Show ur government how it operates by william Bru bruckart chart interstate COMMERCE commission i policy and tradition AMERICAN always haff been not only oaly to permit but to enforce e tree fre e ind and open c coin petition rightly or wrongly it has been considered that this policy was responsible for foi the very greatness of our cur nation comin commercially ercia lly it seems something of a paradox therefore that wo should have such an autocratic or a tic body as the interstate commerce T commission an ageng agency to which has been delegated delegat pd even directed to use uke the most dictatorial powers it stands almost almat alone in this ii respect yet the records reveal very few times when serious or sound criticism has been leveled at it it the common conception of the he commission Is that it rules the railroads but it goes far beyond that and the day Is notkar not far dista distant iii when jt its scope of power will be broadened beyond its present limitations Con congress giess has seen fit to expand Us authority from time to time an and d changing conditions in the transportation field now are calling for further federal control As the laws now stand the comm commission s controls all common carriers engaged ga e d in transport transportation atlon of commodities or passengers by railroad in interstate ter state op operation bradon transmission facilities cili ties of telephone 1 te telegraph evgraph I 1 and cable companies express compan companies les sleeping aar car companies terminal facilities cili cill ties used ased by interstate carriers carrier s car floats c car ar terries ferries lighters water transportation when that Is condu conducted acted by the same company op operating aerating a railroad in interstate traffic over the operations of those cor lops the com commission masslon rules as a monarch backed of course by the laws which congress enacted but conj congress ress has given powers to other agen agencies cles of the company much less broad and at sometime or other bitter criticism has been laid on their doorsteps and scandal indal has tainted their records the commission has gone on lace 1887 unscathed in the dusty pages of united states laws there Is a phrase which says aya that fhe commission shall require e all ralli railroad gohd rates alq an all other rates suba subject td to its to be just ad reasonable to that one legislate legi legislative enactment therefore you way may attribute the basis of all charges which th the 0 carriers make whether in transportation of freight or passengers passengers geis q 1 not so many years ago it was ft a practice among some railroads to give rebates to shippers and nd to give frac P passes asses to private citizens or public offic officials lali where such individuals might be of help belp to the carriers these practices developed real evils because discrimination among shippers became a common result and undue political icil influence resulted from the distribution of passes so ao the commission set about putting an end to the business and bask based upon commission findings congress ended the condition definitely by law in those days also certain of the tha railroads resorted to other tricks to obtain business and throttle competitors tile the commission has watched these things through the years yearn and has haa rec recommended legislation to congress to curb them so the interstate commerce laws have grown until in these days it Is even impossible bl e for stoc stockholders k of one railroad 16 to elect a director or or an official for their corporation unless the enters inters interstate ate commerce commis commission slob consents it must be sald said that the commission has no concern unless the ibe proposed selection be an individual i holding office in another railroad then it is vitally concerned because it la Is considered that interlock ing of directorates direct orates is an unwise policy and likely to lead to difficulties for one or all of the roads so 6 managed minority stockholders would be victims tims the commission started out with five members in 1906 its member j ship wai was increased to td seven and the fl transportation act of 1920 the latest important piece of ral rail I 1 legislate leg islat creased the he membership to eleven and there ls Is work for all to do for the commission not no tonly only may investigate and hear complaints of parties claiming gr grievance levange against railroad rates or services or practices but it has nn an coilty jo to institute proceedings itself por for e example y ample under a law paved passed tn in 1914 I 1 it t was tal yde de unlawful fo for any interstate railroad to td own operate lease imse or have aidy any interest terest lu in any competing carrier by water in the same law authority was given ghen the commission to determine what constituted competition so it takes little imagination to descos discos er bow far r reaching athla power was yet the deci decisions made under it it have neverseen never never been challenged challenge djin in f ri a recourse recourse allowed we d dissatisfied parties 1 y As another illustration 0 of the bidad powers apfl available tillable to the commission lefft besta be stated ich that it c can an an and d d does qs lell tell the carriera carr lera under its jurisdiction how to keep 66 their hooks ca nand r and does prescribe the forms the actual and columns anti and Rr arrange range in mants ants upon lipon hillh hl lh the records forda for day ta to davan dav and 1 I ipek to t week anft and month d 0 month are shown ry by for amalje the mast most int intricate alca a aad n d ehni corn tc ex of any of its however i a HIP file in inn bif rates freight w im nt r subject there tha MIM hl miili N n itka with in a sep ltv it allm ll llon t J I 1 I 1 k 1 a A t 01 1131 wit W it lun n N aulo |