The chronicle=news., 1914-12-18


the rates on traffic moving between
that territory andu other parts of OIL
fetal classification territory; they
did not propose general five per
cent increase in their freight rates.
In other wards, the New England
lines have voluntarily pursued the
only reasonable course to augment
their revenues. this being the course
urged upon the Central Freight AS
ISOLATION lines in our original report.
by following the suggestion made
in the original report the carrier
could undoubtedly secure more addi
tional net income than the amount
estimated to accrue under the pro-
posed horizontal rate Increase and
far more than can accrue to them I'M
der the relic, now accorded in the
/ supplemental report.
81 cannot but think that a gener-
al increase in the standard rates of
J this country, while the rate struct-
ures OF these carriers remain full of
I Inconsistencies, determinations and
wrongful practices, that deplete their
revenues is morally wrong; that the
placing of additional burdens on in
terstate commerce that is not also
| placed upon state commerce, is also
wrong: and that the course approved
in the supplemental report will ultim-
ately be as disastrous to the carriers
! themselves as 1t would be harmful to
the general interests.
Chairman Harlan, considering the
effect upon commerce because of the
[ European war, says:
The results of that conflict,
which is unparalleled in recent his
tory, are accepted in part by the
commission as the basis for the ac-
ton it proposes in the supplemental
report Just how long the war may
continue no one can conjecture. To
what extent it may impair and i'm
pede our general prosperity and cir
cumstances cannot be predicted. Both
undoubtedly are seriously menaced
by its further continuance: and on
these grounds we were urged at tha
further hearing to grant immediate
relief. The objection was made that
IN deciding the general rate questions
before us We have no right to be gov
erned by conditions, presumably tenn
cidcnt to the war. nor to consider the
attending effects ON general business
prosperity in this country of the al
lowancc or denial of the proposed
rate increase.
Commissioner Clements, dissent
ing. says in part
Il can but regard the action now
taken by the commission as out of
harmony with the\spirit snd purpose
of the law and as taking a step that
leads away from the sound principles
necessary to conserve the cntSI' of
Justice
Commissioner Clements urged that
the function of the commission was
to establish rates that are Just and
reasonable" without substantial re-
might be either temporary or per-
nlanent.
III the basis of the conclusions of
the majority of the commission sane
tionins these rates in trunk line ter
ritory is sound" says Judge Glenn
ents, and points to rule o: action for
The future. the burden placed by the
law upon the carriers TO justify in.
creases in rates is indeed made light
and easy to carry. especially when by
concerted action group of carriers,
some strong and some weak, stimuli
tanoousl' propose to increase the
great body of their rates
IF the legislative area of the COM
mission is as broad and unrestricted
as this, then | must confess that
have greatly misunderstood the limi-
tations upon our statutory authority
AS well as the constitutional power OF
congress to delegate il" legislative
power
Chicago, Dec. ISL. L. Nudge,
preSidcni OF the Rock Island lines