Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-21
By No Means Won, Practises
More Insinuating Than Open
Relating Remaining.
COMMISSION WORKING HARD
During Year sl7 Cases Removed From
It's Dockct-AIany Freight
Tariffs Suspended.

sreSS today, the Interstate commerce.
commission gives particular prominence
to the consideration Of the eastern and
western freight cases which are now
pending before the commission. The
cases have been assigned for argument
on Jan ., 1911. and succeeding days.
Immediately following the passage OF
the Mann Elkins law, the commission
began to exercise the most far-rcaching
power conferred upon it, the authority
10 suspend proposed advances in rates
pending Investigation In the first
half of 1910, numerous carriers had
given notice of general advances in
rates.
AS result of conferences between
the government and the carriers, the
dates of the proposed advances were
suspended pending the enactment of the
law Thercuron two general investlsa-
lions were instituted. one relating to
the general advances proposed by east
ern ana the other to those proposed by
western carriers.
Since the last annual report. the COM
mission has announced decisions of COZ
proceedings and 125 cases have been
disposed of. Thus SIT cases were re-
moved from the commissions docket
within the year, $50 complaints We're
filed and II proceedings were instituted
by the commission. In addition, rs
proceedings involving suspensions Of
tariffs were instituted.
Tho piIuIhnr al I'M
taken up with the commission shows a
considerable decrease. $50 having been
filed in 1910 as against i4SG the previous
year Within the year 737 lnvestiga-
tons and hearings respecting alleged
violations of the Law were held In
Washington and various parts of tho
country.
TARIFF PUBLICATIONS.
In the u months ended Nov 30. 1910.
1bi.bSS tariff publications We're filed
with the commission, Approximately go
GOO less than the preceding IL months
The number of schedules filed was con-
sderably Increased by the filing Of sup
plements postponing the effective dates
of tariffs which contained advanced
rates now under Investigation by the
commission. In the same period the
number of special permissions granted
to make tariffs effective on less thar
statutory notice was 1910, substantially
the same MS in the previous 12 months
Special reference Is made to the
work of the commission for the cstab-
lishment of uniform freight classii-
cation. Practically all the rules and
regulations of separate classifications
have been reviewed. revised and uni
fed.
Tho carriers. tho report says. are
making a sincere effort to harmonic
the conflicting features of the various
classitications but 1t will be necessary
to Apply the stimulus of requirement
unless satisfactory results are obtained
soon.
INDICTMENTS.
since Dec. 1, 1909, "A indictments
for criminal violations of theS act to
regulate commerce have been return-
ed Forty-three prosecutions have
been concluded since then, and 81
pleas of guilty were received. The ag-
gregate Of penalties assessed was sea-
500
Two verdcts of acqulttnl We're
rendered
on tho A indictments returned with
in the year. rs were against carriers
and . against shippers of passengers.
or the 43 prosecutions concluded. 81
were against carriers and 90 against
shippers of passengers.
DETERMINATIONS,
Concerning the matter of prosecu-
tion the report says:
The fight against discrimination is
by no means won. practises still re-
naming which are more insidious and
more difficult of extirpation that open
rebating. by reason of the fact that
they are hidden in contractual ar
rnngements entirely legal except for
l.
", these arrangements depend for
their vice upon some unfactton of
shippers and carrier. by which ship
pers secure an interest In carriers
profits"
part of the report Is devoted to
consideration of certain suits, notably
the coal car distribution case. the
nurnham Hanna Munger case, the
Portland gateway case and various
lumber cases. Most of these have been
decided by the higher courts In favor
OF the commission
TELEGRAPHs AND TELEPHONES.
By the act of June Is, 1910. tele-
graph and telephone companies doing
an Interstate business were placed I'M
der the Jurisdiction OF the commission.
steps have already been taken for tho
formulation of Il system of operating
tnrirs and 1t Is expected thntHthis sys-
tom VIII become oIlectlNc July y III TO-
Concerning the application OF the
law as to telegraph and telephone COM
panies the report says:
"Thero are from $4,000 to 10000 tele
phone companies which make provision
FOR interstate communication and the
commission Is In doubt whether 1t is
the intent Of Congress to place all these
companies under Its supervision and
control. No opinion is expressed 1T
this time as to the administrative in
terpretation that should be placed upon
the law in this regard
RAILWAY CAPITALIzATIoN,'
The wisdom and urgent need of prop.
er legislation for the control OF rail.
way capitalization are urged upon Con-
gross.
Inquiry into railway accidents within
the year ended June so. 1910, shows that
the number of passengers killed IN
train accidents was 227 as compared
with 1871 the previous year. The nuns
Der OF employees killed in coupling acct.
dents Increased from l6l in 1909 to POI
In 1910 or % per cent.
It is pointed out that, notwithstand.
ing increase In casualties n marked m-
provement is noted in the practise oi
ro Iron Il In guarding AGAINST violation