New-York tribune., 1907-12-28
RULINGS FOR RAILWAYS
Interstate Commerce Commission
Decides DISPUTED Points.

Washington Dec. GA number of administra-
tive rulings involving questions Of importance
affecting the operation OF the interstate COM
merce, law, were issued to-day by the Interstate
Commerce Commission 1t is held that employees
produce companies must pay full fare in travel
ling points the carriers lines where they
expect to obtain consignments and become care
takers 1t is also held that the limitation of rates
TO shipments handled by steam power as against
those handled by electric power is unlawful and
must be eliminated from the tariff. The commits
sion adheres to its previous ruling that carriers
exhaust their legal remedies 10 collect under
charges from consignees before ming their peli-
tions for redress.
A shipment consigned to point was recon-
signed en- route another. the tariffs then in
effect containing reconsignment privilege AS
consequence, local rates to and from the recon-
signing point were applied and made higher than
the through rate 1t is held, under a subsequent
tariff that did reduce rates but incorporated
reconsignment privilege, that the beneht OF such
privilege could not be applied retroactfvely TO
previous shipment, and carnot be accepted for the
basis of a refund.
The granting by carriers or COMMISSIONS 10
persons acting as consignees on import merchan-
disc. it is decreed, is a practice that cannot DO
sanctioned.
The commission holds it has no power 10 re-
lieve carriers from the obligations Of tariffs pro-
vidnc for dennurraxe charges the ground that
such charges have been occasioned by a strike
Where stock in one railway company Is o"Heo
by another railway company, Dut poth iii1'ieof"
separate ORGANIZATIONS and report separately 10
the commission II is decided that they may not
lawfully carry freight free for each other
When. after complaint is made and before a
hearing a rate Is reduced to the sum demanded
bv the complainant the order dsposing OF the
proceedinss 1t is decreed. shall require the main
tenance of that rate maximum for not less
than years.
A tariff was filed without naming date on
which IL was to take effect 1t was held that the
tariff was unlawful and has never taken effect.
ton between railroads. whether electric or steam,
when engaged In interstate transportation Ihs
is the opinion rendered by the commission In dis
missing the petition of the Chicago & Milwaukee
Electric Railroad Company against the ILLINOIS
Central Railroad Company and others, involving
the question of the establishment OF through
rates and joint rates classes and commodities
for movement in both directions.
The commission further declared that the pro-
viso In section Is of the amended law limiting
the power of the commission to establish through
routes and joint rates to where mo rea-
sonable or satisfactory through route exists was
lines with the aid of the commission, may profit
ably force their way shipping districts built
up and already well served by older lines, and
thus seize and divide with the latter such traffic
as may be offered for movement. The purpose
of the clause It is held, was to afford relief to
shipping communities and not to aid carriers to
acquire strategic advantages in their contests with
one another.