The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-22
THE GOVERNMENT AT WORK
INTERSTATE COMMERCE Commission
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIM

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electrical control. Under such sys'
tenn the signaling apparatus must atop
the train when II IL out OF order. as
well as when danger threatens. II an
open circuit apparatus we're used, II
might yet out OF order and the sig
mails would continue to display the
signs OF safety. Thus, II . bad bow
were TO cut a signal wire on the 0pen
circuit the semiphore would continue
10 signal safety beyond. But where
that arm Is held In position by the
electric current, the minute the wire
was cut or interfered with. the current
would be broken and the semiphorc
srm would warn the train crew
against It's own imperfection 90 well
ss against danger ahead.
Another invention being tried under
the auspices OF the block signal board
is one for the automatic stopping OF
trains. This consists of Q lever pro-
jecting ur from one OF the rails. This
comes I'm contact with q lever that
operates the throttle on the engine.
When II L. necessary that train be
stopped. all that IL necessary Is for
the block operator to set the track
lever In position, and the steam will
be cut of automatically. The commits
sion also has charge of the enforce
ment OF the law which requires AL
locomotives to be provided with ash
pans. These ash-pans are intended tn
prevent the scattering OF cinders along
the right-of-way and resultant hres.
II also attends to the enforcement OF
the law which requires that railroad
or III rlr n
number of hours In each "a. In many
cases II was the fault Of the employe
rather than the railroad company that
long hours were observed by the men.
The opportunity to make extra pay
sent many a trainman over the road
when almost dead for sleep. The pres
ent law prevents that. and insures the
travelling public greater safety.
| One OF the duties of the interstate
commerce commission Is to supervise
the accounts of all railroads. Realiz.
Ing that unless q uniform system OF
accounting was established, there
could be no eficient supervision OF
the operation OF the railroads, congress
clothed the Interstate commerce COM
mission with authority TO require the
institution OF uniform system or &C.
lccunting. Every common carrier In
the country Is required TO furnish the
commission with annual reports ais
closing certain Information ~ 70 its
operation.
| The railroads and other common
carriers are required to fle with the
commission notice of every change OF
rate at least 80 days before that rate
goes into effect. This information 10
at all times accessible to the public.
end Il Is declared that the provision
| for the posting of railroad rates has
resulted in great benefit both to the
carriers and the shippers One nrm
estimates that where its accounts OF
suspended claims, awaiting adjustment
by the railroads. amounted to $1OO,OOo
! a year in the past. they now amount TO
less than $4,000. In cooperation with
the railroad commissions OF the vnrf
Gus states the interstate commerce.
commission has succeeded In inducing
the railroads to establish uniform de.
murrage rules. Under these rules fe
Is unlikely that there will be another
car shortage such as occurred q few
years ago. The prompt return OF
empty cars will be equivalent to the
addition Of 100, 900 cars 10 the rolling
stock or the country.
Although the duties Of the interstate
commerce commission are many and
varied. II is probable that the next
year or two will see them greatly In
creased. One amendment being urged
by the commission looks to the physi-
cal valuation OF the railroads. There
has been much dificulty In the en-
forcement Of the reasonable rate" pro-
vision of the interstate commerce law.
because there has been no way to ar
rive at a judicial valuation Of the rail-
roads physical property. In the "Spo-
kane case" the engineers OF the rail-
road testified that 1t would cost Ger.
tain amount TO reproduce these roads.
Two years later they were terrifying
again upon the same question and this
time their figures upon the cost Of pro
duction were rs per cent more than
those offered In their former testi-
mony. In recent state rate contro.
versy the railroads testified that II
would cost 100000 mile to repro
duce their property. Only few months
before they had sworn to the tar col
lector that these properties could be
reproduced for $4,000 mile.
In time the commission probably
VIII De given JURISDICTION over the
question of capitalization. The CON-
stitution Of the United States provides
that no person shall be deprived OF
his property without due process of
law, and the courts have held that he
has under this constitutional right to
a fair return on his investment. So
long as the law allows men to pur-
chase railroad stocks that have water
in them, Just 30 long, the commission
holds, will the public be compelled TO
pay transportation rates which yield
a fair return on the water, a. well az
on the intrinsic value OF the stock. II
these two amendments to the laws Of
common carriers are passed BY con-
gress the commission believes the
great problems Of American rate
making will have been solved.
Monday-Civil Service Commission.
CHURCH NOTICES.
yEFFERSON-AvE. PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH. corner Jefferson-ave. and
Rivard-st--Rev. A. H Barr, pastor.
Regular morning service, IL .. m,
theme. Giving Modern Men . Chance
to Be Individuals" Sunday school, 10
a. m. vesper service and organ re-