The Cairo bulletin., 1906-12-20
TELL OF BENEFITS
OF NEW RATE LAW
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM.
MISSION OUTLINES WORK
IN ANNUAL REPORT.
PROBING CAR SHORTAGE



@ Washington, Dee. H. The annua
, report of the Interstate Commerc,
Commi Sion was made public today
The report, in part. follows;
The most important legislation O.
the year relating to the work of tht
4em relating 10 the work Of the CON
mission was the passage Of an act ap
proved June 20, which amended tht
act 10 regulate commerce in various
and important particulars. "A joint
res luton adopted on the same day
4 postponed the taking effect of this
measure until the 2Sth of August. and
the amended law has been in force
since that time, The cope Of the sta.
iute has been materially enlarged bg
THIS enactment and the powers Of the
commits ion substantially increased
he commission does not present
any recommendations for further
amendment OF the regulating statute
| in this report, but says such amend
ments ~ II may conclude are nacts
sary will be submitted in special com.
mnicat'ons to congress during the
present session.
The questions Arising under the
Inew legislation are nun arous and
lsome OF them extremely difficult II
has been necessary for the commits
sion to devote considerable part Of
ITS time to an admin trative CON
struction Of tais law and the prepaa.
ton OF decisions ana rulings as 10 itsI
meaning and application The nature
and scope Of these rulings and deci-
cons are indicated in a summary.
and the text of fhe several circulars
lis ptin ed in fun as an appendix To
Ithe report
The amended law provides that In
a3l cases III changes ii, rates anpli
cable TO interstate traffic whether ad |
vances or leductions. the public and |
the commission shall be given thirty |
days notice TO meet unforeseen
emergencies and prevent hardships. |
lhe commission authorized. in its |
discretion and for good cause shown.
to allow changes in rates on le.s thanI
thirty days notice. More than COO ap
phcaiions for permission to make
changes on less than the statutory
thirty days notice have been received
since August 2S, the date when the
new law became effective.
The majority Of these have been
granted, as the reasons set forth
seemed to amply justify the commits
sion in the exercise of this discre.
nonary power. Almost without excep-
tion these applications have been 10
pat in reduced rates, the necessity
foF which could NOT. owing to various
emer gencies, be foresaen in time to
give the full thirty DAYS notice. Tie
necessity of examining he tariffs on ,
file in connection with these applica
ons has added very largely to the
work OF the commission Contrary TO
general expectation. the requirement
)f thirty days notice has operated to
srea ~ increae the number Of tariff
Special Investigations Ordered. |,
Under this heading the commission :
mentions the numerous hearings
ahilh have been acid in the invcsu
CATION ordered by the joilt res)lu
ion Of congress approved March
1906. commonly known as the Till
nanGillespie resolution. and relatnq
a he relations of common carrier. :
o the production and di tribution of
'cai and oil and the ownership of
.nal and oil lands by such carriers y,
lr their officers and employees. A !,
eries # reports on this inve stication !,
sll be made from time TO time, the -
ir-t r. which, so far as coal..is con
trn"d. will pertain to wha. Is called
b. eastern b.tuminous situation. and i.
hat Tepoit will soon be submitted 10 I,
he congress. A special report upon
bar portion OF the investigation .
'hch pertains TO oil viii soon be
iibmtfod
other spe ial investigations. in !,
tiuted by the commis. ion upon its
wn motion, relate TO rhe relation be. :,
Hsen Union Pacific and Southern "a
+Hatih ANAA y a. -HlNaAlH AEtN AlA N.At la,
I their combined management and -
ontrol. the relations Of the Northe -
acific. Great NJrtben. aad Bur.lng =
IN systems with view TO ascertain. el
lg O. what extent the are md zr r.
nifed control and TIE effect Of any
lcl control upon their rates and 49,
ractiCes 4 further inquiry has b-en -
stiiBied wi reierelcs 20 the pre- a.
llinE car shortage and is n1w pro !
s7.iins in va i0us parts ~ the c0u1
81 The results OF flis inve rigatiOn
ii be- communicate 90 the con -.
'ess a. the eariies; ssibla date. -
Car Shortage Being Probed. -
The inability of shippers 10 procaTs =
rs for the moveme8- II Their traffic -
the subject ef numerous anI grie- :
IS complaints which come TO the