The Washington times., 1910-08-16
New Railroad Measure Will
Co Into Effect To-
morrow.
INTERSTATE BOARD
TO HAVE BIG JOB
Number o. Complaints From All
Sections Are Being
Filed Here.

Two sections of the railroad law took
effect June IS. when il was passed. the
remainder OF the voIuminous statute viii
be in force tomorrow. and with the
videned jurisdiction and additional du-|
ties II places upon the already burdened
Interstate Commerce Commission
things viii hum al the headquarters
OF that institution this fail, winter, and
thereafter
Lights viii CLEAN late at night from
the windows or the offices Of those hold
ing responsible places under the com
mission.
Sections authorizing the commission TO
SUSPEND proposed increased rates pend
ing Investigation and empowering Presi-
dent Taft To appoint a commission TO in
vestiEate the issue of stocks and bonds
by the railroads took immediate effect
The commission has literally used Its
SUSPENSION power'- by holding up a pro-
uosed universal increase in rates in ali
parts Of the country. except in the
South
The President is now engaged in re-
cruitfnE members Of the stock and bond
commission
Hearings on the Increases sought by
the railroads to be made in Eastern
rates are In progress in New York, and
an investigation O. Western rates viii
begin at ChiCeso, August .
To Meet Here
In Seotember the member of The In
terstate Commerce Commission viii as
sembIe in Washington TO tackle the new
problem While the jurisdiction of the
commission under the cid law concerned
increased rates, It now has, besides TIE
power Of suspension, the regulation Of
all services in connection with the re
ceipt, delivery, elevation, transfer. ven
tilatinr, icing, storage, and handling" OF
freight, the supply OF ears 10 shippers.
excess baggage and the establishment
OF through routes These new response
biIities VIII produce many new problems
An increase in the number Of COM
plants IS already peTcepuD-e N me
business OF the conTniSslo1- me ct'i-
plants came in last year at the rate OF
one and oue-haIt q day, and they now
average from six TO ten a day
a heap OF work viii come from the
West. as the result or the section OF Ill5
law providing that railroads slaH net
charge less for a longer than Q shorter
haul Of freight unless for special 1e3-
sons, the commission permits that prac-
High Freight Charge.
Freight charges almost everywhere
are higher to interior than TO coast
among interior points where the sane
railroad charges more for carrying
freight q short than q longer distance
All the railroads viii rush IN with
these rates asking that the commission
authorize their continuance. Railroad
officials VIII offer what they consider
strong reasons for the maintenance OF
the discriminating rates People Who
have for years been forced TO pay. higher
rates on freight than was paid by others
on goods passing through their towns 10
points loo or z-U-D miles beyond VIII
make bitter protest asalnSr the COCJiEu-
snCe OF the discrimination
Between the two the commissioners
viii need TO pray for the wisdom Of Sol
onion 20 guide them IN making adjust
mems Every station and every com
modify VIII have TO be considered and
there VIII be an enormous number Of
cases.
Regulation OF telegraph and teIe-
phone companies. provided by the new
law, Viii add much 90 the work Of the
commission No complaints have yet
been received, bat they viii not be
lacking The forms OF tariffs aC-
counting system, and monthly and an
Dual reports TO De made BY the Lele-
graph and telephone companies viii
be prescribed by the commission This
Is now done in the case OF railroads
Complaints arising from Interstate
and telephone service viii be handled
in the same way as are railroad com
, Eints-
For Greater Safety
l. big power assigned to the com
mission by Congress in a. law passed
last April provided that within six
months there should be designated a
standard system OF safety appIi-
a-cesr on cars to be adopted by all
railroads This applies 10 coupIers
ladders handhoIds, grabIr0ns- and ali
Other contrivances used IN the oper-
alton OF cars
Experts Of the commission and the
American Railway Association are
working out the problem and the
commission viii be ready 10 notify
the railroads TO set into lire with a
Uniform system when the time limit
expires, IN October
A law passed ia May authorizes the
commission 10 investigate railroad ac-
Cidents- and gives il all the power
necessary 10 learn the bottom facts
These inves legations may also add
materially 10 the work Of the com
mission
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