shall compete.
The report concludes with COM
plant against certain common carriers
for refusing point blank to furnish
desired information to the Commits
sion, and recommends that a sufficient
penalty be authorized to bring these
offenders 20 time.