The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-28
RAILROAD RATE
LAW IS NOW
IN OPERATION

New York. Aug. 2S.-The new railroad
rate law, which applies to all railroads
doing an interstate business. went into
effect at midnight last night. According
20 the new law the roads were 10 have
filed with the commission by midnight all
their tariffs and charges. showing not
only the full cost OF transportation from
point 10 point. but also what items go TO
the making up OF this cost. From today
on there can be no extras" but the
shipper Is expected 20 be able 20 obtain
In advance final statement OF the
charge he has TO meet
IL is stated that In fact not single
company has been able 10 comply with
the provisions OF the law requiring them
10 have all their schedules on file by mid
night. The schedule OF switching
charges was the most difficult OF COM
pletion and IL Is said that no road has
been able 10 finish IT.
Under the law every company which
fails 10 complete It's schedules might be
fined, but II is understood that the In
terstate commerce commission Will give
additional time I'm every case when "A
road had given evidence of sincere in
tent TO comply with the law.
To discuss this and other points com
mittee representing the big Eastern rail-
roads will go to Washington today In or
der 10 meet the commission. This confer
ence will be attended by representatives
or the anthracite coal roads, who are
"A
mission on that section OF the law which
prohibits railroad from carrying from
state 10 state any article manufactured,
mined or produced by IT except for us
own use
II is expected that shippers will fnd
themselves benefited by the provision
which requires the railroads 70 include
all charges OF whatsoever nature In their
quoted rates. Heretofore a shipper had
20 figure for himself on icing, refriger-
ator and elevator charges, and the dozen
or more other incidentals. dickering with
the separate companies which had a
hand In the transportation or care or his
shipment. Now the railroad must do
that and the shipper meets but one
charge and deals with but one concern.
All the sources OF side charges are con
solidated. and private cars, side tracks
spurs. terminals and elevators are made
subject 20 the law.
The new law also requires the rail-
roads 20 establish a uniform system or
accounting and 20 keep their books open
for inspection at all times, by the eN-
pert accountants OF the commission. Inc
railroad accountants are now conferring
IN regard 10 the uniform system OF book
keeping. which. however, Will not go INTO
effect until Junel next year. In the mean
time the commission has put it's own
experts at work devsing a system.
Forces OF clerks from all express COM
panies in the country have for the last
few days been engaged here In the task
OF revising express rates 10 comply with
the provisions OF the rate bill. but nave
been unable 70 finish their tasks I'm time
to file schedules with the interstate COM
merce commission before the bill became
defective.
From the new arrangement the puhnc
will reap no benefit. The rates Will not
be lowered. The rates OF every company
will be identical with those Of every
other.
AS a direct consequence of the provis-
eions OF the rate bill. the Union Pacific
railway has determined 20 install its own
system OF refrigerator cars. Heretofore
| the Armour private car lines have had
monopoly Of this business over the Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific with all the
profitable California fruit trade.
The Union Pacific yesterday opened
bids for the construction OF 5000 steel un-
Iderbodv refrigerator cars. and is likely
to ask for bids for another lot soon.