The Washington herald., 1907-10-11

Again steering clear of any act or ut
terance that would look Ike a criticism
of the Federal administration railroad
regulation policy. the National Associa-
tion of Railroad Commissioners, in con-
ports that will excite great interest in
the transportation world.
One Of them relates TO the segregation
of the earnings Of railroads within States,
and the other TO the uniform classifca-
tion OF commodities handled in Interstate
trade, both involving questions whose So
luton is regarded as Of the highest i'm
portance before effective regulation of
the railroads, State and national, can be
had.
The report on uniform classification
embodied resolution memorlallzing Con-
gress TO enact law requiring the Inter
state Commerce Commission at once TO
proceed To make such uniform classifica-
ton. and when so made by such COM
mission the same shall be the legal clas-
sifcation for interstate shipments.
Questions Honesty of Report.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick, OF Illinois.
began the debate on the report Of the
committee on railroad statistics. lie de-
clared that he wanted to know what the
railroads earned IN The State OF Illinois
what they were earning there both on
intraEtate and interstate business. The
Pennsylvania Railroad has eighteen miles
OF line in Illinsis." he said. and termi-
nails that are worth more than SI03V0o,"0.
The road says that 1t lost 81 10000 in the
1 operation OF these terminals last year.
| That is false and the road knows H. We
want 20 arrive at a basis where We can
determine with mathematical accuracy
/ the earnings Of every railroad that ira
verses our State"
The question OF the segregation Of state
earnings from interstate earnings deyel-
oped the liveIiest debate Of the conven-
ton. Following the charge Of COmmis-
sloneT Fitzpatrick that the Pennsylvania
Railroad had falsely stated the loss that
had accrued 10 il last year through the
operation Of terminals In Chicago. Com
missioner H. d. Warrington, OF Ohio
stated that IN his State the express COM
panies. as well as the railroad COM
panies were under the Jurisdiction Of the
State commission 'Tha Adams Express
Company reported TO Us last year" he
said that 1t lost 5000 in the State OF
Ohio I do not question the truth Of that
report, but We would like 90 know a sys-
TEN whereby We could figure the earnings
Of both railroad and express companies
within State lines"
To Ascertain Earnings.
State railroad commissions are search
ing for a method whereby the earning
tf,f -
/ be ascertained as a guide in fixing or
changing intrastate rates. In accord
ance with the action OF the convention
yesterday. the duty Of Jevising d system
/ whereby State earnings may be separated
/ from Interstate earnings has been as
! signed 10 a committee OF which Prof
/ II. G. Adams, OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and c. l. Sturgis. Of The
Association Of American Railway Ac-
| counting officers. are members.
| Martin 5. Decker, of Albany. represent
/ Ing the public service commission Of the
/ Second district OF New York. asked.
| When a plan has beer devised 10 sepa-
/ rate these earnings, who is to be the
/ inal authority as 10 how the separation
shall be nader"
Presentation of Reports.
/ W. l-lft - tli Nir programme NfSteT-
day. namely. those on Legislation" and
/ rates and rate-making," were expected
to provoke attacks on the Roosevelt ad-
ministration. The former was reported
/ by Commissioner Decker and the latter
/ by Commissioner Charles r. Staples. OF
/ Minnesota. The report on Legislation
/ urged substantial harmony in railway
/ legislation with respect to all phases OF
/ the complex question. The committee on
/ rates and rate-maklng took issue with
/ the national government on the subject OF
/ Federal control. which, the committee
/ holds. is impossible without an amend
ment TO the Constitution. Concert Of ac-
1 ton by State and Federal authorities in
/ the regulation OF railroads is strongly
! recommended.
General Discussion To-day.
Consideration will be given to-day "a
the question Of safety appliances, the
delays attendant upon enforcing orders
Of railroad commissions. and demurrage
and reciprocal demurrage. There vii
also be further discussion on the subject
Of rates and rate-making. and possibly
some attention will be given to the sug-
gestion Of a physical valuation of the
railroads.
The convention planned 10 take hua
| adjournment yesterday, but It's life was
prolonged until to-day. owing to the in
ability OF the presiding officer to cut OF
debate on the reports Of the standing