The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-07-22
RAILROAD REGULATION.

RAILROAD REGULATION.
IL is generally admitted that one of
t,e most important acts OF legislation
at the session OF Congress recently sd-
journed was the passage Of the rail-
road bill. the corporations themselves
conceding the wisdom and fairness OF
the law.
Railways are regulated, where not
government owned. In the European
countries. and our neighbor. Canada
has a commission to look after the
roads. which has been working won
.ders since its creation five years ago.
According 20 the Canadian railway
act, the commission has greater powers
at its command than any other adj
administrative body IN Carada- Its ju-
lrisdiction reaches from sydney. Cape
Breton, to Dawson City. in the Yukon,
and. speaking 70 a population OF oVer
seven million people, distributed over
half a continent. II has more than 200
corporations under its control, more
than half OF them railways. the re-
Inaiade- being telegraph. Telephone or
express companies operated in con-
nection with the railways. It deals
with 500 distinct industries. and the
public today Is making 5000 requests
annually for its services
BY reason OF the work OF such a
board. not only tho corporations hut
private individuals can approach the
railway and get redress within rea-
sonable time. Formerly complaints Of
trivial abuses and inJustices. when re-
.ceived. wero usually shelved for a time
for matters OF greater Importance,
and II they were not altogether for
gotten Il was often months before
they received attention. Now the big
and little fare alike. and an adequate
regulatory law demands action in
every instance. The smallest order
which the commission makes is as
binding and obligatory as its weight
fest Judgment
Not a single mile OF new railway
can be operated by any railway cor
poration without the approval of the
commission. Whenever the Cana dian
Pacific or the Canadian Northern
sends out a branch line across the
prairie. as soon as the rails are laid
and the track properly ballasted. the
engineer or some other competent Of
fetal must give notice TO the commits
sion that such road Is sufficiently
ready for traffic. and thereupon he re-
quests the board TO authorize its open
ing.
An expert inspecting engineer IS
commissioned 70 make a thorough ~
animation. and II his report is salts
factory the road may be opened
whenever the people OF Vancouver Of
wainwright OF Edmonton complain
that they are not receiving a serric,
the moment n new road comes within
their limits, Il IS because the railwa.
commission has not given its sane.
ton
The law demands that there mus
be a service which IS safe, adequat,
and reasonable. Herein lies tho tene
ut to tho public There IS a m-1tua
benefit 20 the corporation Until 9
railway is officially declared to be oper
fer public traffic the company IS no
subject 70 the liabilities OF common
carriers. nor bound as such 20 carr
whatever traffic Is offered.
Under the operation OF the railroad
law IN the United States the inter
state commerce commission IS invest
eating the subject OF increased freigh
rates Such Increases were recent,
announced. but were suspended ~ tn
roads IN order 20 give the commission
time 20 act. harmonious relations hav'
ing been established and a clasi
avoided.
The square dear is desired by al
parties-the railroad men. tho mer-
chants and manufacturers farmer'
and stock raisers and Mr.. ultimate
Consumer. It begins TO look n
though the application OF the new Law
would soon eliminate all grounds Of
complaint.