Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-12-10
Not In Favor increase Charges

AS a result of refusal by the State
Commission to grant GER
tain increases and charges asked for
by the railroads on business within
the State in order to make them uni
form with rates applied on interstate
traffic, it is possible the State Com
mission will shortly be in conflict
Federal authorities over State rights.
A case in point is the refusal by
the State Corporation Commission to
grant an increase in the charges for
feeding livestock in transit, in order
to secure uniformity with interstate
charges. The Commission has ruled
that considering the heavy decline in
the price of feed, no increase is justifi
ed at this time, and that any heavier
costs of labor used in unloading and
reloading stock over and above the
cost when the present changes were
established in 1918, must be had.
In addition, the State Corporation
had, when proposed reconsignment
and diversion rules were cancelled
this week, already determined to dis
approve the rule assessing new re-
consignment charge on carload ship
ments. s,,-
Another application by the rail-
roads recently refused, by the State
Commission is one for the disposition
of fractions by which it was sought,
in order to avoid the use of fractions
resulting from the general freight
increase, to further increase all frac-
lions to the next higher cent.
At the hearing on August 18th on
the application of the railroads for
the same general increases within
the State as had been allowed them
on interstate business, there was no
opposition from anybody in Virginia
to the proposed general increase,
Notwithstanding the fact that there
had been wide publicity regarding
the application. On the other hand,
the Commission had numerous petit
lions from trade bodies, other organi-
cations, and individuals throughout
the State urging it to give the rail-
roads such increases as would allow
them to so recover from the low state
of repair and efficiency resulting from
the period of Government operation
SO as to properly serve the public.
The only available facts as to the
proper ratio Of increase were those
adduced before the Interstate Com
merce Commission which, sitting
with the aid Of representatives of
CERTAIN State Commissions, had care
fully considered the entire subject
and arrived at a uniform per centage
increase. Under the circumstances,
the State Commissions could do little
else than allow the general increases
asked for, in view of the fact that
railroads were in bad physical con-
dition and that, since the monthly
deficit of many millions of dollars
was no longer being paid by all the
people from the National Treasury,
it must be paid by somebody, and
was placed upon those who use the
roads.
While few States, because Of To-
cal laws or otherwise, did not give
the full increases asked for, they
are now being ordered to do so by
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, which has ruled that the in
creases must be uniform throughout
the country in order to avoid discrim
ination in favor of the people of one
State against the people of another.
State, and also to avoid discrimina-
tion in favor of those whose travel
and do business with some other State
This decision will, however, go to thel
courts for settlement. ..@
However, in the case before the In
terstate Commerce Commission the
State Corporation Commission of Vir-
ginia joined with other State Com
MISSIONS in a brief protesting against
any invasion of State rights by Fed
eral authority. 1t is evident that
the Virginia Commission is standing
by its legal rights. and it may be TAX
en- for granted that if the railroads
appeal to Federal authority to set
aside the Virginia Commissions de-
cision in the matters already men
toned and in the other matters now
p nding, there will likely be a con-
test in Washington.
-O-