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 70,
when it was passed; the remainder OF
the yoluminous statute will be III iorc'
tomorrow and with the widened Iuris-
diction and additional duties 1t places
upon the already hurdened Interstate
Commerce Commission tiings VIII
hum" at the headquarters OF That N
stitution this fall, winter and thereafter
Sections authorizing the commission
to suspend proposed increased rates
pending investigation and empowering
Taft 10 appoint commission /" ihvcS'-
igate the issue OF stocks and bonds ny
the railroads took immediate fleet.
The commission has literally used It's
suspension power by holding up pro-
posed universal increase in rates III all
parts of the country, except III INC
south. The president is now engaged
in recruiting members Of the stock ana
bond commission. Hearings on the
increases sought by the railroads TO De
made in eastern rates are III progress
in New York and an investigation oil
western rates will begin ut Chicago
August 90.
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 has,
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 oil
cars 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 perceptiblc in the business
of the commission. The complaints
came in last year ct the rate OF one
and one-half day and they now
average from 6 TO 10 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 longer than a 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 IN
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 topay 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
A big chore assigned to the commits
sion by Congress in 4 law passed last
April provided that within six months
there should be designated Il standard
system OF safety appliances" on cars 10
be adopted by all railroads. This APP
plies to couplers, ladders, handholds,
grabirons and all other contrivanccs
used in the operation Of cars. Experts
Of the commission and the American
Railway Association are working out
the problem and the commission will
be ready to notify the railroads to
get into line with Il uniform system
when the time limit expires in October,
A law passed in May authorizes The
to investigate railroad accl-
dents and gives it all the power .ncces-
sary to learn the bottom facts These
may also add materially
to the work of the commission.