New-York tribune., 1906-08-27
RAILWAY RATE LAW.
EFFECTIVE TO-MORROW.
Rebates and Other Favors Pass
.Asroy 7'o-dag-ProUisions of Act.
TFrorn ghe Tribuna pureau ,


Tuesday morning. There will be blowing OF
locomotive whistles all over the land in salute
20 the statute such ushers in New Years Day
nor any gollihcation by officials of the railroad
companies or by the federal authorities clothed
with the vast rate making power. but absolutely
without formality the sweeping measure which
caused one OF the longest and hardest debates
ever held in Congress Will begin to exert its
influence on all interstate commerce by land and
the hypothetical questions which have been
puzzling everybody concerned for the last few
months will pass TO the experimental and prac-
tical stage. II was the first intention OF Con-
gress that the new law should become effective
on the day OF its passage and approval by
the President. which was June %. but such
g hue and cry raised about the imposslbility
OF starting so ponderous mechanism suddenly
that the House and Senate the following day.
fust before adjournment, adopted Joint resolu-
ton extending SITS enforcement sixty days and
this period expires with tomorrow.
The absence OF function celebration at the
birth OF the new order OF things is due in part
At least 30 the vacation season, which is Just
now at its height for government officials and
the highest railroad officers. the latter having
left to subOrdinates largely the duty OF obeying
she law and carrying out its details.
The Interstate Commerce Commission, whose
membership increased from five TO seven
bv the new law, apparently In recognition Of the
snsufficiency OF time granted 90 the railroads TO
make such radical changes in their rate making
and bookkeeping the law contemplates, is de-
terrlired 20 proceed slowly and cautiously in
exercising its powers. and will not hold its first
meeting under the law until September a. AT
that time IL is expected that all the members
Will be in attendance and that Martin A. Knapp.
NJ New York chairman Of the present commits
sion will be chosen chairman of the new COM
mission. Not until then will the work OF carry
ing out the law be divided among the commits
sioners. and only after that time will the COM
mission listen 20 complaints or act formally In
interpreting portions Of the law regarding which
differences Of opinion have arisen, or to hear
complaints. OF which a number have already ac-
cllrlulated under the old law.
The members Of the commission expect TO De
fairly overwhelmed with petitions from railway
men and shippers, begging for rulings on various
features which involve marked departures from
old practices; but it IS doubtful if they consent
n cross any bridge until they reach It, or at
tempt 70 render any decisions until violations Oh
the law are reported. when they mean TO act as
promptly as practicable after deliberate inVesu-
CATION A new and elaborate system or account
ing bv all the railroads is made obligatory unoer
the new law, but the commission does NOT s@-
meet to provide uniform blanks for this purpose
sarv forms having been delegated by the COM
7.ission TO its former statistician, Professor
Henry Q Adams, of Michigan University, who Is
now busily engaged in drawing them UP. An
other feature OF the law. that relating TO the pro-
hibition Of passes, does not become ehectiVe
until January next, but many OF the falfOauS
are anticipating it's enforcement and II Is
thought that after tomorrow complimentary
transportation" will be rare or valueless on most
Of the lines OF the country.
The new commission is clothed by the Revised
Statutes with considerable discretion regarding
the rigid and immediate enforcement Of many
regulations which It was recognized in the course
of the debates in Congress might prove too de-
moralizing if suddenly imposed upon existihg
methods governing interstate commerce. ana IN
these matters the commission Will probably eKel-
else its control leniently at first and with grad
uaIy increased severity. One Of these clauses
IS that which prohibits the alteration OF any
rate either for freight or passengers Wltnoue
thirty days notice. Should this be literally ana
rigidlv enforced at the outset every rate in the
United States in effect tomorrow would have 10
stand unchanged until September q. and no eX-
cursions or large movements OF any kind either
freight or passenger no matter what the speciai
OCCASION could occur for a month. Problems OK
this nature will be among the first to receive
consideration by the commission, but commence
is felt that regulations will be made 70 fit all
such occasions and that the law. if found to act
I'M lriously to The interests of the public which
it is designed to serve. will be literally inter-
preted until Congress has an opportunity TO
remedy any injustice anomaly in its proVls-
IONS.
MEMBERS OF NEW COMMISSION.
All the members Of the old commission. includ-
ing Franklin K Lane OF California, who did not
enter upon the work until last week, have been
reappointed by the President TO the new COM
mission They are Martin A Knapp, OF New
York chairman; Judson c. Clements, OF
Georgia; Charles A Prouty, Of Vermont. and
Francis NJ. CockreIl OF Missouri. The two new
members are Edward e Clark. OF Iowa, and
James S. Harlan of Illinois. None OF the mem
bers OF the new commission have been confirmed
By the Senate. as the law under which they are
appointed is not in operation until August 2s'
and their commissions are ineffective unt:l tnat
date but there is no doubt that their acts will
be legal in the interim under recess appoint
uents and that the Senate Immediately upon re-
Assembling will confirm the Presidents nOmina-
lions.
az the members OF the new commission who
oculd be reached by interested parties in the last
few weeks have been besOught 70 give the rail-
roads leeway in the matter OF complying with
details Of the law but have thus far denied all
requests We cannot answer any hypothetical
Questions" is the position Of the commissioners.
II we did the roads would accept our construc-
ton just 50 far as it pleased them. and then do
as they chose. Our advice 20 railroad men Is TO
get the best advice their lawyers can give them
about the new law and it's meaning. and then fol-
low it. We will not construe it: we will simply
undertake 10 enforce it and let the courts in due
H.