The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-26
Results of First Twelve Months
OF Rate Regulation.
Statement of What the Commits
sion Has Accomplished.
REBATING STOPPED.
Many Determinations Have
Been Done Away With.
Good for the Roads as Well aa
the Public.

washington, d. c., Aug. l6.-The rail-
road rate law will have been in opera-
ton one year. on Wednesday next. In
spite of Senator Foraker's assertion that
absolutely no results of any consequence
have followed its enforcement. the in
terstate commerce commission asserts it
has secured these undenied ADVANTAGES
to the people:
l. 1t has brought about equalization OF
rates.
2. 1t has reduced many tariff rates
3. 1t has had a moral effect upon rail.
road admiuistra tions which has resulted
IN thclr conformation to rates and prac-
tees OF law
a. 1t has ended rebates.
5. 1t has done away with a great MANY
determinations which have been as in
Jurlous as rebates to the unfavored
shipper.
6. 1t has insured the adoption of a uni
form system of accounts and bookkeep-
ing which, when perfected. will throw
light upon railroad administra ton and
permit small investors to exercise intel
llgent judgment when inurusting their
money to the promoters of great railway
enterprises.
Results Achieved by Patience
These results have only been secured
from the patient investigation the in
terstate commerce commission has given
to the enormous questions which arise
under the law and which frequently
have taken the form of complaints.
Thousands of complaints have been
received which have dealt with every
conceivable phase of railroad operation
and administration. Chairman Martin
]. Knapp of the commission has stated
that in his judgment the new law has
benefited the railroads to a small extent
and the people tremendously. The gain
to railroads has followed from the aboli-
ton of the custom of granting passes.
by the stoppage of rebates, and by the
adoption of greater honesty of adninis-
tration.
The gain the people have derived is
not SO obvious and this probably is re-
sponsible for Senator Foraker's assump-
tion that they have had no advantage
whatsoever from the new enactment
The first benefit to the public has
followed from the equalization Of
rates. Necessarily it is of the highest
importance that all shippers shall be
treated on exactly the same footing.
Before the passage of the law dis
elimination was the practice, hence
the development of such great mon
opolies as the Standard Oil, tobacco,
steel, and other trusts.
Discrimination Evils Abolished.
These determinations took the form
of rebate allowances to, or division
with, terminal and switching roads
and a thousand and one other meth
DDS of subsurface type which only the
initiated could discover.
1t is a fact that many of these in
equalities have absolutely disappeared
and the railroads apparently have no
desire to place themselves in a posi-
ton where they will violate the law.
Following the approval of the new
law it was necessary for all railroads
to revise their tariffs, with the result
that inequality was abandoned and
actual reduction in the cost of trans
portation resulted.
The country has just witnessed the
spectacle of a number of states re-
ducing rates on traffic in their re-
spective jurisdictions. The effect. Of
course was to make the joint rate
higher than the sum of the locals.
The Interstate commerce commission
has stopped this practice by adopting
a rule that the joint rate shall not ex-
ceed the sum of the local rates.
Attention is called to the fact that
there is and has been a tremendous
increase in railroad expenditures dur
ing the last year. and there is not the
slightest doubt that had not the new
law permitted the commission to re-
duce a rate which was excessive the
railroads would have increased their
charges thus compelling the public to
bear the cost of additional improve
rents and OperatiOn