The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-07


on, as special privileges disappear and
favoritism ceases to be even suspected,
the indirect but not less certain benefits
of the law will become more and more
apparent"
The Amended Act.
The amended act has been in force
a little more than sixteen months and
the commission points out that consid-
cradle part of it's time during the past
year has been occupied in giving admin
istrative construction to various provis-
ions of the law for the guidance Of both
shippers and carriers. An incidental re-
spect in which equality of treatment
has been promoted is in such matters Is
switching, terminal demurrage, reconsign-
ment, elevation and other charges making
up the aggregate cost of transportation.
Respecting these matters, the report
says: n
ut is this general and marked i'm
provement in transportation conditions
that the commission observes with special
qualification The amended law with its
enforceable remedies, the wider re-
cognition of its fundamental justice, the
quickened sense of public obligation on
the part of railway managers, the clear
er perception by shippers of all classes
that any individual advantage is morally,
as we'll as legally indefensible, and the
augmented influence of the commission
resulting from it's increased authority
have all combined to materially diminish
offensive practices of every sort and to
signally promote the purposes for which
the law was enacted.
Since the new rate law became effec-
tive on August %, 1905. the commission
has granted relief in the form of correc-
tive orders in many cases. Up to Novem-
Der 4, 1907, the commission rendered de-
cisions in los contested cases under the
act In 40 of these cases orders were
made against the defendant carriers; in
45 the complaints were dismissed, and in
the remaining 10 no orders were made.
In every instance except one the orders
of the commission were compiled with
promptly. In the exceptional case the
Delaware, Lackawanna 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.
Important Subjects.
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, 1.-The dreadful
destruction of life in railway accidents"
which are now the subject of official in
vestigation under federal authority. Con-
corning the advance in rates, which
rests entirely with the railway under
the law, the commission suggests that
when such advance is attacked in a for
NAL complaint, the commission be given
authority by legislation to suspend the
operation of the advanced rate until the
matter shall have been heard and deter
mined finally.
Respecting the important subjects Of
congested traffic and car shortage, the
commission says the whole problem
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 traffic offered for
carriage in the United States increased
| ITO per cent, while during the same
| period the instrumentalities for handling
| this traffic increased only 20 per cent.
Inadequate Facilities.
st may be conservatively stated that
| the inadequacy OF transportation faclli-
[ ties is little less than alarming; that its
continuation may place an arbitrary limit
upon the future 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 believes in the full de-
| velopment of our country and the largest