The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-07
S SWEEPING CHANGE
nv RAILROAD RATE
MAKING METHODS
Is Urged by the Interstate Com
merCe Commission in An
nuaI Report to Congress.
PROOF BURDEN SHIFTED.
Commission Wants Carriers TO
Show That Rates Are ReaS-
enable, When Proposed.

WASHINGTON, Dec. THE In
Iteratat0 Commerce. Commission IN its
annual report today to Congress rec
commended sweeping change in
methods OF establishing freight and
passenger rates 80 that shippers
would not longer be compelled to
show n proposed rate unreasonable
or see it become effective. Carriers
seeking TO alter n rate would be COM
PEELED to show tho change was reason
nble
The recommendation Is that BY
statute Congress fix tho interstate
rates, fares. charges. classiflcatons.
rules md regulations existing at a.
/ specific date. prior to that OF enact
ment. aa just and reasonable for the
past. and provided that no change
therein after TINT specified date may
be made except upon order OF the
commisaion: with provision that such
tstntute shall not infect the proceed
l.ings pending mt the time or enact
ment.
To Correct Flaws.
The purpose OF the suggestion is
said to be mainly to correct flaws In
the present method by which IN In
jurcd shipper seeks reparation for
payment OF n higher rate than subse-
qucntly is approved by the commits
sion.
IT Is safd. however. that the effect
of such legislation would Be- radical
upon methods OF rate establishment.
At present tariffs proposing rate
Changes filed by the railroads become
operativPHon n fixed date unless sus-
#rended by the commission and shown
ION hearing to be unreasonable. unjust
Eor discriminatory ii existing rates
4 arc declared by statute to be just and
H reasonable. 1t was pointed out, the
" burden Will be on those who wish to-
i change them.
THE necessity for fiexibIlity IN or
Ider to fairly meet rapidly changing
| industrial and commercial condo
lions" says the report in this cons
Enection. lis fully recognized, but the
soundness Of the theory of leaving
ench carrier free to initiate it's own
rates and thus investing each of them
with the power to overthrow or seri
ously disturb an adjustment tl1at&is&
recognized as reasonable md fair by
the Overwhelming majority of the
carriers and shippers Interested
therein. may we'll be doubted.
All rates. fares and charges have
been open to complaint for a period
OF more than ten years, within which
the commission had power to fix the
future maximum rates. For al period
Of more than six years all proposed
Increased rates have been subj ectA to
protest and suspension before beconl
Ing effective Obviously there should
come a time when as to the past the
general level OF the rates and the
lationshiD OF rates should be fixed MS
reasonable.
Constructive Work.
t'The adoption of such a plan MS
this would make 1t possible to apply
the energies expended Upon rate con-
atroveraies II the direction OF con-
structive work for the future instead
OF expanding them upon controversies
as to PREPARATION for the past. with
every probability that In a mai orlty
of the cases the one who ultimately
bore the charge Will never be reached
by the reparation.'
To relieve car shortage the com
mission asks legislation giving it aus
thority to prescribe rules governing
interchange Of cars, return to owning
roads, loading conditions on foreign
roads and comp ensati ion for the use Of
cars.
1T seems to US beyond question,