Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-22
KILL
MORE PEOPLE
THIS YEAR
REPORT OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION
Shows Enormous Activity Of
Body in Charge Of Regulation
Of Transportation Companies
Of the Country,

l@F '''f'' fffRt'
Washington, Dec. 2l,-In its TWEEN
%ty-fourth annual report. submitted II
congress today, the Interstate com
merce commission gives particular
prominence % the consideration OF
the eastern ana western freight rate
cases which are now pending before
the commission. Tha cases have been
assigned for argument on January Q,
1911 and succeeding days.
Immediately following the passage
of the Mann-Elkins, the COM
mission began 70 exercise the most
~far-reac1ing power conferred upon Il,
the authority to suspend proposed ad-
|yances in rates pending investigation.
In the first half of 1910 numerous
carriers had given notice Of general
advances in rates.
As a result Of conference between
government and the carriers, the
dates OF the proposed advances We're
suspended pending the enactment Of
the law, Therenpon two general in
yestigations were instituted, one re-
lating to the general advances pro-
posed by eastern and the other to
those proposed by western carriers.
Since the last annual report, the
commission has announced decisions
Of 500 proceedings l25 cases have
been disposed Of. Thus SIT cases
docket within the year, $50 complaints
were filed and eleven proceedings
were instituted by the commission.
In addition, 25 proceedings involving
suspensions of tariffs were instituted.
The number of informal COM
plants taken up with the commission
shows Il considerable decrease. 3,S4N
..tI .. I....~ ftAl IL. ut a X, AY. ts..t
ABS the previous year. Within the
year T37 hearings and Investigations
respecting alleged violations of the
were held in Washington ana
other parts OF the country.
In the twelve months ended No
vember 80, 1910, Ass tariff publ
cations were filed with the commiss-
ion, approximately 81 1900 less than the
proceeding twelve months. The num-
her Of schedules filed was considera-
bly, increased by the filing of supple
postppning the effective dates
Of tariffs which contained advanced
now under investigation by the
commission. erin the same period the
of special permissions grant
ed "a maze tarlifs effective on less
than statutory notice was $3.50
substantially The same as In the pre-
Nious twelve months.
Specin1 reference Is made to tn
work of the commission for the es-
adjustment OF a uniform freight
classification. Practically all tht rules
md regulations of separate classifica-
ions have been reviewed, revised and
unified,
The carriers. the report says, are
making Il sincere effort to harmonize
he conflicting features Of the Nari-
Gus ci~assifications, but it VIII be
necessary to apply the stimulus OF re- |
unless satisfactory result
ire Obtained soon,
Since December i, 1909, forty-four
for criminal violations OF
he act to regulate haVa
returned. Forty-three prosecu-
ions have been concluded since then,
md 81 pleas Of guilty We're received.
fhe aggregate OF penalties asseSscu
vas S63. 500.
Two Verdicts Of acquittal were rem /
Tered. or the forty-four indictments
within the year, twenty-five
we're against carriers and nineteen
against shippers or passengers. ~
he fortN-threc prosecutions conciuu-
"a. tWenty-one We're against carriers
twentv-one against shippers or
Concering the matter OF
,rosecution the report says.
''The fight against discrimination
3 by no means won, practices still re-
naming which are more ~insiduous
more difficult of extirpation than
rehatinR, reason of the fact that
hey are hidden in ~eontractual ar
angements entirely legal except Tor
he effect produced. To speak gem
rally, these arrangements depend Tor
heir vice upon some uniiicatlon OF
and carrier. by which ship
,ers secure an interest In carriers
a part Of the report Is devoted to
consideration of certain suits, notab-
y the coal ear distribution case, the
Iurnham-Hanna-Munger case, the
gateway case and various
lumber cases. Most OF these have
cen decided by the higher courts in
avpr of the commission.
Bv the act of June is, 1910, the
elegraph and telephone companies
ding an interstate business were
laced under the jurisdiction OF the
commission. Steps have already been
for the formulation of a sys-
IN of operating tariffs and Il Is ex-
that this system will become
Elective July l.. 1911.
Concerning the application OF the
NV as to telegraph and telephone
ompanies. the report says
There are from 25,0o0 to 10000
telephone companies which make pro-
Tor interstate communications
The commission is in doubt
neither il Is the intent Of congress to
All these companies under It's
supervision and control. No opinion
expressed at this time rs to the adj
illustrative Interpretation that should
q placed upon the law in this re-
ard"
The wisdom and urgent need of
roper legislation for the control of
capitalization are urged upon
ongress.
Inquiry into railway accidents with
) the year ended June 30. 1910.
lows that the number Of passengers
illed IN the train accidents was 2a7
; compared with l3l the previous
The number of employees KILL
in coupling accidents increased
ON t6t ia 1903 to 207 in 1910. or
per rent.
Il is pointed out that. notwith-
anding increase IN casualties. "a
Improvement is noted in the
ractices Of railroads In guarding
sainst violations Of the safety APP
lance law.