Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-22
CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE
FREIGHT RATE CASES, WHICH
COME UP FOR ARGUMENT
EARLY NEXT MONTH.
~ PROSECUTED
DURING THE YEA r
OF THIS NUMBER THiRTY-oNE
PLEAS OF. GUILTY WERE RE-
TURNED; FIGHT AGAINST DIS
EXAMINATIONS TO CONTINUE.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 2l.-In its
oath annual report submitted to con-
gress today, the interstate commerce
commission gives particular promi-
nence to the consideration of the east
ern and western freight rate cases
which now are pending before the
commission. The cases have been as
signed for argument on Jan. g., 1911,
and succeeding days, and the commits
sion will announce its decision at the
earliest practicable date thereafter.
Immediately following the passage
of the Mann-Elkins law the commits
sion was called upon to exercise the
most far.reaching power conferred
upon it by that act, namely, the author
ity to suspend proposed advances in
rates pending investigation of their
propriety. In the first half Of 1910 nu-
merous carriers had given notice OF
general advances in rates. AS a result,
of conferences between government
authorities and representatives OF the
carriers the dates of the proposed ad-
vances were suspended pending the en-
actment of the law then under consid-
GRAFTON by congress. The section OF the
law authorizing the suspension of tar
IFS by the commission was made ef-
fective Immediately upon the enact
ment of the law. Thereupon two gener-
al investigations were instituted, one
relating to. the general advances In
rates proposed by eastern carriers,
and the other to those proposed by
western carriers. Every effort has been
made to expedite the proceedings. A
stupendous record Is now before the
commission. The tariffs have been sus-
pended until Feb. 1, 1911. Prior to that
time 1T is expected that the commits
sion will announce its decision on the
general freight rate cases.
Uniform Freight Classification.
Special reference is made in the re-
port to the work of the commission
looking to the establishment of uni
form classification of freight. Practi-
cally all of the rules and regulations
of the separate classifications have
been reviewed revised and unified by
the commission. large amount OF
work yet remains to be done to com
plete this review. The carriers. as the
report indicates, are making sincere
effort to harmonic the conflicting fea-
lures Of the various classifcations. but
in the opinion of the commission It
will be necessary to apply the stimulus
of requirement unless satisfactory re-
suits are obtained at an early date.
Since December 1 1909 forty-four
for criminal violations Of
the act to regulate commerce have
been returned Forty-three prosecu-
tions have been concluded since that
date and thirty-one pleas of guilty
were received. The aggregate of PEN
alties assessed was S63,500.
Two verdicts of acquittal were rem
dered OF the forty-four indictments
returned during the year. 25 were
against carriers and 10 against ship
pers or passengers. Of the AZ prosecu
tions concluded, 21 were against car
riers and % against shippers or pas
sengers. Concerning the matter of
the report says:
."The fight against discrimination is
by no means won, practices still re-
which are more insidious and
more difficult of extirpation than open
by reason of the fact that
they are hidden in contractural ar
entirely legal except for
The effect produced. To speak gener-
ally, these arrangements depend for
their vice upon some unification of
shipper and carrier. by which ship
pers secure an interest in carriers
profits"