The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-07
Times Dispatch Bureau,
Munsey Building.

Washington, D. c.. May 9.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
is creating body of law which will
prove to be practically entirely new to
the barof the country. Almost every day
the commission decides some question
of Importance to serve as precedent
in guiding future commissions in the
decision of cases. The commission has
to proceed without such precendent in
almost every case, since it has been
clothed with real power for less than
two years. In some cases general legal
principles can be applied, but In many
the commission has had to proceed
without guidance in the Interpretation
of the rate law.
Some OF the questions decided are of
much general interest. The commits
sion has recently decided the following
Interesting and important questions:
Hours of Service Law.
Upon inquiry whether the hours of
service law applies to electric street
car lines which are interstate carriers,
held: That 1t applies to all railroads
subject to the provisions of the act
to regulate commerce, as amended. in
Guiding street railroads when engaged
in interstate commerce.
Reshippin= From Primary Markets.
May a carrier lawfully cancel its
local, Fc-COiSlS llillS, iplopoi ii1i
other rates, on outbound shipments of
grain from a primary market like
Kansas City where no grain originates
upon which the local rate would be APP
.plicable,s and substitute for them re-
shipping rate applicable on all OUT
bound grain?
Responding to the inquiry, the COM
mission approved the suggestion, but
declines in advance to express appro-
val of such re-shipping rate when 1t
makes less than the published rate
from an intermediate point.
Declaring False valuation.
Upon an inquiry from banking
clare a value of $4,000 upon package
of negotiable bonds of the market
value of $4,000 and pay. the express
charges on the basis of the declared
value. upon the understanding that in
case Of the loss of the bonds, the ex-
press company will be responsible only
for the amount so declared, 1t was held
that a shipper falsely declaring the
value Of a package delivered to an eN-
nress company for transportation vio-
lates section 10 Of the act.
Must Send Through or Transfer lGn
Route.
Where connecting lines have united
in publishing Joint through rate be-
tween two points, It is the sense OF
the commission that It is the duty OF
the carriers in the route to provide the
car and permit 1t to go through to
destination or to transfer the prop
erty en- route to another car a their
own expense.
No Refund When StOpOvcr Exceeded.
a passenger while awaiting himself
of n stopover privilege at u certain
point in his journey was subpoenaetl
as a witness in Il proceeding In q civi!
court, and obeying the process, was
mot able to proceed on his journey
within the time limit or the stopover.
AS a result he was compelled to pay
nm ADDITIONAL fare from that point ia
destination. Held: That refund could
not lawfully BIO made,
Charges Because of Injury to PASSENGER
The Pullman car IN Which, pass
enger was travelling was derailed and
Went over an cmbanisment, resulting
5ir, an injury to q passenger, who, In
consequence, was detained for somo
time, His trunk was taken on 10 des-
stinatIon and storage charges accrued
on 1t until claimed BY him. Held: That