New-York tribune., 1906-08-29
no RATE LAW RULINGS
HEARING BY COMlIISSION
Representatives of Railroads Say
They Wish TO Obserue Nesc Statute.
IFrom Tha ~-,s,,,. p,,-.--. ,


washington. Aug. gs--he ~rsf ssv,s ,.i
Of the railroad rate law vas s,rnaIizaS b ,,,',.
conference IN the rooms ot the Interstate r,-r,a-s
Commission this morning. when City railroad men
TefTesentlas Hhe New England and central trunk
llEss appeared before the commission suats, a.
teTr-ataiions OF some sections OF the law ana an
extension o. time IN Inich 70 fl- the sa~s- - .I
different roads.
The railroad representatives declared that rhsra
we're certain features OF the law which ,re,. 80
sing 70 theTn' and also unreasonable unless she
commission s-ould exercise fts discretionary over
n enforcing them The commissioners oe,.~ "a.
fsn.ng 70 arguments for several hours co-.e-+od
themselves with the announcement that ehev, w..
not prepared 20 make rulings the points under
discussion The railroads should interprer the lsr
according to their own lights. they said. and the
commission would then deal with sneessc r,,assso,
ther came before IT, This declaration was rrac
GosIly the sum total Os accomplishment OF the
days proceedings
TRo o. the rev commissioners. Messrs Lane and
Clark, we're present for the first time brt on ar
count Ct the absence OF AGessrs Proutv and rEar
lan there was no formal deliberation Of the an
tire body. the various complicated questions that
have arisen IN connecrion with the enforcement Of
the law are still unsettled. and only in a general
wsy has the policy OF the commission been rnanr.s5
OF
Tie commission was addressed By seven railroad
Enen and shippers the substance OF the points un-
oer discussion beng as Sollous: First the inter
pTe2tlo2 OF the ause relating to thirty days no.
dee of changes l. rates. second the need 10 =,
extension Of time allow the roads to oornnI,, i4
changes IN the tariffs fled under the revised Ian.
ard third, whether the commission should raou,rs
ne posting OF tariff schedules II, railway stations
o. should De satisfied with the posting Of a notice
II re station saying that copies OF the 4ar4r c7
Clss could De obtained from the station agent
Chairman Knapp announced at the afternoon
session that the commission was not ready to make
any decisions.
INTEND TO OBSERVE LAW
Lnoer the terms OF the law the carriers Of the
county were expected TO be prepared to-day TO
uaeei rs requirements and to comply as far as
Poss'ie with lis essential pprovisions. Already in
partlsI compliance with the law tons Of tariff
yate schedules have been filed with the Commits.
sl5n ~ The various railroads and common carrier
Ines. and additional tariffs are being received bv
ne commission in every mail. Many OF the rail-
roads nave contented themselves with aIinp with
the Commission the tariffs heretofore in effect
merely adjusting them 10 meet the requirements
Of the new law Every speaker representing the
Ia-iroads Informed the Commission to-day that the
roa1s had no disposition to lay obstacles in the
way Of its enforcement OF the act
3. D Caldwell a vice-president Of the DaIa-
we're. Lsckawanna 8 Western road told the Com
mission that, through conferences with trafc Of
nelals snd attorneys Of various lines oS railroad
they had sought 70 reach understanding OF the
new law, the end that they might be in opsi-
ever. that Notwithstanding the work they had
done in good faith, many questions had arisen
psrucIlsTIy concerning the publication and filing
o1 tariffs. on which they felt they ought TO have
an exchange OF views with the Commission He
suggested that II would be necessary 70 have an
extension OF time in which the carriers should
nave opportunity TO file their tariffs with the
commission and he requested that the Commits
son continue the present method OF posting rail-
road tariffs, now generally in effect He discussed
a length the technical features Of The rates as
prescribed by the law. and in connection
Win the suggestion that the Commission suspend
o. modify import and export rates he urged that
70 change be made in the requirements until the
fullest hearing should have been held He also
Ezld that g joint rate in which two or more car
Ter5 are interested should be the subject Of con-
curEence He insisted, did all the other speak
e.s. That absolute concurrence in Joint rates OF
al the carriers interested should be had before the
rates were established
George Y Massey. general counsel Of the Penn
s5lVania Railroad Company. assured the Commits
son that Il was the desire of all the roads with
HIlon ne mad conferred TO conform absolutely with
tLe law, and he told the Commission that such re-
ports as had been published TO the contrary were
Vithout the shadow Of foundation in fact. we
nave elOeaYored-'' said he to find out what the
-aT requires and we have done our best TO meet
those requirements they are operative to-day"
= j. eIran1ner, vlce-president of the New York
'@ntral lines. gave the same assurance He dis
c-lsseo al length some Of the technical phases OF