The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-22
MORE FATALITIES
ON RAILROADS
REPORT or INTERSTATE COM
MERGE COMMISSION TO
CONGRESS.
COMPANIES
To Be Subjected to Regulation July
1--interstate Telephone Cos
Also---Feht on Rebating
Continues.


Washington, Dec. 2l.--ln its 24th
annual report submitted to congress
today the Interstate Commerce Com
merce commission gives particular
prominence to the eastern ad western
freight rates cases which are now
pending. The cases have been as
signed for argument on jan 8, 1911
and succeeding days.
Immediately following the passage
of the Mann-Elkins law the commits
sion began to exercise the most FAR
reaching power conferred upon it the
authority to suspend proposed ad
lvances in rates pending investigation
In the first half Of 1910 numerous
carriers had given notice OF general
advances in rates. AS result OF
conferences between government ana
he carriers the dates Of the proposed
advances were suspended pending the
Enactment of the law. Thereupon
TWO general investigations were insti
lsuted, one relating to the general ad,
vances proposed by eastern and the
ether 'tostnose pfopssea by western
carriers. Every effort has been made
to expedite the proceedings. A stu
pendous record is now before the
commission. The tariffs have been
suspended until Feb. /, 1911.
Since the last annual report the
commission has announced decisions
in 692 proceedings and 125 cases have
been disposed of. Thus SIT casea
| were removed from the commission +
docket. Within the year 660 com
plants were filed and Il proceedings
were instituted by the commission. In
addition 25 proceedings involving sus
pension of tariffs were instituted.
The number of informal complaints
taken up with the commission shows
a considerable decrease 3,S40 having
been filed in 1910 as against 4,436 the
| previous year. Within the year 73T
hearings and investigations respec-
ing alleged violations Of the law were
held in Washington and in various
parts Of the country. Az
Special reference is made to the
work OF the commission for the estab
lishments of a uniform freight classi
fication. Practically all OF the rules
and regulations Of separate classifica
tions have been reviewed, revised anc
unified.
The carriers, the report says are
making a sincere effort to harmonic
the conflicting features of the various
classilcations, but il will be neces
sary to apply the stimulus of require
ment unless satisfactory results arr
obtained soon.
Since Dec. 1, 1909, "A indictments
for criminal violations Of the act &
regulate commerce have been re
turned. Forty-three prosecutions hav
been concluded since then and 8
pleas of guilty were received. The ae
gregate of penalties assessed wa
$G3,500,
Fight on Discrimination.
Two verdicts of acquittal were rer
dered. OF the A indictments re
turned WIN the year 25 wer
against carriers and 10 against shiT
: pers or passengers. OF the 43 prose
cutions concluded, 2l were agains
carriers and 20 against shippers 0
passengers. Concerning the matte
! Of prosecution the report says:
THE fight against discrimination |
q by no means won. practices still RI
naming which are more insidiou
r and more difficult of extirpation tina
{ open rebating, by reason of the ia.
n that they are hidden in contractual a
2 iangements entirely legal except fc
= the effect produced. To speak gel
}, orally, the arrangements depend fl
7 their vice upon some unification {
shipper and canrier by which shi