The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-11-25
Four-cent Rate Charged in New
Mexico Under Government Con.
troll of Railroads Unfair Says
Corporation Commissioner.
COMMISSIONERS THINK
RATE PROBE PREMATURE
Contend That Identity and Powers
of State Commissions Should
Not Be Disturbed Under Temp
orary Government Control.

SANTA fc, =, NJ, q 20. 'oiboI
alton Commissioner Hugh H. VII
linms, who has lust returned frorr
Washington, where he attended the
annual meeting OF tho National Assoc
ciation of Railway and Itiii'y COM
missioncrs. has brought with Flu, the
text OF the resolutions adopted by
that body with reference 10 The pro-
posed mileage svHl" OF class rates,
prepared by the director general of
railroads. for application 70 hoth 10
,crstnte ana intrastatc In certain de-
fined raising AN issue of r"1-
crul interest To shippers. The test OF
thc resolution follOwH.
Whereas. The director general OF
railroads has caused TO be prepared
ard sent to the interstate commcrc -
commission. certain proposed scho"
ulcs Of mileage scales Of standard
class rates for application. 'rtrnstutc
and Interstate. within defined Wc'i"lh
and southern percentage territories,
and has announced thut simillr fchcc-
ules will be presented for application
In other parts OF the country. n
further that the director general mas
requested the Interstate
commission after q full Investigation
to advise him what ought 10 bc done
I'm reference TO TIE establishment OF
such scales: and whether su,h UNI
~ 90 Oh NHNNN wv ~ -HH ~
AT this time within the respective dee
fined western and southern percon-
tagc territories. and. it 80, whether
the scales proposed are reasonable COR
tho respective territories, and
Whereas. Tho director general ht 81
invited the various state comrtsv,uu7
to consider whether the scales pro-
posed are properl, conStruct u. and
Inherently reasonable. for application
within their several states. ard rs
individual commissions or tprolga
some body representa-. an HE COM
missions in the affected t'r-iiof', lu
express their views TO The interstate
commerce commission concerning thC
proposed action OF the director gem
crtl; therefore
BE H. resolved. That thc National
Association Of Hallway and itlttios
commissioners representing aii com
missions an tho United states. does
hereby declare 10 the Interstate com
mcrcc commission that II is % ophi-
ion OF this HssociaHou that the pres
pnt ~ on i"nopportuuc time &" lu''r-
take 10 establish uniform HttTditi
scales of distance class ratios 30 Apply
upon an traffic within the territories
as defined IN the suggestion OF me
director general: and, as reasons Tor
this opinion. We desire 10 call nttcn-
ton Ia the fact tina; the state com
missions are charged with the duty.
| under tho statutes OF their several
states. 81 prescribing and iis
/ reasonable sCheduICH OF freight rates
within their several states. These
commissions cannot and do not sab
scribe to the view that these com
missions can Doc required bar tunes of
pc. cc 90 surrender thor jurisdiction
over such matters
Nc further believe thar tho pres
ont tb%uornial condition., dhc 10 w.
war. resulting IA the cstahlishlnenl
/ OF abnormal excessive unit COSTS 60
! al. items of expense winch nave 'or
incurred I'm the operation ot the cor
/ riers. ana the disturbed conditions of
business I'm general. make it inndNif-
able TO enter upon an investigation
81 the purpose Of cstnhlishinE Law
durd scales Of rates evolutionary h
I character until conditions have agar
become normal.
We believe that when tho time b
nUatn favorable for he confederation
of such mattcra. the work OF rcadlust
! Ing and ESTABLISHING Uniform sfh"d
ules OF rates for application on mira
and Interstate traffic should 10" tah'i
M by the interstate commerce com
mission in cooperation win tlr soy
/ crn. state commissions and That a1t'I
fun investigation, orders slioHih h'
! made hy these missions c"N'l'lE
,hcir respective Jurisdictions, ostab.
fishing. SIS far ms prdoticabl'' "Niu'
uniform schedules of rates Tor li'
niruosc Of preventing unlawful MS
] rrmination and making f'hh ~
tho direction OF establishing s'l'"tli''
scnlcs of reasonable transportation
] ,t4ruau