Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1900 — LAW MUST BE CHANGED. [ARTICLE]

LAW MUST BE CHANGED.

Interstate Commission Makes Its Annual Report to Congress. The thirteenth annual report of the interstate commerce commission was madeto Congress at Monday’s session, 'lhe report complains that although in its last report the commission made the act to regulate commerce had proved defective, and that it could not be enforced, yet not a line of the statutes had been changed, and none of the burdensome conditions have been removed or modified. The commission therefore renews recommendations previously made. The interstate cbmmerce law now is unsatisfactory because railroads can charge whatever they please for their services, and no single classification of freights can be established. Vast schemes of railway control are now in. process of consummation, and a vast centralization of railroad properties is under way, yet there is no public authority which can efficiently control them. Whatever evils that may result are without remedy. Among the noteworthy facts of general interest is the remarkable increase during the year in the volume of railroad business. Gross and net revenues of railroads have grown, and the number of railroad failures has been greatly reduced. This also diminishes the frequency of those practices which are made criminal misdemeanors by the statutes. Carriers have made substantial increases in the scale of their charges. They made these advances without giving the shippers an opportunity to be heard. Many complaints have been made, but under the existing conditions the railroads are free to make rates as they choose. Published tariffs have been disregarded, although some shippers whofailed to receive unlawful concessions were driven out of business. The commission cannot punish these criminal infractions of the law. Unlawful practices have been less geueral, however, because of the promises to observe tariffs made by presidents of the railroads to thecommissioners. The subject of safety appliances is discussed at some length in the report.. When the train brake comes into general use, the commissioners say, the number of those killed or injured by falling from trains will be greatly reduced. Thetrain will then be under the control of the engineer, and the men will not be obliged to walk on the running boards or over the tops of cars for braking. Reports from Wil railroads, covering 185,245 miles, show large increase of earnings over those of the year before. The dividends declared are also much larger.