The Washington herald., 1906-12-20
CANNOT FIND CARS
Commission Is POWerleSS in
Present Situation.
ALARMED AT THE CONDITIONS
Annual Report to Congress shows
Reasons for Present Shortage and
Says Every Remedy Possible Must
BE Used-TeIIs of Prosecutions.
Discusses New Rate Law.

''The commission is without authority
under the law to deal effectively with the
car shortage situation" declares the an
nual report Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. which was sent TO Congress
yesterday afternoon.
It is said that conditions now existing
in the Northwest. Southwest. and trans
Missouri regions are alarming The
causes ascribed are in some cases a lack
Of cars. in others insufficient tracks and
motive power, and in stiH others wholly
inadequate freight and terminal facilities
a situation of such gravity calls for
every remedy that can be usefully ap-
piled" says the commission.
Special Investigations have been instl-
tuted by the commission, continues. the
report. into the relation between the
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific rail-
way systems, growing out Of their com
biHed management and control, and the
relation Of the Northern Pacific. Great
Northern. and Burlington systems, with
a view to ascertaining 10 what extent
they are under unified control. and the
effect Of such control on their rates
and practices"
Civil Cases Pending.
The report shows twenty-one civil cases
pending in the courts for enforcement Of
the interstate commerce law, and large
number of criminal proceedings disposed
OF or instituted during the year. The
faes imposed upon corporations and indi-
duals in the proceedings involving
criminal violations amounted to several
hundred thousand dollars, and two per
sons were sentenced to Imprisonment
within the year
Since the last annual report OF the COM
mission was submitted, l0Si complaints
have been filed with the commission.
The number of formal cases and investi-
cations instituted during the year IS s..
relating directly 10 the rates and prac-
tices Of $50 carriers.
Referring TO the operations Of the new
railroad rate law the report says;
Generally speaking. The law has been
wei observed Certain carriers have
been somewhat lax, and in these cases 1t
has been necessary 10 prosecute.
The only suits decided against the
government are two recent cases tried
iu the district courts Of Colorado Should
this Interpretation Of the law be sUs-
tanned by "a higher court the statute VIII
be- greatly weakened
Sevd More Inspectors.
ITO secure proper results in the admin
istrauon OF the Law. Congress should pro
vide for a considerable increase in the
force Of INSPECTORS
The commission urgently recommends
shorter hours for railway employees. say
ing that i'm the matter Of long hours the
accident reports for the year have
shown instances Of even worse conditions
than existed iu former years" The cost
OF collisions. exclusive Of damages paid
20 victims or their families, reached the
enormous total Of SI0.O0000O during the
past year. a million greater than in 1896
In discussing its purpose To inaugUrate
q uniform system Of accounting among
the railroads, the commission says that
its aim is 10 grant any person interested
the opportunity of criticism and suEges-
ton before "a definite system shall have
been determined uu0p