The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-30
THE TREND SOUTHWARK,
Figures Show Commerce Tending to
South-The Hepburn Rate Bill
Special Cor. Herald and News.

Special Cor. Herald and News.
Washington, Oct. 29.-The trend Of
commerce toward the South is strik-
in@ly illustrated by the statement of
the Bureau of statistics giving the
value Of exports of breadstuffs for
the first nine months of the present
calendar year. During that time the
total value of these exports through
all the ports of the country was $780,
607,7l9, an increase over the CORES
ponding months last year of $43,601,-
654. More than siXtythree per cent
OF this increase was accounted for by
shipments through the South Atlantic
and Gulf ports. The total value Of
exports Of breadstuffs through those
ports during the nine months this year
amounted to $5G, ,535, ,470, against $685.
S7G,743, an increase of 1927 7,G59,727,
showing that the exports through the
Southern ports had very nearly doub-
led as compared with last year. The
net increase for all the Southern
ports was 95.7 per cent, while for all
the other ports of the country it was
but PA per cent.
The Hepburn railroad rate law has
now been in effect for two months,
and some idea can be formed as to
how it will work. There have not as
yet been any formal proceedings be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission under the new law, but it's
principal object-that of doing away
with rebates and other forms of dis
elimination between shippers has been
fully accomplished by its mere enact
ment. All Of the recent indictments
| and convictions for offcnses of this
character have been for acts commit
ted prior to the enactment Of the new
law and have been under the Elkins
act. Since the passage Of the Hep
burn law materially strengthening the
Elkins act and imposing heavier pen-
altics on both the givers and benefici-
aries Of rebates and determinations
neither the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, the Department Of Jusiic nor
the Bureau Of Corporations has been
able to find single ease in which II
rebate or other favor has been either
granted or solicited.
1t is realized that the Interstate
Commerce Commission intends to
enforce the Hepburn law and that it
will have the support of public opin-
ion in doing so, and the railroads arc
showing disposition to comply with
all Of its provisions as fast as they
are interpreted by the Commission
The leading roads have been shown
willingness to cooperate with the
Commission in every way and the
Commission has encouraged this atti-
tude and is considering the sugges-
tions Of the experts of the roads as
to rulings involving technical matters.
An example of this is the decision Of
the Commission to appoint commit
tee Of experts to confer with expert
traffic men designated by the roads
as to the regulations to be made gov
erning the filing and posting of schc-
dulles of rates. IT is important that
these regulations shall require the
schedules to be in such form that they
can be understood by man OF ordi-
nary intelligence and the advice OF
these experts, while it will not gov
ern The action Of the Commissioners
will enable them to proceed with more
intelligence and to devise regulations
that will accomplish the object of the
law which is to enable any shipper
or passenger to ascertain any late for
himself. On the whole, the new law
is being put into effect with very lit
tie friction or disturbance Of business
and the present indications are that if
the ruling Of the Commission are
made so as to allow the fullest Of
commercial liberty consistent with the
protection Of the rights Of all shippers
and passengers the Hepburn law will
prove highly satisfactory solution
of the problem Of governmental rcgu-
lation Of transportation.
The Census Bureau has published
an interesting report on the number Of
paupers in almsouses in the United
States on December 81, 1903. With
comparisons with the census llgure>
for 1890 and 1880. They show a de-