The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-01-14
rAE REeATs OF 44E SHIPPER.

THE RfcaTs or The SHIPPER.
3 .file- foli9vsr..s -S.iir saaret and log
zeal editorial Is from the Atlanta Con-
stiEulion and lis sentimenr Is com-
minded 10 readerq of ThefNewss
Zone 81 the most far-reaeh4nsz rem
sedfaI Recommendations made to- con
sless by Presidents Roosevelt is that
me interstate eomnisrcs commission
he given the power. in its discretion.
10 POSTPONE. The application Of an in
crease in rates. pending an inquiry as
to It's Justification.
IL is difficult to see how reason
able objection can be interposed to
this very JUST and proper concession
to the shippers Of the country.
THE necessity for such amendment
Of the law is made abundantly appar-
ent from the circumstances of the
case involving the increase in rates
cn foodstuffa from Ohio river points
INTO southeastern territory, which
went into effect august j, 1905. near
y six months ago. In that case the
interstate commerce commission has
not yet reached any final decision, and
IT is nor likely it viii do 50 for some
months 10 come.
II The meantime The shippers are
continuing 10 pay The increased rates,
the justification for which is still IN
VOWED in doubt,
II the commission had possessed
the authority 70 POSTPONE operation Of
increased rates until il could pass up
on their probable jusd8cation or lack
Of il. and had exercised it IN this
case. there IS little doubt that # would
long ago have been finally settled one
way o. another
The railroads would he quick
enough 70 expedite to its conclusion
an Investigation in ne outcome of
which they had positive financial in
terest.
such a power ID the hands Of the
interstate commerce commission
would in no way conflict with The ends
If iustice 1t would constitute merely
4 preliminary hearing to determine
probability II would 90 even fur
.ther ssap arapd jury action in that
it would be in,no sense ex pWte.
after hearing from both sides i'm
1hediateiy. or as soon as possible after
the announcement Of a proposed in
crease. the commission could decide
at once whether the facts were such
as to justify a postponement or the
immediate enforcement Of such in-
creases. Such decision could be
reached without prejudice to the uiti-
mate showing either Of the shippers or
the railroads
The immediate enforcement of an
Increased rate would then depend up
on the ability Of the railroad to show
an actual necessity for it.
Z ION the. other hand, il such neces-
sity did not exist. the injustice of
taxing the shipper for months in adj
vance of final determination of the
!. ultimate merits of the case, would be
done away with.
+ '"Of' course, the present congress is
not going to act upon this proposal
1t comes to an end on March and
the new congress. in extra session,
will deal chiefly with the tariff II
viii be at least a year before the mat
ter is reached for action. ard in the
meantime there will be full opportun-
its for discussion or 1t in its every
Phase,
/. Until this step is taken the deter-
mination Of rate questions viii con-
unue 10 consume months and months
With the advantage all on the side Of
/ the railroad to which the shipper
keeps paying money which he may
never set back, even though the courts
decide in his favor.
In nine cases out OF ten, perhaps
/. in greater proportion, the commission
action on preliminary hearing would
prove the correct one, and the rail
roads would stand to lose compare
! lively nothing
The shipper is manifestly entitled
to some rights in tho premises.
Under present procedure, he has
practically none, net even that Of de-