The Washington herald., 1914-03-02

REPORT HITS AT
SHIPPING TRUST
House Committee Would Give
|. c. c. Jurisdiction Over
Agreements.
WILL BE FILED TODAY
Many Recommendations for Regulat-
ing Both Foreign and Domestic
Trade Are Included.

Important recommendations Cor legisla-
ton giving the Interstate Commerce Com
mission jurisdiction over agreements IN
operation between foreign and domestic
steamship interests and railroads, are
contained IN q report that will be filed
In the House today by the Committee on
Merchant. Marine, and Fisheries The
report deals in the main with the So
called shipping trust composed Of
various steamship pools" that have
been under fire in Congress for many
years-
The program OF legislation to be sub
mitted does not propose that the con
ferenees'' in which steamship rates are
fixed, and routes mapped out, shall be
broken up. The committee recommends
such agreements be made subject by
law TO approval or disapproval by the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
open competition cannot be assured
for any length of time by ordering exist
ing agreements terminated" says the re-
port Such termination either would
cause the lines to engage in rate wars
which would inevitably result in the sur
Nival Of the fittest- or, to avoid a costly
struggle, they would consolidate through
common ownership. For this reason the
committee felt that effective government
supervision is the only means of elimi-
mating existing abuses
The recommendations of the committee
for legislation bearing on foreign trade
may be summarized as follows:
That all agreements and understand
ings between navigation companies. or
between such companies and railroads or
shippers, be filed with the Interstate
Commerce Commission for approval or
disapprovaL
That the commission be empowered to
investigate complaints charging unreal
sonableness Of rates, with power to
order rates changed if found to be un-
reasonable.
That rebating in all its forms be pro-
hibited.
That the commission be empowered to
investigate complaints charging unfair
treatment in the matter of cargo space
and other facilities, with power to order
the discoptinuance of unfair practices.
The recommendations with regard to
carriers in domestic trade are:
The above recommendations pertaining
to foreign carriers also apply.
That the Jurisdiction of the Interstate
Commerce Commission be extended to in
tcrstate port-tO-port traffic, with full
power to regulate rates and determine
maximum charges
That water carriers, il cutting rates
with a view to driving out a competitor.
be denied the privilege Of restoring
rates.
That all traffic associations or confer
ences. whether pertaining to through
rail-and-water transportation or to port
to-port traffic only, be brought under the
supervision Of the commission.
As to Effective DinerentiaIs.
That the commission be empowered to
compel railroads to allow competitive
water carriers to apply effective differen-
tials.
That the railroads and water carriers
be required to issue through bills Of
lading to all interstate water carriers
that meet such conditions of quality and
regularity Of service as the commission
may consider reasonable.
That railroads be required to account
separately to the commission for the in
come and expenditures Of interstate
water lines owned or controlled by them.
That railroads be required to make their
terminal facilities available to water
carriers on equal terms and under such
reasonable conditions as the commission
may prescribe.
That there should be legislation pro-
vidng for equal treatment to all shippers
and water carriers by transfer and
lighterage concerns when forming link
in interstate or foreign commerce.
That all interstate traffic on canals be
placed under the supervision of the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
Chairman Alexander and his associates
on the House Committee are hopeful that
the legislation proposed will be enacted
at this session.