The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-30
Date of Amount
FREIGHT RATE DETERMINATIONS
Some More Reports Concerning Differ
ent Railroad Charues.

The committee on commerce of the Bos-
! ton Associated Board of Trade, which
has been considering resolutions of the
New England Paint and Oil club in favor
of charging the powers of the interstate
commerce commission to enable the COM
mission to prevent excessive rates and I'M
fair discrimination, has reported that the
proposed measure is in the interest of
the people and would benefit the railroads,
especially if supplemented. as the COM
mttee thinks it should be, by an act con-
ferrinS upon the railroads greater power
to contract with each other. The report
states that since the prohibition of pool
ing the public has depended wholly upon
the interstate commerce commission for
protection from unreasonable. excessive
or discriminative rates. and that such pro-
lection has availed little because the
power of the commission is only recon-
mandatory, and when its decisions are ap-
pealed from. the evils complained of con-
tinue until the appellate tribunal reaches
a decision. 1t is true, says the report
that such determinations, continuing
through the laws delay, have wrought
the ruin of individuals and even OF
places.
The report declares that owing to the
great extent and many complications of
railroad traffic. and TO the powerful per-
sOnal and local pressure constantly ex-
erted upon railroad officials. agents and
clerks, it is of doubtful wisdom to depend
upon so small a body of men in Washing
ton to detect determinations or TO apply
the corrective when abuses are brought
70,
lieved that railroads should he set to
watch each other. which could be brought
about by giving them the right to con-
tract with each other and the power to
collect heavy damages for breach of con-
tract. The commission belgieves that the
law against pooling is unbusiness-like and
against human nature, and that no
amount of watchfulness by government
officials or stringency Of law. can over
come the evils of discrimination without
the aid, instead of the opposition. of the
companies themselves. As enbOdying its
sentiments on the subject the following
resolutions were reported:
Resolved That in the opinion of the
Boston Associated Board Of Trade the in
terstate commerce commission ought to
have the power to determine to what
extent rates are unreasonable or discrim-
mating. and in case Of the non-compli-
ance of transportation companies with its
recommendations. it ought TO have the
power to fix rates. which shall so into
effect after thirty days. unless the circuit
court to which appeal may be taken, shall
suspend the order because Of some error
Of law or fact. on the part of the com
mission.
Resolved. That, subject to the supervis-
ion and control Of the commission. COM
peting transportation companies ought TO
have the power to lawfully contract with
each other concerning rates and the d.
vision or apportionment Of traffic. and
power to enforce penalties or collect dam
age for the violation OF such agreements.
1t Is the opinion Of the committee that
laws 10 this effect would mean no in
crease in rates on the average. and might
mean decrease by reason OF savings.
or If they resulted in a slight Increase
every honest merchant would be glad to
pay the price for uniformity and for the
assurance that some rival was not getting
2 lower rate