The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1915-04-08

of the law Is involved, unleaa TREY can
first obtain the approval Of the inter-
state Commerce Commission.
eThey we're furthermore required,
BY this change In the law, 10 apply
to the Commission for authority to
continue IN force rates existing at the
time Of its passage which contrayened
the long and short haul principle.
Roads Must Make Changes
"The existing rate structure Of the
South is not the creation OF tralnc
managers Of this generation. It y
an inheritance from those who built
the roads, and finds its explanation
largely IN the geography Of the South,
and in public policy which encouf-
aged its creation. The changes now 10
progress are not OF the carriers choice.
water competition, the most i'm
portant factor in bringing about de-
parture from the long and short haul
principle OF the law, has been peauila'
" influential on the rate adjustments
OF the South, surrounded as It IS o.
three sides by nayigable water and |
penetrated by nayigable streams. Fer
mini Of the first roads we're on naFi-
cable waters and rates between those |
termini we're from the beginning de-
pressed because of this water compe-
tition. When. subsequently, railways
we're extended to the interior, distriD-
rting points we're thereby created,
where there arose competition OF two
or more markets, or Of two or more
carriers, resulting iR depressions in
.ates, even when there was no direct
water competition.
These conditions undoubtedly con-
tributed 10 the commercial and indus
trial development OF the interior
South, and, while they resulted In
more frequent departures from the
long ana short haul principle Of the
law, the carriers had every reason to
believe that their practice had the
approval Of TIE public, even when II
was not directly the result Of public
demand.
Nov, the Interstate Commerce
Commission, pursuant to the require
ments OF an amended law, has conclud-
ed an enquiry into rates from the East
ern Seaboard, including the Virginia
Cities, from. South Atlantic end Gulf
Ports, and from Ohio and Mississippi
River Crossings, into the Southeast and
Mississippi Valley territory, AS a 81
suit the Commission has in large meas
ure condemned existing departures
from the long and short haul require.
ment, except where justified By com
petition beyond the control Of the rail
carriers, a phrase which came to be re-
stricted to mean direct or indirect
water competition,
Must Raise Some Rates
obviously, the removal of inequali
ties condemned by the Commission, by
reductions only, would result in disas-
ter to the carriers This fact is rec
ognized by the Commission, which, in
it's review of the situation, stated.
ct is entirely clear that the reye-
nues Of large percentage Of the lines
In the Southeastern territory would be
so impaired By such a procedure as to
make it impossible for them to meet
their operating expenses, taxes and
fixed charges and leave their stock
holders even a moderate return,
at is equally obvious thar it. would
be unfair to punish the carriers, in con
forming to a changed public policy, for
acts which at the time of commission
were approved by public opinion.
Hence in working out the Order of
1.-THE Commission such elevation of rates
to the depressed points mus accompa-
ny reductions to the much larger num-
Der Of intermediate points as win at
least preserve the revenues OF the
carriers.
1.-THE task of revisioni is no easy
one. II has been undertaken in loyal
effort to conform to the law, as now
interpreted, and to be fair to all.
Departures from the long and
short haul principle in the South are
not confined to interstate traffic. There
are in the South great many intra-
state rates that do not conform to
the principle II undue determinations
are to be avoided, these intrastate
rates must be brought into harmony
with the revised interstate adjustment
being made under the direction Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission 1t
is the purpose of the railways Of the
South to take up each interstate revis-
ion with the Several State Railroad
Commissions, /"