Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-08-03

commodities. disclosing most 1agranv and
extensive determinations induced to .
large extent by the bribery of railway Of
licials and employees and effected by
means of various devices. While the in
NeStigations were in progress the so
called Hepburn act was pass ed. increasing
in many respects the power 10 regulate
interstate commerce and comforting upon
the commission authority upon complaint
and full hearing to prescribe for the fu-
ture just and reasonable rates. regula-
tions and practices in lieu OF those found
to he unjust and unreasonable; also COM
feTring jurisdiction over express COM
panies, pipe lines and sleeping car COM
panies and defining transportation 80 al
To include refrigeration. ventilation, elc-
Walton and other services Heretofore not
regarded as part of transportation. This
act contains the so-called commodities
clause. providing that
From and after May 1, 1908. 1t shall be
unlawful for any railroad company to
transport from any state, territory. or the
district of Columbia. to any, other state.
territory or the District of Columbia
or to any foreign country. any article or
commodity. other than timber and the
manufactured products thereof. manu-
factured. mined, or produced by 1t. or un-
der It's authority. or in which II may have
an ylnterest. direct or indirect, except
such articles or commodities Az may be
necessary and intended for its use in the
conduct OF its business as u common car
rier.
1t also requires the carriers to keep Open
to inspection OF the commission their
books and accounts in such u form a.
may be prescribed by 1t and specifies
penalties for the Justification. mutilation
or destruction OF records. The exercise OF
the commissions authority under this pro-
vision has resulted I'm uniform kt0DdQr0N
and has afforded a powerful check
against unlawful practices. as we'll as pro-
duced a much higher degree OF reliability
in reports OF carriers.
The latest amendment. known as tho
Mann bill, was enacted in June. 1910. and
empowers the commission to suspend tho
operation OF tariffs providing for in
creased rates. subject to Investigation az
TO their RESPONSIVENESS and propriety.
Tn enactment of this provision Is a dis
tinct recognition OF the oft-demOnstrated
necessity for the prevention OF transpOr-
tation wrongs as the only adequate meth
Cd of protecting those upon whom injury
would fall IL the wrongful act should be
permitted. In the very nature of the case
complete reputation in damages for In
jurles suffered is for obvious reasons inn
possible.
The amended act confers upon the COM
mission jurisdiction and authority over
tcleSIdpu anu telcpuOuc llIeS, diIN 6ioO
empowers the commission to institute i'm
~vestigations upon its wi motion. with
authority to make suitable orders therein
the same as II formal complaint had been
made by a shipper. 1t also enlarges the
powers of the commission with reference
to the establishment of through routes
and joint rates.
Merely to illustrate the growth OF the
work OF the commission under the In
vigorated law. the following increases are
significant:
There were filed with the commission
from 1887 to 1905. SIS complaints. resulting
in 1913 reports or opinions. printed in II
volumes of reports. Since the Hepburn
act was passed 3.125 complaints have been
filed. and 1900 decisions, including unre-
ported and memorandum opinions. have
been rendered. filling nine volumes OF
printed reports. Many Investigations have
been undertaken both pursuant to resOlu-
tons OF congress and on the commissions
own initiative. The records of the inves-
legations In two of the latest proceedings,
in the matter of rate advances under tho
act OF 1910. printed under q Senate resolu-
tion. fills 10 octave volumeS. Two hun-
bred and thirty-nine criminal prosecu-
lions nave been instituted for violations
of the act. and about $750.0OO in fines have
been collected from guilty shippers and
carriers. Reparation a%ggregatinG over
tested cases and over 81 .O0O,OO0 has been
allowed upon the application Of carriers
on stipulated facts and suitable inquiry.