The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-29
RATE Law IN EFFECT.
Railroads Unable to Comply With al
Provisioiis-Tile Commission IS
Lenicnt

yew York, August 27.-The new
railroad rate law which applies 20 all
railroads doing an interstate COM
nerce business goes into efftct at
| midnight tonight 1t Will be enforced
by the interstate commerce commits
sion. According TO the new law, the
roads We're to have fled with
the commission by midnight all
their tariffs and charges, showing not
only the full cost OF transportation
| from point to point, but also what
items go the making up of this cost.
From tomorrow on there can be no
extras but the shippec is expected
to be able to obtain in advance a
final statement Of the charge he has
20 meet.
1t was stated today that in fact not
a single company has been able to
fully comply with the provisions Of
ths law requiring them to have all
their schedules on file by midnight.
The schedule Of switching charges
was the most difficult of completion.
Under the law every company
which fails to complete its schedule
might be fined, but it is understood
that the interstate commerce COM
mission. will give additional time in
every case when a road has given ev-
idence of sincere intent to comply
with the law To discuss this and
other points, committee represent
ing the big Eastern railroads will go
to Washington tomorrow in order to
meet the commission. This confer
ence will be attended by representa-
tives of the anthracite coal roads who
are anxious to obtain a ruling from
the commission on that section Of the
law which prohibits railroad from
carrying from one State to another
any article manufactured, mined or
produced by it except for its own use.
This would include coal.
1t is expected that shippers will
find themselves benefited by the pro-
vision which requires the railroads to
include all charges of whatever ma
ture in their quoted rates. Hereto
fore shipper has had to figure for
himself on refrigerator and elevator
incidentals, dickering with the sepa-
rate companies which had a hand in
transportation or care Of his ship
ment. Now the railroad must do
that and the shipper meets but one
charge, deals with but one concern.
All the sources of side charges are
consolidated, and private cars, side
tracks, spurs, ternialss elevators are
made subject to the law.
The new law also requires the rail-
roads to establish uniform system
of accounting and to keep their books
open for inspection at all times by
the expert accountants Of the COM
mission. This feature isIexpected to
go far toward abolishing the rebate
evi, of the past. The railroad account
ants are comforting in regard to the
uniform system of bookkeeping,
which, however, will not go into eff
feet until June of next year. In the
meantime the commission has put its
own experts at work devising sys-
tenn which will be clear enough to
suit the commission.
AS a direct consequence Of the pro-
visions of the rate bill, the Union Pa
cifc railway has determined to in
stall its own system Of refrigerator
cars. Heretofore, the Armour private
car lines have had a monopoly Of this
business over the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific with all the profita-
BILE California fruit .iade.
The Union Pacific today opened
bids for the const uction of 5000
steel under-body refrigerator cars and
is likely to ask for bids for another
lot soon.