The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-06
RAILROAD NEWS.
Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion Retreats OH Tariff Rule.
Source of Much Qualification 10
Freight Traffic Officials.
COMPLAINT is JUST.
Claims of the Railway Men as 10
Legal Rights Recognized.
Other Railway News OF In
tereSt.
COMPLAINT is JUST.

Kansas City, March 6.-ExecutlVe
officers and other officials who nave "
do with freight traffic departments oL
the various railroads are gratlneu
greatly by the action of the interstal &c
commerce commission in amending reg
ulations issued in January for the CON
etruction and filing of freight tatlIls
and classifications. This is due to the
fact that the commission evidently mas
recognized as entirely just the Chains
made as to the legal rights OF the
transportation companies in the near
ing recently held in Washington TO at
torneys and traffic executives, upon
objections made to certain clauses III
the regulations promulgated, more es-
peciaIIy those which defined what, IN
the commissions opinion, CONSTITUTED
q through rate, and which threatened
to cause a serious breach in the amlca-
BILE relations 50 far sustained. petWeeL
the carriers and the commission with
respect 20 interpretations of the ne"
rate law. -
The revised regulations which have
lust been received modify materially
some of those originally made, and en-
tirely eliminate others, notaoly tuIe
No. Is. which was so seriously once
tionable. The commission, however, IN
making This revision, does not express
an opinion or make any decision upon
the points involved in omitted para
graphs The purpose of so prompt al
issuance of the revised rules is to aVolo
delays in the issuance of tar1rrs ano
give ample time for consideration u
the points that were raised in oDJectloH
to the second paragraph of rule NO. TO-
and also rule No. II. Under the ior-
mer rule to which the greatest oD1ec-
ton was made, it was possible lot any
railroad or steamship company TO Sc
cure business, fix any rate 1t chose anu
compel the railroad upon which tne
traffic originated to publish the rate
D-d
ship company, without giving 10 1t d
voice in fixing such rate
IT was contended by the attorneys al
the hearing in question that the inter-
probation of the term through rate as
used in the original circular. meaning
a rate extending more than TWO OF
more lines, read into the law that
which had no entity therein
The revised regulations, IN ao S
to emitting rule No. Is, amends No .:
which covered the construction OF
through rates where no joint rates ap-
ply, by eliminating any reference 10
through rates. and in its present shape
practically requires that no such rates
can be made without concurrence
other changes in the regulation rec
commended by the traffic men when
theE conferred Hftsaythe eonlrllssl9H ~
this subject, and which deal with, cer-
tain practical matters. substantially
have been assented to by the commls-
sion q,
While the new circular fixes May 1
as the date on which these regula lions
are to become effective. instead Of July
l. as requested by the traff1c men,
the commission has indicated ira :
where it is not practicable to print the
complete tariff by May 1, the carriers
will be permitted after that date to file
and post supplementary schedules COW
aring articles which could not De III
serted in the full tariff
Traffic officials feel that the commls-
sion has evidenced a spirit of recogni-
ton for them and their rights that is
exceedingly significant with respect to
their Joint relations concerning the in
CORPORATION of an obedience to the law,
and that they have now less occasion
to anticipate any drastic action which
might tend to disrupt amity ana cor
dial interchange of opinion.