Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-12-26
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Commissions Annual Report TO Con-
greSS Points Out De eCtS in
Legislation.

washington, D6C. 2l.-ln ne annual
report of the interstate commerce COM
mission has been transmitted to con.
gress. Reference is again made to the
two principal objects of the act to reg
ulate commerce, the publication and
observance of tariff rates, and the cor
rection, on complaint, of established
tariff rates. The commission says in
substance that successful regulation of
rates depends upon the effective opera
ton OF both branches of regulation.
The act as amended by the Elkins law
of February 0, 1908. and which deals
with the publication and invariable
application Of traits, appears to be op.
Grating successfully as applied to car
riers subject to its provisions, but it il
understood these provisions might he
made somewhat more definite and ex-
tended to apply to other agencies con-
nec:ed with transportation which may
now be used as means Of affording
concessions to shippers, which in effect
remove the cost of moving their prod
ucts
Defects in the Law.
The commission calls attention to
the fact that there has been no amend
atory legislation comforting power over
rates and making the orders Of the
commission effective. In the present
state of the law, after careful and ex-
\ tended Investigation, the commission
may find rate complained of to be
undesirable. and order the carrier to
tlesist from charging that rate for the
future, but it cannot. though the evil
alence may and usually does indicate
it, find and order the reasonable rate
to be substituted for that which has
been found to be unlawful.
In two instances during the past
year the commission las been asked by
both shippers and carriers 90 adjudi-
cate controversies between them con-
corning the adjustment Of rates. The
commission thinks it probable that the
cases pending before it directly and in
directly affect every locality and near
ly all the people of the United States.
Much Original Work.
Besides disposing Of large number
of complaints for formalin investiga-
ton the commission has rendered dur.
ing the year twenty seven decisions in
reports and opinions upon contested
cases or Investigations made by the
commission on its own motion.
The report shows that in railroad
accidents there were 1926 employees
injured and 1857 killed in 1904, as
compared with 33,711 injured and
1865 killed in 1902, with which year
comparison is made There were SOFT
passengers injured and ago killed. The
increase in the number of deaths Of
passengers over 1908 is 64hs per cent.
There were an unusually large number
of accidents during the year.
Thee commission again urges the
adoption of the block system.
For the year ending June 30, 1904,
the preliminary report embraces re-
turns for roads representing 200, OO2
miles of line, or about 80 per cent Of
the mileage that will be covered by the
final report. On the mileage stated
the gross earnings Of the railways we're
$l,966, 633,s2l. The gross earnings
for the previous year on 205,S13 miles,
were 81 900, 046,9O7. The operating
expenses of the railways for the year
amounted to 1882, 1882, 94S, being
equivalent to *6,375 per mile of line,
or $3.50 more than for the year 1908.
The ratio Of operating expenses to earn
1ngs was 67.75 per ont.