New-York tribune., 1906-12-20
REPORT ON RAILWAYS.
Commerce Commission
CommentS on Car Shortage.

--,ss.astou. Deo. Is.-The annual report Of the
80, Commerce Commission. which was made
-. ,o-sav. says that the most important ieGis
- ~ the year relating 20 the work Of the COM
-. r-ss the passage of an &C; known as the
.-,,s Rate law. The scope OF the act TO regulate
Ss-,e has been materially enlarged by this
.--,eut and the powers of the commission have
= s,,sstantislly increased
=. commission does not present any recommen-
-. for further amendment Of the regulating
-, N This report. but says such amendments
= rasy conclude are necessary VIII be sub-
- A. special communications 20 Congress dur
AZ ne present session
=. asnended law provides that IN all cases Of
.-Tss n rates applicable 10 interstate traffic.
- advances or reductions. the public and tile
---.,.sfon shall be given thirty days notice. To
=, unforeseen emergencies and prevent hard
=. she commission IS authorized, in its discre-
- sr6 for good cause shown, 20 allow changes in
=. an less than thirty days notice. Mere than
:. hun6rsd applications for permission TO make
s.-Ts- "A rates CT less than the statutory thirty
- nosioe have been received since August Is
:. ss,s uaer The new law became effective
-As majority OF these have been granted, as the
-,rns get forth seemed amply 70 justify the COM
s.,oD IN the exercise OF this discretionary power
,'-oyt without exception these applications have
= "a r-t II force reduced rates the necessity for
- could not owing 20 various emergencies be
..-.ssen n tire give the fun thirty DAYS no.
s.s Contrary 20 general expectation. the require
srs ef thirty days notice has operated greatly to
---sszs the number Of tariffs Prior 10 the PASS
=. Of the amending act. for several years the
,Vs-aFe number of tariffs fled daily WAS about
-, hundred and City. including both freight ana
,s.ssnre- tariffs, but from August I. 1906. up TO
- including November so, the average number
xtsrifs FLED daily has been ss4 and this number
s.s not Include express, pipe line sleeping ear
u-rs On August q, the day before the amended
Nv became effective. the number Of schedules re-
rsrss for sling was S.5ss. OF which 4.s75 were
.-;rht ard So were passenger tariffs
rae great number OF tariffs received since and
sr PRIOR the taxing effect Of the amended law
al Ire limited clerical force available for the work
fSve rendered impraCticable any detailed compari-
s M Ireyiousiy IN eject hut from s1eI '.1,o eX
Srinstion Il has been possible 10 make. II ap-
ssvg been reductions.
rndeT tie Eoading Of special Investigations the
commission mentions the numerous hearings which
ave been held in the Investigations ordered by the
Tlnlsn-Ciilles1e resolution, dealing with the rea-
uols Of common carriers TO the production and dis
~ ~ an5s 5y such carriers or ter officeTs @ and
srDloyes. the La Toilette resolution. relating
'hs ownership and operation OF elevators. charges
srs allowances paid thereto and practices in the
t--sitnr and trsnsDortation of gram and in other
peca Investigations, instituted by the commission
Essn the Union Pacinc ana Southern Pacific Rail
way systems growing out Of their comhned man
Pacific, Great Northern and Burlington systems,
III &
an Under unified control and the effect Of any such
sut.al upon their rates and practices. and with
rs o this last named fnvesrigation viii be com
rlucaied 20 TIE Congress al the earliest possible
The inability OF shippers 20 procure cars for the
rgvenlsnt Of their trahc, the report says, is the
ra- canine rTevsiis 1;bi,b 5T1ne-s $ distress
% Almost every section. and in some localities
1s-rT which sgarywhere abounds with the high
ohraivahle for all classes Of commodities
stimulated production as 70 yield g volume
n TRANSFORMATION business which far exceeds in
Hads IN word, the development of private in
t1stry has of late been much more rapid than the
s-sase OF railway equipment.
The conditions now existing IN the Northwest
s1pme-t. ana in the Southwest and trans-Anssouri
Hs Alulais c3Irot De moved 70 the MARKERS, may
rsty BE- regarded as alarming. the report says.
Ericles aud miscellaneous merchandise has become
s5Tiy sck Of cars in others insllficient tracks
nd motive power in stiIl others wholly inadequate
The larger roads. which have been increasing
lsr equipment their managers say. as rapidly as
could 0s procured. in many cases refusing 70
MA becaslss thev are not unloa ded and returned
Etttn reasors bic time The practice OF allow
w car loaded on one line to 90 through 70 des-
fs Commercial need for such movement is so obvi-
1E and urgent that curtaflment Of this inter-
aaaEe results IN widespread hardship and COM
T. commission is without AUTHORITY under any
snstng law deal effectively with this condition
Ihs regulating power Of Congress has not been
ssrcsed control the physical operations Of in
sTsIate railroads, aside from the safety appliance
Fg1reInen-s. either respects the movement OF
Cs,ns p the supply OF equipment Nevertheless,
ne conr1issl On. without waiting for further au-
tority has begun an investigation Of this subject
ions N V et 70 66rs o Ss s oonnry ns snd eonf the
snsdes thsr De applied, either voluntarily by
uelts
ne report shows tvzenty-one civil cases pending
p tne courts for enforcement Of the regulating
at1-e and & large number Of criminal proceedings
lsposeo o. instituted during the year. The
mes imposed upon corporations and individuals IN
eee1ings involving criminal violations amount 20
ts'erel hundred thousand dollars, and Two per-
sA were sentenced 10 Imprisonment.