Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/834

816 high relatively to those from points competing for the business of supplying the same markets, as practically to destroy the business of Eau Claire. Only a few of the roads serving these competing points reached Eau Claire, and accordingly the only practical mode of adjustment, from the standpoint of the law, was to order a reduction from that point. This the commission did, but added:

"Undoubtedly those roads" (referring to those not serving Eau Claire, and consequently not included in the order) "have it in their power to continue the present disparity, but we do not anticipate, and certainly can not assume, that they will resort to such inconsiderate and arbitrary action in order to nullify the lawful order of this commission."

The compliance of the defendant railway with the order of the commission was, however, almost immediately nullified by the action upon the part of the other railways which that body had most properly refused to anticipate, and the rates of all lines were ultimately restored to practically the figures in effect previous to the complaint.

The conditions described are fairly typical of those existing all over the United States. The Interstate Commerce Law has mitigated but slightly, if at all, the evil of unjust discrimination between individuals, has in but few and relatively insignificant instances moderated unjust discriminations between articles or classes of traffic, and has almost wholly failed to remedy the far more serious inequities in rate-making which operate to the disadvantage of towns, cities, or districts.

If it were true that the single step necessary to prevent or alleviate considerably the evils described is to re-enforce the law by adopting the amendments suggested by the commission, or otherwise to perfect the remedies already provided, adequate and early relief might reasonably be hoped for. That the commission does not take this complacent and superficial view is evident from the following extract from its Ninth Annual Report:

"Those who have given most reflection to the subject of government regulation are aware that the laws now in force are more or less tentative and experimental, and such persons anticipate that the evolution of railway control by public agencies will sooner or later result in a more comprehensive and direct exercise of the power possessed by Congress to regulate our internal commerce."

In fact, while the commission is, to adopt its own phrase, asking Congress merely "to make the act mean what it was supposed to mean at the time of its passage," it must be itself aware that it then contained the cause of endless discriminations. Says Commissioner Knapp: