Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-22
TWO INVESTIGATIONS ARE Ma.
Every Effort is Made to Expedite
Proceedings.
SEEK UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION
Rules and Regulations Reviewed,
Revised and Unified.
EIGHT HUNDRED CASES SETTLED
DISCRIMINATION by Means of Partner
-hip wtth Carriers Are stfu Prse-
ticrd--oufah street Railway
Case ~ Conzidered-

Ease T. Considered
vrASHINGTON. Dec. H--In its twenty
fourth annual report sumbitted 70 congress
today. the interstate Commences commis-
sion giVss particular prominence to the
consideration q the eastern and western
freight rate cases which are now pending
before the commission. The cases have
been assigned Tor argument on January 3.
1911. and succeeding DAYS.
Immediately following the passage of the
Mann EllunE law the commission began %
exercise the most far-reaching power con-
ferred upon IL, the authority to suspend
proposed advances In rates pending investi-
CATION. In the first half Of 1910 numerous
carriers bad given notice of general ad-
vances tn rates. As a result OF conferences
between government and the carriers the
dates of the proposed advances were sus-
pended pending the enactment OF the law
Thereup0n two general Investigations were
instituted. one relating 10 the general. ad-
vances proposed By eastern and the other
70 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 suspended until February /. 1911
Many Gases Disposed OF.
Since the last annual report the com
mission has Announced decisions IN sg2 pro-
cecdings and I25 cases have been disposed
o. Thus M7 cases we're removed from the
commissiou's docket within the year. Gu
complaints were filed and eleven proceed
ings we're instituted by the commission. In
addition. twsnty-three proceedings invuiv-
ing suspension Of tariffs were Instituted.
TIE number ~ Informal complaints taken
up with the commission shows a consider
able decrease. ESQ having been filed in
1919 as against Asa the previous year.
Nitain the yea- az hearings and investisa
tons respecting alleged violations OF the
law were held in Washington and in variou1
parts OF the country.
In the twufva months ended Novemb.-
~ Isi8. isf.SS tariff publications were filed
with tne aon1naisaisn. Approximately saooa
less than the preceding twelve months. The
number % schedules filed was consider
ably Increased BY the fling Of supplements
postponlng she effective dates OF tariffs
which contained advanced rates now under
Investigation BY the commission. In tho
same period the number Of special pernis-
siona granted 70 make tariffs effective on
less thnnt statutory notice was a9iO. sub
stanually the same as n the previous
twelve months.
SPECIAL reference is made to the work of
the commission for the establishment OF a
uniform freight classification practically
all the rules and regulations OF separate
classilcarons haze been reviewed. revised
ara unified.
The carriers, the report says. ars making
"A sncere effort 70 harmonize the conflict
.ng features Of the various classifications.
but & WE be necessary to apply the stimu-
ius of requirement unless satisfactory re-
suits are obtained soon.
Forty-Fsur indictments
Since December I, 1893, fOrty-four indict-
ments for criminal violations OF the act
TO regulate eommercs have been returned.
Forty-thrse prosecutions have been con
eluded since then and thirty-One pleas OF
guilty were reoelved- The aggregate OF
penalties assessed was $500
Two verdlcts Of acquittal were rendered
OF the forty-four indictments returned
within the year twenty-five we're against
carriers and nineteen against shippers or
passengers OF the forty-three prosecu-
tons concluded, twenty-one were against
carriers and twenty-five against shippers
or passengers Concerning the matter OF
prosecution the report says
The fight against discrimination IL BY
no means won. practices sUH remaining
which ara. more insidious and more diff
cult of eXtrpauon tlan open rebating. by
reason OF the fact that they are hidden
In contractual arrangements entirely legal
except for the effect produced. To speak
generally. these arrangements depend for
Their vice upon some unification OF shipper
and carrier. by which shippers secure an
intsrtst IN carriers profits"
Omaha and Portland Cases
A Fart OF the report IL devoted % a con
sideration of certain suits. notably the
coal car distribution ease. the Burnham-
Hanna hluEEer case the Portland Gate
way case. the Omaha street railway case
and various cases Most Of these have
been decided by the higher courts in favor
OF the commission BY the act OF June IS
l9Il, telegraph and telephone companies
doing an interstate business were placed
under the jurisdiction of the commission
Steps have already been taken for the
formulation OF system Of operating
tariffs and iJ ts expected that this system
VIII become effective July l. 1911
Conceruing the application OF the law as
q telegraph and rsleDhons companies. the
report says;
There are from =. eoO 70 so0o telephone
companies watch make provision for inter
state comm municatian and the commission
- IA doubt as 70 whether II is the intent
ot congress O. place al these companies
under rs supervision and control No
CIiuion is expressed az this ume As 70 the
administrative Interpretation which should
30 placed upon tne law N this regard.
ControI % Capitalization
-le wisdom and urgent need of proper
,-salauou for the control Of railway can
lralEation ara urged upon congress. Ade-
quate provision for the valuation u rail-
way property Is pointed out as absolutely
necessary.
Inquiry into railway accidents within the
year ended June n. 1919. shows thar the
number OF passengers killed IN train acci-
Eenrs was ~ as compared wirh L1I me
previous year The number u employees
rilIel in cuupnnE accidents increased from
lConrinued on Second PassJ