The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-22
Commerce Commissions Po-
Sition Said to Be Backed
by Administration.
RIGHT IS SOUGHT
TO MAKE ROUTES
Wider Powers on Many Matters
Recommended in Annual
Report.
By 7. c. wELLIvER.

The annual report Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission is particularly
notable that the very first recommenda-
ton of the commission for new legisla-
ton Is that which declares the necessity
for physical valuation OF the railroads
While the commission has been for
some years committed to the policy OF
making a valuation. there has been
much uncertainty whether that step
would meet the approval Of the present
Administration. The fact that this
recommendation is not only repeated,
but that il leads the list of demands for
amendments to the law is significant
II is understood that the commission
aimed to make its recommendations har-
monte With the general purposes and
policies of the Administration; whence
il is gathered that the Administration
viii give its support to the effort for
valuation.
Urging a Valuation.
The commission, in urging valuation,
uses the argument tat It has been made
necessary by the railroads themselves.
IN the Spokane rate case the railroads
presented their own valuations OF their
property, and urged that they must have
rates high er ough to let them earn re-
turns on the investment.
The commission demands power TO
prevent advonces of rates pending in
vestiEatiol. as TO the reasonableness OF
changes.
Railroad Opposition.
A very important recommendation Of
the commission is that the power be Civ
on 70 make up all through routes, for
both freight and passengers, and pre-
scribe the rates over the routes. This
10 likely TO be very earnestly opposed by
the railroads President Taft and his
advisers were for time dubious about
the advisability of recommending such
a change hut the fact that the Commls-
s4,-, irssl,,5es tnis proposal in its report
is regarded as indicating that the Ad-
y7,inisfrgtiou'E bill. which Will be intro
dl,ced bv Senator Elkins soon after the
holiday recess. viii include such pro
vision. -.
rrescribe the conditions under which the
simmer NAV route his shipment IN
tb5g noint likewise the railroads nave
entered the most earnest Protes' wan
President Taft and his advisers
vy-bito the commission considers III mas
,o--e- 10 ronduct Investigations on IT'S
own initiative IL Is by no means ~
+,{n that in such an inNesugauoh ~ mas
- ~Ou-er TO make and enforce IN OF
A. II would like this uncertainty
cleared away by a grant or iull pow ,,
a., -sroe where inquiry INTO rates anu
,sy,,Istio1s is instituted by lhe coinlills
.sfou without any company Llo III. %.
eiae TO make and enforce elIecline -
ders 10 stop bad practlces OF eN's9Si'0
T. General. the commission asks ARG
-, vovrers over the handing anu liIo1C
el - traffic. tt wants the unqucs,
49, ,,ovver TO determine many qe'sll
-rttc-g now presumed TO be oulShle ~
re,fm such as relate 70 INC pr ,,i
o,eration Of trains metnou9 -, -
ling traffic, as7ul di'0'
safe service. etc.
Demand For Power
,.,os.i, related 90 this grant OF au-
-. he the demand for power 70 pIo-
- nat an freight tariffs snsli DC
,,,,,ed I'M forms prescribed by the com
,.,ts.ton and so arranged that peIso"
~oaeonable intelligence. not an eNpeI I
philadelphia lawyer, nay oe aDl'
70 determine for himself what lile 49, 49,
- ~. "a given shipment OF Ger telill
kind Of GOODS llolh any
ny, fcor1nissiorr- recommendation IN
re~arG TO prevention OF oVeica pl1ail q
lion Is I'm the main Iep'l''' ~, oi IL -
,Xprcssiou OF the previous year
,.-gc. fbat Congress give tho comfnls
,i5f, ,ov-er. TO supervise thu capitaliza-
: fIou Issues with the authority 20 lhNes-
t-yato DroDosod issues. and 90 determine
v.betncr they are reasonable and neces-
Farv.
Tine commission presents some inter
e-tinz figures on the finances or the
railroads drawn from accounts kept
the past two years under the rules and
regulations prescribed 10y the commits
sion iu accordance with ere Hepburn
act ~ IS shown that operating revc-
nlee were fer 1913 Fiscal year,
g. Isl 0g5.0Do. and for 1902 2,f9i, 900 O00.
p Operating expenses were reduced from
S.72f .noopo 10 81 $50 10000, taxes in
Z creased from $50. 900 to $50. O26 900. and
net operating income increased from
D.. ssa55 900 tu $4,000 200
The couutrv's mileage OF railroads IN
9 creased from 2s.164 In 1898 TO 49, 02 in
1919.
WESTERN ALUMNI MEETS.