Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-20
Effect of Such Interest.

Fourth If the interstate commerce COM
mission shall find that the facts set forth
in the three paragra phs above do exist,
then that it shall be further required to
renort as to the effect of such relationship,
ownership or interest In coal or coal traffic.
or such contracts. combinations in form OF
trust, or otherwise, or conspiracy or such
monopoly or attempt to monopolize or COM
bine or conspire upon such person or
persons as may be engaged Independently
of any other persons In mining coal or oil
and shipping the same, or who may desire
to so engage or upon the general public
as consumers of such coal or oil.
Fifth That the commission be also re-
ouired to investigate and report the system
of car distribution in effect upon the sew
eral railway lines engaged In the transpor-
tation of coal or oil. and whether the sys-
TENS are fair and equitable. and Wnetner
the same are carried out fairly and prop
erly; and whether the carriers or any of
them discriminate against Shippers, or
parties wishing to become shippers over
their several lines, either In the matter OF
distribution of cars or In furnishing OF
facilities or instrumentalities connected
with the receiving, forwarding or carrying
of coal as aforesaid.
Sixth That the commission be also re-
quired to report as to what remedy 1t can
suggest to cure the evils above set forth.
II they exist.
quired to report any facts or conclusions
which 1t may think pertinent 10 the general
inquiry above set forth.
Eighth. That the commission be required
to make this investigation al its earliest
possible convenience and to furnish the In
formation above required as soon as it can
be done consistent with the performance of
its public duty.
The Supreme Court Decision.
In connection with the resolution for in
vestigating the coal railroads members of
the committee We're very much interested
in yesterdays decision of the United States
Supreme Court in the Chesapeake and Ohio
case involving the freight rates to be
charged by railroads on the shipment of
its own coal to the seaboard. In that de-
csion the court very clearly took the stand
that a coal-carrying railroad. in fixing the
selling price OF its product must take
count OF it's published rate for transpcr-
tation of coal and charge that rate in the
selling price.
Members OF the committee said they
would go through the decision very care
fully to ascertain its bearing in other ways
upon the ownership of coal properties by
railroads. but the opinion was expressed,
Offhand that the courts action would have
no particular bearing upon the proposed
investigation further than TO stimulate in
,erest and probably suggest line of in
curry for the commission.
Chairman Knapp of the interstate COM
merce commission was asked his opinion
on the courts decision, and whether 1t did
not widen the powers of the commission
even more than was contemplated by the
provisions of the Hepburn rate bill. He
said that he had not yet read the text of
the decision. and that till he did he would
not feel in position to comment on IT,
even IL he felt 1T right TO say anything
afterward The opinion was expressed at
the office of the commission, however that
the courts decision Will have very vital
effect on the whole railroad situation that
II viii prevent any road owning any COM
modify which II transports. and may even
affect the private car question. which Is
one of the vital elements in the whole of
the Dresenf railroad discussion