New-York tribune., 1906-07-13
10 ENFORCE RATE LAW.
DnLROAD BOOKKEEPING.
rrfersfate Commerce Commission
p1ridcs for Uniform System.
fFrorn The Tribune Bureau.l

-.,..r,rQton. July 12-Preliminary 70 enforce
- the Railroad Rate law. the Interstate
,rcs Commission held an important meet
~ .o-aay 10 lay the groundwork for the regu-
..t,,.s rnder which the law will be carried out.
..--e,ssration was given to that feature OF the
',,bich authorizes the commission in its dis
.,,on 70 prescribe the manner in which the ac-
,g of the railroads shall be kept and the
oo .s ~ time within which the common car
-. must adopt. as near as may be. uniform
,o,, Of accounts. The commission assigned
!. uenrv c Adams. statistician Of the commits
- the task of originating the scheme OF book
',.n,ng 10 be adopted by the railroads in order
!, insure a uniform system OF accounting.
v- Adams has been in the employ OF the
.,7nission as statistician for years, is an au-
.so,f,v in railroad economics. and should he
-...,t 10 undertake the new task imposed upon
t,,, the members Of the commission feel con-
s..r, the work will be done most satisfactorily.
rro rill report 10 the commission his decision in
:. matter within a weeks time. II is regarded
:, ,r,Dortant that satisfactory system OF book
t..Ding and accounting for the railroads shall
- devised. in order that the commission may
:. able 10 make accurate comparisons OF cost
ea.veen different roads as we'll as between diff
e.-ant sections Of the same road and thus de-
crT1i1e the TeaEOnapleueSS or UmTedSOnaDleneSS
- the rates charged. Before deciding on a sys-
sam Of accounting TO be used as q model. Mr..
ssams viii hold conferences with railroad ac-
countants and there will be a careful investiga-
ZION Of the whole subject.
Todavs meeting of the commission was the
last formal gathering this summer. Much work
viii be carried on under the direction Of the
commissioners but the hard grind Of the last
yssr with the series of investigations undertaken
has in the opinion of the President. entitled the
commissioners TO a vacation during the sum-
msr months and they have been directed 20 take
recess for a short time. The general oral
hearings will begin again in September, when
fhs Standard Oil Company. Elevator Trust and
coal roads Riil all come in for investigation.
A hearing under the TiIman-(s Gillespie resolu-
tion for investigation Of oil contracts was held
today and it will be the last until September.
Tomorrow the commission will issue an impor-
tant circular 10 railroads in connection with the
grain elevator investigation. The circular con-
fsins list Of questions asking information about
the relations Of railroads to the grain buying
end storing business. When the commission
meets in the fall the information gathered from
replies 10 these circulars will be used as the
fasis for the further conduct Of the investga-
tiOn
As there is 10 be an enlargement OF the COM
mission under the terms of the act. and as the
additional members do not take office until Au-
gust 2s the present members will not be pro-
pared 10 formulate complete plans for the work
ahead until September. at which time the COM
mission will start in with renewed energy on the
work assigned TO il by the recent legislation.