The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-07
NEWRAIR IROADLAWS
THEY ARE DISCUSSED BY INTER-
 STATE COMMISSION.
Annual Report shows That Oncials Are Acting In Good Faith--In-
 crease Tn Loss Of

| | Washington. Jan. s.-More signifi- cant and important perhaps than any l other statement in the twenty first an- nual report of the Interstate Commerce | Commission. which was transmitted to | Congress. is that relating to the att titude of railway officials toward the | new railroad law. In discussion of the operations of the act, the commission says: By railroad 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 method 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 fur ther readjustment of rates and correc- | tion of abuses by the carriers tn selves. Methods and usages of one sort and another which operated to individual advantage have been volun- tarily changed and 1t not too much to say that there is now a freedom from forbidden determinations which is actual and general to a degree never before approached. As this process goes on. as special privileges ap- | pear and favoritism ceases to be even suspected, the indirect, but not less | certain benefits of the law will be- come more and more apparent"
 The amended act has been in force little more than sixteen months and the commission points out that con- siderable part of its time during the past year has been occupied In giving administrative construction to various provisions of the law for the guidance of both shippers and carriers.
 An incidental respect in which equal ity of treatment has been promoted is in such matters as switching, terminal demurrage, reconsignment, elevation and other charges making up the ag gregate cost of transportation. Re- specting these. matters, the report says:
 Ut is this general and marked im- provement in transportation condi, tions that the commission observes with special qualification. The amend ed law with its enforceable remedies, the wider recognition of its funda- mental justice. the quickened sense of public, obligation on the part Of rail- way managers, the clearer perception by shippers of all classes that any in- diyidual advantage is morally, as well as legally indefensible, and the aug mented influence of the commission re- sulting from its increased authority
 
 minish offensive practices of every sort and to signally promote the pur- poses for which the law was enacted.
 Since the new rate law became ef- fective on August 2S, 1906, the com mission has granted relief in the form of corrective orders in many cases. Up to November 4, 1907, the commission rendered decisions in 105 contested cases under the act. In forty-five of these cases orders were made against the defendant carriers; in forty-fve the complaints were dismissed; and in the remaining fifteen no orders were made. In every instance except one. the orders of the commission were complied with promptly. In the ex- ceptional case. the Delaware, Jacka- wanna and Western Railroad carried the order into. the United States courts, but, pending a decision by the courts, is complying with the order of the commission"
 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 power to prevent" and. the other. the dreadful destruction of life in railway accidents, which are now the subject of official investigation under Federal authority"
 Concerning the advance in rates, which rests entirely with the rail- way, under the law, the Commission suggests that when such advance is attacked in formal complaint the Commission be given authority by leg islation to suspend the operation of the advanced rate until the matter shall have been heard and determined final ly.
 Respecting the important subjects of congested traffic and car shortage the Commission Co Ud Nu6A may be 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 has estimated that during the period from 1893 to 1905 the traf- fic offered for carriage in the United States increased 110 per cent, while during the same period the instrument talities for handling this traffic in- creased only 20 per cent.
 ''It may be conservatiVely stated that the inadequacy of transportation facil- ities is little less than alarming" says the report, that it's continuation may place an arbitrary limit upon the fu- ture productivity of the land and that the solution of the difficult financial and physical problems involved is worthy the most earnest thought and effort of all who believed in the full development of our country and the largest opportunity for it's people,"
 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 seventy-three in 1906; and at the hearings SS.OO0 folios of testimony were taken. This indicates an increase of about $50 per cent.
 Under an act of Congress the Com mission has awarded eight bronze med als of honor to persons who, at grave pertl to themselves. saved, or attempted to save lives or the lines of interstate carriers.
 PAPER CHANGES HANDS.