The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-19
OPINION RENDERED
ON NEW RATE LAW
Must Pay Money for Passenger
or Freight Service
CHARGES MUST BE POSTED.
Excursion Rates Must Be Posted at
Least Three Days-Other Changes
In Rates Must Be Posted
Thirty Days.

washington, September 1S.-In an opin-
ion rendered September Is, but made pub
lie today the interstate commerce COM
mission takes important action in constru-
ing the application of the new railroad
rate law and providing general rules APP
plying to joint tariff rates on new lines
and to Communication, mileage and excur-
sion rates. The decision in full is as fol-
lows:
'aThe interstate commerce commission
in answer to numerous inquiries from
railroad officials and other interested per-
sons and for the purpose of giving ad-
ministrative construction to certain pro-
visions to the amended act to regulate
commerce which became effective on the
2sth of August, 1905. announces the fol-
lowing rules:
Payment for transportation: Nothing
but money can be lawfully received or
accepted In payment for transportation
subject to the act, whether of passengers
or property, or for any services in con-
nection herewith, 1t being the opinion of
the commission that the prohibition
against charging or collecting greater
or less compensation than the estab-
lished rates In effect at the time, pre-
cludes the acceptance Of services prop
erty or other payment in lieu of the
amount Of money specified in the pub
lished schedules.
Notice of Changes.
Notice OF changes in rates. Where two
or more connecting carriers establish a
Joint rate which is less or greater than
the sum of their local rates, such joint
rate is change Of rates and requires a
notice of 80 days. In such case the joint
rate when duly established and in force
becomes the only lawful rate for through
transportation.
New roads: On new lines of road, In
cluding branches and extensions OF ex-
isting roads Individual rates may be es-
tablished In the first instance and also
Joint rates to and from points on such
new line, without notice on posting a
tariff of such rate and filing the same
with the commission.
..Round trip excursion rates: 1t Is the
opinion of the commission that the pro-
visions of the amended sixth section In
respect of the publishing, filing and post
ing of tariffs apply to the mileage ex-
cursion and Communication rates authorized
first established or offered Is held TO
be a change of rates which requires no.
tice of 30 days No reason appears why
this notice should not be given In the case
of mileage rates, which, like ordinary
passenger rates, are established for an In
definite period and appear to be matter
Of permanent policy. Strictly excursion
rates, however, covering named and
limited period, are of diffirent char
acter in this regard and may properly be
established on much shorter notice.
Round Trip Excursions.
ITO avoid the necessity for special ap-
plcation in cases of this kind, the COM
mission has made general order hxing
the following named time Of notcie OF
round trip excursion rates and carriers
may govern themselves accordingly:
Rates for an excursion limited to a
designated period of not more than three
days may be established without fur
ther notice upon posting a tariff one day
in advance In two public and conspicuous
places in the waiting room of each sta
tion where tickets for such excursion
tickets are sold
Rates for an excursion limited to a
designated period of more than three