The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-22
COMMISSION WANTS
Still MORE POWER
Files Annual Report With Con-
gress, Asking Many
Changes.
RAILROAD EARNINGS ARE
GREATER, EXPENSES LESS
Safety Appliances Largely Re-
duce Percentage of
Accidents.

WASHINGTON, Dec 2l.-Recommen-
dations for changes in the present law
regulating transportation companies are
contained in the twenty third annual re-
port of the Interstate commerce COM
MISSION transmitted today to congress.
Notwithstanding the recommendations
made. however. the report IS notable
rather for what II does not contain
FIVE of the suggestions made by the
special committee selected by President
laft TO draft changes In the existing
interstate commerce act are offered in
the report. II is known that the COM
mission as body favors the plans pro-
posed by that committee. but as a mat
ter OF courtesy IL has refrained from
discussing the changes in advance OF
the special message on the subject which
President Taft has indicated he will send
10 congress.
The commission expresses It's convic-
ton that certain amendments TO the pres
ent law are necessary to enable II fully
TO accomplish the purposes OF congress-
Briefly summarized the proposed anne nd
ments are as follows
Changes Recommended.
That physical valuation be made Of
the interstate railroads OF the country
which shall be binding upon the courts
and the commission.
That the commission be given power
20 prevent advances In rates or changes
in regulations or practices 10 the disad-
vantage of the shipper. pending an In
Nestgation Into the reasonableness OF
the proposed change.
That as the commissions authority to
establish joint rate and through route
is today limited 20 cases where no such
route exists. the commission recon-
mends that this limitation be stricken
out OF the law, so that the commission
may establish through route wherever
upon investigation il is found desirable.
That in certain instances the shipper
be permitted to direct the intermediate
routing of his traffic
That the law be so amended as 10 give
the commission undoubted authority TO
enter corrective order as the result
of an investigation instituted by the com
mission upon its own motion.
The commission again calls TO the at
tentlon OF congress the Increasing Inn
portance OF some form OF federal con-
troll over railway capitalization.
Earnings Are Greater.
The annual report of the commission
from the carriers (railroads) to the com
mission show that for the fiscal year end
Ing June 80. 1908, the gross operating
States were s2.46i 52l.345 and the operat-
Ing income derived by Subtracting oper-
ating expenses and taxes) was S656. as
32i
For 1909 the operating revenue was
2,494. 1859 and the operating income
S142 9S1,1m. Indicating an Increase for
1909 OF SS2 .59i.24i in gross earnings and
S6.56S.S70 in net earnings The average
number OF miles operated in 1905 was
22S 164. and In 1909 was 233002.
The large increase In net as compared
with gross earnings is accounted for by
n reduction of operating expenses in 1909
below those OF 1905 Of 500 224 5S3.
The report indicates that larger num-
Der OF formal complaints was filed with
the commission in 1909 than In 1908.
Since December 1. 1908 thirty-hye in
dictn1ents for criminal violations OF the
interstate commerce law have been re-
turned. and forty-tWo prosecutions have
been concluded The fines collected un-
der indictments aggregated 1904. .233. Sd
The opinion Is expressed that violations
of the law by the railroads. such as re-
batting in one form or in another, are de-
creaslnS.
Some account is given of the proceed
ings during. the year in the enforcement
OF the safety appliance law, and the com
mission states that the results arc graft
flying,
The number Of men killed in coupling