Evening journal., 1910-12-21
VALUATION OF
THE RAILROADS
Urged in the Report Of the
Inter State Commerce
Commission
REVIEW OF COMMISSIONS
WORK DURING THE YEAR

BY United Press Leased Special Wire
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2t.-Urgent
demand is made for the passage OF "A
law for the physical valuation of rail-
roads by the government in the an-
nual report of the Interstate Com
merce Commission submitted to Con.
gress to-day.
The. report referred to the we'll.
known fact that "no court or commits
sion, or accountant, or financial
writer would for a moment consider
that tho present railroad balance
sheet statement purporting to give the
cost of property suggests even I'm a
remote degree, reliable measure eith-
er of money invested or OF present
value"
The railroad law passed last June
was credited In the report with hav-
ing corrected numerous defects
which experience had disclosed, con-
ferred upon the public new rights and
remedies. and correspondingly IN
creased the jurisdiction and autnor-
| ity of the commission
The nose important Of the law ia
said by the report to be the provision
giving the commission authority 10
suspend proposed increased rates
pending investigation OF their pro-
prioty.
WIN Announce Decision soon.
Regarding the case involving the at
tempt of the railroads in the East
and i'm tho West to make advances in
freight rates the report says that the
arguments will be begun on January
9. and "the commission. intends to an-
nounce it's decision at the earliest
practicable date thereafter
Since December /, 1903. thirty-ono
pleas of guilty for violation of rail-
road laws were received and the fines
imposed amounted to $4,000.
"Tho fight against discrimination"
said the report, "is by no means won,
practices still remaining which are
more insidious and more difficult OF
extirpation than open Rotating, by
reason of the fact that they are hid
den in contractural arrangements en-
tirely legal except for the effect pro-
duced. TO speak generally. these ar
rangemonts depend for their vice upon
some plan by which shippers secure
an interest iu carriers profits"
The total operating revenues of the
railroads during July. August and Sep
tember this year were $745,134. .204
an increase OF S42,O00,000 compared
with the same quarter OF 1903. Tho
operating expenses IN the th ee
months% however. we're S4S9, ,699. .37S,
an increase of over S5O,O00000 COM
pared with the same quarter in 1909.
Telephone Companies.
There are from $4,000 TO 10000 tole-
phone companies which make proyi-
sion for interstate combination. and
the commission is in doubt whether
q was the intent OF Congress to place
all these companies under its super
vision, and control.
Industrial railways" or tap lines'
defined as railways controlled by some
manufacturing or mining industry,
are the subject of keen interest. be-
cause 1T is recognized how easily
determinations may be practicod by
carriers through the agency OF indus-
trial railways that connect them with
large shippers"
The number of passengers killed
during the year ending June 80. 1910,
was i5O; injured, 15,515; employees
killed. 3,41S; injured, 6S,925, total
of 3.S6S Killed and s4.44O injured. The
commission says it has no money to
pay for tho investigation of the ac-
cidents. The railroads arc criticized
for not making better use of safety
appliances.