Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-08-28
RAILROAD RATE LAW
IS NOW EFFECTIVE
Interstate Commerce Commission
viii See 10 It That All Cor.
poPallons Obey the Act.
FAIR PLAY FOR ALL SHIPPERS
Rebates Should be Thing Of the
Past--AlI Charges Must be Made
Known to All Persons Who Use
The Transportation Llnes-Heavy
PcnaIties Provided.
fAssncIntnd prnssl.


NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-The new
railroad rate law which applies to all
railroads doing an interstate business
goes into effect at midnight tonight.
1t will he enforced by the Interstate
Commerce Commission
According to the new law roads
were to have filed with tho Commits.
sion by midnight all their tariffs aud
charges. showing not only the full
cost of transportation from point TO
point, but also what Items make up
this cost.
No More "Extras."
From tomorrow on there can he no
extras" but the shipper Is expected
to be able to obtain I'm advance n II.
nal statement of the charge he has
to meet.
1t was stated today that In fact moi
single company has been able to
fully comply with the provisions of
The law requiring them to have all
theA schedules on file by midnight,
rhc schedule ofr6wlching charges
was the most difficult of completion.
All Companies Liable to Fines.
Under the law every company
which fails to complete It's schedules
might he fined, but il Is understood
that the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission will give additional time IN
every case when n road has given
evidence of sincere intent to comply
wit4 the law.
To discuss this and other points.
committee representing the big
Eastern railroads will go to Wash,
ington tomorrow In or'icr to meet the
Commission. This conference will he
attended by representatives of the
anthracite coal roads, who are an.
Xions To obtain n ruling from tho
Commission on that section OF the
law which prohibits railroad from
carrying from one State to another
any article manufactured. mined or
produced by 1t except for It's own
use.
Shippers the Gamers.
1t is expected that shippers will
find themselves benefited by ths
provisions which requires the rail
roads to include all charges of what.
soever nature In their quoted rates.
Heretofore shipper has had to fig.
! rre for himself on refrigerator and
elevator charges, and the dozen or
more other incidcntals, dlckering with
the separate companies, which has
a hand In transformation or care of
his shipment Now tho railroad must
do that, and the shipper meets but
one charge and deals with but one
concern.
All the sources Of side charges are
consolidated, and private cara, side
tracks, spurs, terminals, elevators
and are made subject to the law.
Books Open to the Commissioners.
The new law also requires the rail.
roads TO establish uniform system
OF accounting and TO keep their books
open for inspection at all times by
the expert accountants of tho Com.
mission. This feature is expected to
go far toward abolishing the rebate
evil
The railroad accountants arc con.
ferrlng in regard to the uniform sys.
tenn of bookkeeping which, howevcr,
Will not 20 into effect. until June 1.
next year. In the meantime the
Commission has put it's own experts
at work devising system which
Will be clear enough to suit the Com.
mission
Armour Lines Shut Out.
As a direct consequence of the pro-
visions of the rate bill the Union
Pacific railway has determined to In
stall It's own system of refrigerator
cars. Heretofore the Armour Private
Car lines have bod spononot, -