Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-21
COMMERCE BOARD
EXERCISES powers
INNER NEW LAW MANY PRO
eosep RATE INCREASES ARE
HELD UP.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED
TO HOUSES OF CONGRESS
Forty.Feur Indictments For Criminal
v;ol.t;on. Of Rate Laws Procured
During Ysar-cemmission Aims 70
e..u,. Uniform Classification OF
a.t..-cemplaints Are Less.

Ratss-Complaints Arc Less.
washington, Dec. 21.-1n its twenty
fourth annual report submitted 10 con-
,as. today. the interstate commerce
commission gives particular pfo"A-
nence to the consideration OF the east
ern and western freight rate cases
which now are pending before the COM
mission. The cases have been assign
ed for argument on Jan. .. lsll, .s;nu ana
succeeding days, ana tue eo r,;-
will announce its decision AZ the ea''A
s.+ practicable date thereafter.
In1mediately following the passage
~ N. Mann-Elkins law the comm!s-
sion wa. called upon to exercise the
most far.reaching power conferred up
on it by that act, namely. the autno1tts
70 snsnend proposed advances IN rates
nending investigation Of their propr1e-
~ In the first half OF 1910 numerous
carriers had given notice OF general
advances in rates. As result u GU.
ferences between government autnofA-
ties and representatives OF the carriers
tba dates OF the proposed advances
.-ere susnended pending the enactment
cr tho law then under consideration oS
CONGRESS. The section Of the law au-
,horizins the suspension or tarN1s Ny
tho commission was made effective I'M
meliately upon the enactment OF the
law.
Investigations Started.
Thereupon two general 1nVestisa lions
we're instituted, one relating to the gen.
eral advances in rates proposed oy
"a astern carriers and the other to those
nroposed by western carriers. Every
effort has been made to expedite the
proceedings. A stupendous record now
ia before the commission. The tar1IIs
have been suspended until Feb. !. lS11.
Prior to that time 1t Is expected 'nat
the commission will announce Its decis-
ion In the general freight rate cases.
Since the last annual report the COM
mission has announced decisions III 20.
nrocedinrs and 125 cases otherwise
have been disposed Of. Thus, S17 for
mai cases were removed from the
.omm.;s:oo'. docket. During the year
6co formal complaints were filed and
eleven proceedings were instituted by
tho commission. In addition to these,
twenty-five proceedings involving sus-
pension Of tariffs were Instituted.
Complaints Are Few.
The number Of informal complaints
taken up with the commission shows
considerable decrease. 3.s4O having
been filed In 1910. as against 1886 IN
the previous year. During the year 7S7
hearings and Investigations respecting
alleged violations Of the law were held
by the commission in Washington and
in various other parts Of the country.
Aims at Uniform 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. Prac-
tically all Of the rules and regulations
OF the separate classifcations have been
reviewed, revised and unified by the
commission. A large amount Of work
vet remains to be done to complete
this review. The carriers, as the re-
port indicates, are making sincere
effort to harmonic the conflicting
features Of the various classihcatfons,
but in the opinion OF the commission
it will be necessary to apply the stimu-
lus Of requirements unless satisfactory
results are obtained at an early date.
Forty.four Indictments.
Since Dec. 1, 1909. forty-four indict-
nnents for criminal violations Of the
act to regulate commerce have been
returned. Forty-three prosecutions
have been concluded since that date
and thirty-one pleas Of guilty were re-
ceived. The aggregate Of penalties as
sessed was $s3.50o.
Two verdicts Of acquittal were rem
dered. OF the forty-four indictments
returned during the year. twenty-five
were against carriers and nineteen
against shippers or passengers. OF the
forty.three prosecutions concluded,
twenty.one were against carriers and
twenty-five against shippers or pas
seneers. Concerning the matter of pro-
secution the report says:
"The fight against discrimination Is
by no means won, practices still re-
naming which are more insidious and
more difficult Of extirpation than open
rebating, by reason Of the fact that
they are hidden in contractual arrange
ments entirely legal except for the ef-
feet produced. To speak generally.
these arrangements depend for their
service upon some uniacation Of ship
per and carrier. by which shippers Sc
cure an interest in carriers profits.
AZ 70 Wire Companies.
Concerning the application Of the
law as to telegraph and telephone COM
pjanies, the report says:
There are from $4,000 to 10000 tel
ephone companies which make provi-
sion for interstate communication and
the commission is in doubt as to
whether 1t was the intent of congress
to place all these companies under its
supervision and control. No opinion Is
expressed at this time as to the adj
ministrative Interpretation which
should be placed upon the law in this
regard"
The wisdom and urgent need OF
proper LEGISLATION for the control Of
railway capsSasiAsaSi SiOsi 6e,i uI'oIa
the attention Of congress. Adequate
peovao3oo Tor the valuation Of railway