The Washington times., 1906-07-20
TRAFFIC MEN IN PANIC
AT LAWS DIFFICULTIES
New Rate Regulations Involve Posting Broadcast I'M
mense Volume of Schedules and Classiflcatons
as Well as Tariff Changes.

The immense physical difficulties that
Will confront railroads ia changing
rates and classihcat tions, under the new
rate Law, are givirg he horrors TO rail-
road traffic offiuerE. They have been
assuring the Interstate Commission late
| ~ that the new law will make il al
most impossible 70 change rates at all.
! Study Of section 8 Of the revised law
seems 10 Justify the opinion which rail-
road men are expressing, that after this
act takes erect. and rates are once
adjusted TO it. the national rate system
| will be almost ir0nclad.
| The railroad people have been fairly
/ clamoring for some positive rulings from
the commission as 10 what Il is going 10
require under this section of the law.
The commission has declined 10 bind it
/ self. but has advised carriers in general
/ OF its tentative views As a result it is
now considered very doubtful II the com
panles will be able by the time the law
takes effect TO comply with these pub
/ licity requirements. An extension Of
time will likely be asked in the near
future. Whether Il would be granted Is
uncertain. The express companies asked
more time for fling their rate schedules.
and It has not been granted.
Multiplicity of Complications.
The wonderful complications Of the
rate system are not easily described. A
single illustration. multiplied by the mil
/ lions OF rates IN f5fce. may suggest the
difficulties. An attorney for a Colorado
road. which handles immense quantities
/ of the Rocky Ford can $loupes, came 70
/ the commission 20 ask n his road must
publish its rates on these fruits 20
all Joints. both on its own line and on
other roads with which Il has Joint traf-
/ fc arrangements. 1t happens that the
entire freight in this product originates
/ IN a very limited district. They are
shipped 10 every nook and corner OF the
nation, and Joint rates are made very
extensively among roads handling them.
/ To require that the rate 20 every
! destination 10 which Joint rates are
made be published by posting at every
| station on the lines OF the originating
company. would be an immense i'm
posit on. But 10 add TO this the re-
( Quirs ment that every road with which
These joint rates are made must give
the same publicity at all OF its stations
would Reometrically increase the burden,
! Then. It Is not permitted 10 change a
rate without thirty days notice and
/ OF the change the same full notice mus;
| be published as cf the original rate. II
would be a physical impossibility TO
make frequent changes Of rates under
such a requirement. for every change
! announced would have 10 be published
at ali the stations 70 which Il applied.
II publishing rates. all terminal. stor-
age. icing. refrigeration, and related
I charges must be stated separately; and
tins schedules must contain all classih-
cations OF freight ANY OF the great
] classifcations made in different sec
| tio ms OF the country is a big volume:
/ the schedule OF rates OIL any important
/ road IS likewise a big publication. They
have usually been published separately.
The roads want 20 know whether they
/ must hereafter be IN the same volume.
For convenience this will probably not
be insisted upon. but they must be filed
IN the required public manner together
I at all stations
/ Ia making changes IN rates. IT has
/ been suggested that convenience could