The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-07
SWEEPING CHANGE
nv Rail ROAD RATE
MAKING METHODS.
is Urged by the Interstate Com
merce Commission in An
nual Report to Congress.
PROOF BURDEN SHIFTED.
Commission Wants Carriers to.
Show That Rates Are Reas-
enable. When Proposed.

. WASHINGTON, Dec THE In
tcTstntC Commerce Commission IN its
annual report today to Congress rec
Commended i sweeping change In
nethod9 of establishing freight and
PASSENGER rntes SO that shippers
would not longer be compelled to
show proposed rate unreasonable
or srr III become cfrective. Carriers
seeking To alter II rntn would be com
PEELED 70 show the chnnge was reason
able
The Recommendation Is that BY
statute Congress fix the Interstate
( rntcs. fares. charges, classihcattons..
rules and regulations existing at ~
specific dItt, prior 10 that or enact
lment. MA Just AMI reasonable for the
past. and provided that no change.
! therein after that specified date may
\ he made except upon order OF the
commission: with provision that such
Istatutc shall not affect the proceed
Iings pending 1T the time Of enact
mentf'
To Correct Flaws.
The purpose or the suggestion ia4
said to be mainly to correct flaws in
Ithn present method By which an In
jnrcd shipper seeks reparatlon for
payment or u higher rate than subse-
Iaucntly Is approved by the commits
sion.
IT is said. however, that the effect
or such legislation would he radical
upon methods of rate establishment.
At present tariffs proposing rate
Echanses flied by the railroads become
ltoperativr on fixed dnte unless sus-4
lpendcd Nv the commission and shown
\ Ion5hrnring tn hnMnreasOnahle. unjust
To- discriIninntory. TT existing rates
ARE declared hy statute To be iustantl
\ reasonable, III was pointed out, tho
/ burden Will be on those who wish toi
ichanrc them. "A
f'Thc necessity for nexibilitY In or
Ider to fairly meet rapidly changing
industrial and commercial condi-S
| tiona." says the report In this con-
lnnctfon. lis fully recognized. but the
soundness or the theory OF leaving
each carrier free to initiate its own
rates and thus Investing each OF them
iwiththe power to overthrow or seri-
ouaEy disturb an adjustment that ia#
Recognized as reasonable and fair by
the overwhelming majority of tho
carriers and shippers Interested
therein. may well be doubted.
''All rates, fares and charges have
been open to complaint fora period
q more than ten years within which
the commission had power to fJc tha#
future maximum rates. For period
OF more than ak years all propnseds5
Increased rates have been sub 1ect to-
protest and suspension before beconl-
ing effective. Obviously there should
come time when as to the past the
general level of the rates and the re-
flatlonahip Or rates should be- fixed as
reasonable.
Constructive Work. II
'The adoption Of such q plan az
this would make 1t possib ole to apply
| the energies expended upon rate ON
I#troversies In the direction OF con-
Istructtve work for the future instead
I5ofexpend1ng them upon controve
I.aa TO reparation for the past. with
l.eYery probability that in q majority
OF the cases the one who ul timately
Ilbore$ the charge WI I'll never be reached
I5by the Teparatfon.
To relieve car shortage the COM
mission asks legislation giving ft au-5
Ethority to prescribe rules governing
ltnterch change OF cars. return Ato6 ownings
8roads, loading conditions on foret tgns
roads and compensation for the usegoff
cars ".
1T seems to US beyond question: