Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-16
The Interstate Commerce Commission

The Interstate Commerce
Washington, Aug. 1.-two sections
OF the railroad law took effect June 10,
when it was passed; the remainder Oh
the yoluminous statute will be III 'orce
tomorrow and with the widened Juris-
diction and additional duties II pllces
upon the already burdened lnierS''e .n
Commerce Commission things WIN
hum" at the headquarters Of that III
stitution this fall, winter and thefea'te''
Sections authorizing the commission
to suspend proposed increased 'a'oS
pending investigation and empowering
Taft 10 appoint a commission To ih'es'-
igate the issue of stocks and bonds ny
the railroads took immediate 'iiect'
The commission has literally used It's
suspension power by holding up a pro,
posed universal increase in rates III al
parts OF the country, except IN 'h1
south. The president is now engageu
in recruiting members OF the STOCK anu
bond commission. Hearings on inc
increases sought by the railroads to DC
made in eastern rates are in progress
in New York and an Investigation Oh
western rates will begin at Chicago
August 20.
In September the members OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission VIII
assemble in Washington to tackle the
new problem. While the jurisdiction
OF the commission under the old law
concerned increased rates, it now Dqs'
besides the power OF suspension, The
regulation OF all services in connection
with the receipt, delivery, elevation
transfer. ventilation, icing storage and
handling" of freight, the supply OF
ears to shippers. excess baggage ana
the establishment of through routes.
These new responsibilities will produce
many new problems for solution. An
increase in the number OF complaints
is already perceptible in the business
OF the commission. The complaints
came in last year ct the rate OF one
and one-half a day and they now
average from to 10 a day.
A heap of work will come from the
West, as the result OF the section OF the
law providing that railroads shall not
charge less for a longer than shorter
haul OF freight unless, for special
reasons, the commission permits that
practice. Freight charges almost
everywhere are higher to interior that
TO coast points and there are many m
stances among interior points where the
same railroad charges more for carry
ing freight a short than longer dis
lance.
All the railroads will rush in with
these rates asking that the commission
authorize their continuance. Railroad
officials will 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
to points 100 or 1000 miles beyond,
will make bitter protest against the
continuance of the discrimination.
Regulation of telegraph and telephone
companies, provided by the new law,
will add much to the work Of the com
mission.
A big chore assigned to the commits
sion by Congress in law passed last
April provided that within six months
there should be designated standard
system of safety appliance" on ears 10
be adopted by all railroads. This APP
plies to couplers, ladders, handholds
grabirons and all other contrivance;
used in the operation Of cars. Experts
of the commission and the American
Railway Association are working on
the problem and the commission vii
be ready to notify the railroads Il
get into line with uniform system
when the time limit expires in October
A law passed in May authorizes The
commission TO investigate railroad acct
dents and gives it all the power neces
sary to learn the bottom facts These
investigations may also add materially
TO the work Of the commission.