Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-06
CONFORMING TO
NEW RAILWAY LAW
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Says Managers Generally
Have Accepted in Good Faith.
DETERMINATIONS ABOLISHED.
Asks Authority. When Advanced Rates
Attacked, 10 Suspend Them Until
Matter Heard and Determined.

Washington, Jan. 6.-More significant
and important, perhaps, than any other
statement IN the twenty-frst annual
report of the interstate commerce com
mission which was transmitted today
to Congress, is that relating to the at
titude of railway officials toward the
the operation of the act, the commits
sion says
by railway managers almost with
out exception, the amended law has
been accepted in good faith and they
exhibit for the most part sincere and
earnest disposition to conform their
methods to it's requirements"
The commission adds that it was not
expected that reforms could be brought
about without difficulty or delay"
but it is unquestionably the fact that
great progress has been made and that
further improvement is learly assured.
To a gratifying extent there has been
reimbursement of rates and of ABUSES
by the carriers themselves. Methods
and usages of one sort and another
which operated to individual advantage
have been voluntarily abolished ana
1t is not too much TO say that there
IS now a freedom from forbidden dis
rimlnations which is actual and gem
eral to a degree never before ap-
preached. AS this process goes on,
as special privileges disappear ana
faVoritsm ceases to be even suspect
ed. the indirect, but not less certain.
benefits. of the law viii become more
and more apparent"
THE AMENDED ACT.
The amended act has been in force
little more than 16 months and the COM
mission points out that considerable
part OF its time during the past year
has been occupied in giving admins
trative construction to various publica.
tons of the law for the guidance or
both shippers and carriers. An inciden-
tai respect in which equality of treat
ment has been promoted is in such mat
tiers as switching. terminal demurrage,
reconsignment, elevation and otner
charges making up the aggregate cost
of transportation. Respecting these
matters, the report says:
1T Is this general and marked inn
provement in transportation conditions
that the commission observes with spe-
cial qualification. The amended law
with it's enforceable remedies. the wider
recognition of its fundamental justice,
the quickened sense of public obliga-
tion on the part of railway managers.
the clearer perception by shippers of all
classes that any individual advantage Is
as well as legally, indefensible
and the augmented influence OF the
resulting from Its Increased
have all combined to materi-
ully diminish offensive practises of
every sort and TO signally promote the
purposes for which the law was en-
acted"
Since the new rate law became effec-
tive on Oct. "a. 1906, the commission has
granted relief in the form Of corrective
orders In many cases. Up to Nov. 4.
1907. the commission rendered decisions
In 105 contested cases under the act. In
40 of these cases orders were made
against the defendant carriers; in As
the complaints were dismissed; and in
the remaining 10 no orders were made,
In every instance except one, the or
ders of the commissions were complied
with promptly. In the exceptional case,
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
aailroad carried the order into the
United States court, but, pending a de-
cision by the courts, IL complying with
the order of the commission.
AlIN AAN1EO
Two important subjects are discussed
at length in the report, the one being
the matter OF advances In rates which
the commission Is wholly without pow
er to prevent" and the other the
dreadful destruction of life in railway
accidents, which are not now the sub
ject OF official investigation under fed
eral authority" Considering the adj
vance In rates. which rests entirely
with the railway" under the law, the
suggests that when such
advance is attacked In formal COM
plant. the commission be given author
ity by legislation TO suspend the opera
ton of the advanced rate until the mat
ter shall have been heard and deter
mined finally.
CAR SHORTAGE.
Respecting the important subjects of
traffic and car shortage, the
commission says the whole problem
may he said to be due to the fact
that the facilities of the carriers have
not kept pace with the commercial
growth OF the country. One eminent
railroad president estimates that dur
ing the period from 1895 TO 1905 the
traffic offered for carriage duties In
creased ITO per cent, while during the
same period the inBtrumentalitles for
this traffic increased only 20
per cent.
1T may be conservatively stated that
the lnadequacy OF transportation facili-
ties IL little less than alarming; that
It's continuation may place an arbitrary
limit upon the future productivity OF
the land and that the solution of the
dlfiicslt financial ana physical prob
lens involved Is worthy the most earn
est thought and effort of all who he
lleve in the full development OF our
country and the largest opportunity
Cor its people"
WORK OF COMMISSION.
The work OF the commission has in
creased enormously in the past year.
During the year 276 hearings were held
In various parts OF the country against
70 In 1906. and al the hearings So 600
follos of Testimonies were taken. This
Indicates an Increase of about $50 Der
cent Tho hearings consumed the time
OF the commission OF special sxanin-
ers from two hruru 10 18 days, ana aev-
eral OF The hearings consumed little
shore ~ week eanl.
In tho course ~ the year the COM
mission received l,sS2 Informal com
plaintH, an ir.0reHae OF over 400 per onnt
over tlie previous year.
deportation wfls awarded insortnailv
20 shippers IN h6i cases, the aggregate
amount Of the claims being tl0i 700
Tho increase of the correspondence of
the commission during the Year was
about 100 pur cent.
Under the act 0f Cnngress the no,,.