Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-12-21
COMMERCE COM
MISSION REPORT
MANY RECOMMENDATIONS AND
SUGGESTS CHANGES TO
STRENGTHEN ACTS.
Wants Greater Control OF Railway
Capitalization.


WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 2l.-
In enumerating certain amendments
to existing law which it deems de-
slrable, the interstate commerce COM
mission in its annual report made
public today places foremost the ur-
gent need of physical valuation of
the interstate railways of the coun-
try In this connection the report
says that IL rates established by the
commission are to be successfully
defended when attacked by the car
riers, some means must be furnished
by which, within reasonable limits.
value can be established which
shall be binding upon the courts and
the commission. The report also
urges that some method be provided
by which railroads can be prevented.
from advancing their rates or chang
ing their regulations and practices
to the disadvantage Of the shippers
pending an investigation into the rea-
sonableness of the proposed changes.
Control Railway capitalization.
The need of control over railway
capitalization is again urged upon
the attention of congress as a subject
constantly increasing in importance.
Car Demurrage Rules.
Referring to the adoption by the
National Association of Railway
Commissioners of a uniform code OF
ear demurrage rules. the report says
that it is estimated that the general
enforcement of these rules will be
equivalent to the addition of 100, 600
cars to the country's available car
supply and that. incidentally, many
unlawful advantages which power
full shippers have been able to Sc
cure through loose car service rules
will be remedied.
The sum of S3O4.233 has been coll
lected during the year in fines for
criminal violations OF the law by car
riers and shippers. These fines fol-
lowed indictments against carriers
for rebating in various forms from
published rates and for transporting
properly without having tariffs on
file. and indictments against shippers
for receiving rebates and for misbill-
ing shipments of property and so Sc
curing lower rates. The only in
dictments against any prominent rail-
road official during the year are two
against the president of the Louis
Vile. Henderson & st. Louis rail-
way. charging him with giving re-
bates when he was general freight
and passenger agent of his road. 1t
Is believed that violations of the law
are decreasing in numebr. but there
seems to be no decrease In the more
insidious forms OF rebating resulting
from arrangements. legal in every re-
spect except in the result produced.
"A number OF complaints are in
hand" the report says. concerning
the leasing Of property by carriers to
shippers for 3 nominal rental. with
further agreement that all ship
ments made By the Iessees shall be
routed over the lines Of the leasOrs.
The ownership Of shipping corpora
tons by carrying corporations. hav-
ing been held by the supreme court
not to be in violation OF the com
modities clause. still continues and
gives rise to many Determinations
Il becomes increasingly evident thai
complete freedom from discrlmina-
ton can be secured only BY a com
plete separation of the business Of
transportation from all other bust
hess
some Difaculs Evils.