Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-08
RECOMMENDS CHANGES
IN FIXING OF RATES
Interstate Co III IN re G Commission
Makes Suggestion to
Congress.
AIMS no CORRECT FLAWS
Shippers Would Not BE Compelled
to Show ANY Proposed Freight
Charge Unreasonable or See II Go
Into Effect.

By Associated Press
WASliINGTON. December 1.-THE
Interstate Commerce Commission in
tts annual report to-.a; 80 Congress-
recommended! weeping caanra i'm
methods OF establishing freigh, and
passenger rates. SO that shippers would
not longer be compelled To show a pro-
posed rate unreasonable or see il be-
come effective. Carriers seeking to
after rate would be compelled TO
show the change was reasonable.
The recommendation is that by
statute Congress fix the interstate
rates. fares. charges. classifications.
rules and regulations existing at
specific date. prior to that OF enact
mcnt. as Just and reasonable FOR the
past and provide that no change
therein after that specified date may
be made except upon order Of the com
mission: with provision tina, such
statute shall not affect the proceedings
pending At the time OF enactment
The purpose Of the surs >,on is said
|" be mainly to correct flaws in the
present method by which AN injured
shipper seeks reparation for payment
Of higher rate than subsequently, is
approved by the commission
II was said. however. that the effect
upon methods OF rate establishment
At present tariffs proposing rate
changes filed by the railroads become
operative on fixed date. unless sus-
pended by the commission and shown
on hearing to be unreasonable. unjust
or discrim natory. If existing rates
are declared by statute TO b. Jus, and
reasonable. II was pointed out. the
burden will be on those who wish to
change them
NEED OF FIEXIBILITY
FULLY RECOGNIZED
The necessity for feasibility in order
to fairly meet rapidly changing indus
trial and commercial! conditions" says
the report in this connection lis fully
recognized. but the soundness of the
theory OF leaving each carrier free to
initiate it's own rates and thus invest
ing each Of them with the power To
overthrow or seriously disturb an ad
tustment that is recognized as reason
able and fair by the Overwhelming ma
Jority Of til. carriers and shippers in
,erestcd therein. may well b. 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 iiN Tho future
maximum rates For period Of NOR.
rates have been subject to protest and
suspension before becoming effective.
Obviously thcr" should come "A time
when az to the past the general level
OF the rates and the relationship of
rates should be fixed reasonable.
THE adoption Of such n plan as this
would make II possible to apply the
energies expended upon rat" con-
trovcrsies in the direction of construc-
tive work for the future. instead OF
cxpcnding them upon controversies as
To PREPARATION for the past, with every
probability that in a majority OF the
cases the one who ultimately bore tn.
charge never will be reached by the
rcparHtion."
To relieve car shortage. the COM
mission asks legislation giving il au-
thority To prescribe rules governing
interchange OF cars. return To owning
roads. loading conditions on foreign
roads and compensation for the use of !
cars.
RAILROAD FACILITIES
SHOULD DE- INCREASED
at seems TO us beyond question"
says the report, that largely increased
railroad facilities are necessary To
adcQuatcly handle the commerce of the !
country, and that in some way those !
facilities must be provided Obviously !
this cannot be done by leaving these |
matters for determination by unani- |,
nous vote Of all the carriers of the |
country. Within certain limits the /
force OF competition between carriers ,
cannot be denied. The carrier that de- !
sircs to participate in the movement |
OF trafhc must carry II as cheaply as its !
1t must accord as liberal
by its competitor. and these competi-
tive influences make unanimity of |
opinion as 10 what are proper rules |
and regulations more difficult of at |
tainmcnt than it would otherwise tie.
From these facts and experiences and |
n study of these considerations over a .
substantial period. we are led to the
conclusion that reasonable degree of |
tic desired and necessary Improvement
can be reached within any reasonable
time only by vesting power to rcgu-
late the questions for all railroads in .
the appropriate Federal body. and also
providing means by which rules and
regulations promulgated can be en-
forced"
The commission further recommends
that unless the suggestion for fixing ]
existing rates by statute is followed, |
the law be changed TO curtail the
present period of suspension and re-
suspension of a filed rate from four
teen months to year, and that rail /
roads be required to give sixty instead
of the present thirty days notice of
proposed rate changes.
1t also asks for legislation to permit
punishment of any attempt to intimi-
date witnesses before it or disorderly
Il