The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-03-20

One Of the principal railroads that con-
states, gave, until short time ago, a
rate OF Slid a hundred on first class
j freight, Under the pressure OF the
competition OF the Goa stwise steamers
and sailing vessels, this railroad was
forced to reduce the rate from New
ork to Atlanta ON hrst-class freight
i to $I.o5. This reduction between these
two points at once necessitated pro-
portional reduction between New York
and many points in Georgia and Ala
lbama. Again, this same road was
forced by the inexorable laws of trade
and the ever present pressure of conf
Ipetition, to reduce the rate on boots
and shoes from New York to Atlanta.
| To save its markets it was their COM
lpelled to make similar reduction in
the rates on this same commodity to
lsuch points as Knoxville and Chatta-
Enooga, Tenn. Not only were these
i many changes made by this one road,
lbut all the roads serving that same
TERRITORY were compelled to make
changes in their rate schedules, for
suchS1s the keennesS OF modern conpe-
titlon common territory must keep
the rates in a state OF equilibrium or
a disastrous rate war follaWs, during
which both shippers and railroads suf-
Ifer.
That single rates cannot be changed
without affecting thousands of others
lis the unanimous verdict Of railroad
men, who have devoted their lives to
frailroad problems, and it is their firm
before the senate committee on inter
state commerce that once the inter.
| state commerce commission starts in
Ito alter a rate here, and to change a.
rate there, it will only be question
OF time, and a short time at that, be-
fore that body, which will consist at
the utmost of but nine members, few
!, If any Of whom will be experienced rail-
road men, will make the rates on every
article OF commerce that is shipped in
the whole United States.
SO that, say the railroad experts, the
movement now on foot further to in
crease the duties and labors Of the in
terstate commerce commission by
giving it the power to make railroad
rates, must have started among people
who are in ignorance Of the amount of
work that the commission already is
called upon to do. The commission al
ready has TO labor bravely to perform
the duties which are imposed on it by
the act to regulate commerce, APPROX
ed February, 1887 By this act, the
commission, consisting Of FIVE men ap-
pointed by the president, was author
lied to act as a kind OF guardian in
loco PARENTS, as it were, to the rail-
roads engaged in interstate commerce,
a guardianship OF no little responsible i
ity. considering that the railroads to-
day have considerably more than 2oo,-
600 miles of trackage, represent more
than $4,000, 100000 OF capital, and pay
out annually to their employees more
than $$8I7,oooooo In addition to keep
ing this general watch and guard over
ats Garganttan young charge, the CONF
mission is required to receive petitions
for redress from persons. associations,
etc, who have, or think they have,
been Wrongfully treated by the common
carriers, to forward these complaints
to those railroad companies whose acts
were cofnpiained of, and, BY the gentle
act OF persuasion, to endeavor to get
the offending roads to remedy the
wrongs. The commission also is re-
.quircd to do original detective work, |
when it has reason to- think that one
of the railroads is violating any of the |
provisions of the act, and, if it finds |
that its suspicious are justified, to make |
a complaint and forward it to the rail- |
road; then If the railroads fail toll
remedy the alleged wrongs brought to
their attention by these complaints, to |
take the cases to the couyts when the |
commission acts as prosecutor.
Besides these FAR from simple duties, |
the commission is entrusted with sew
eral others, such as the fling away Of /
copies Of the schedules Of freight and I
rates, to secure reports |
showing in detail the annual business
OF the railroad overseeing the execu-
ton OF the safety appliance act and
compiling reports OF accidents on the /
railroads. Of course a great deal Of
the labor xpended is routine and Is /
more or less efficiently carried on by |;
the $50 clerks employed by the com.
while the commits sioners de-
vote themselves almost entirely to hear
ing complaints against the railroads,
acting as arbiters between the ship. Il
pers and roads, and prosecuting those
cases against the roads that finally
reach the courts. Ais the hearings that
come before the commission are held
the whole United States,
III fact, the eornnais sioiers
decide upon as the most fitting and
suitable place, the commissioners are
kept constantly on the move. Last year
they held hearings in such distant !
and diverse points as Boston, Little |
Rock and Atlanta, as well as In over q
dozen other places.
JAPANss AMBITION.
Portland Oregoniail: Statements