COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE YEAR ENDING RECEMBER 31st, 1909. --OF-- WASHINGTON. HARRISBURG: C. E. AUGHINBAUGH, PRINTER TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 1910 Exchange Duplicate, LC PENNSYLVANIA STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION. NATHANIEL EWING, Chairman. Harrisburg, Penna., January 10th, 1910. TO HONORABLE EDWIN S. STUART, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sir: The Pennsylvania State Railroad Commission now submits its second annual report for the calendar year nineteen hundred and nine, in compliance with the requirements of the Act of its creation. The appendices attached to this report, and constituting the greater part thereof, contain so complete a summary of the work of the Commission that any extended reference thereto here is not regarded as necessary. The character of the work during the past year has been substantially the same as that for the year preceding and is fully described in the first annual report, but the volume of the work has nearly doubled, a large part of it doubtless due to the increased activity in business consequent upon revived business conditions. An examination of the cases reported in Appendix "A" will show clearly and fully, not only the character of the complaints dealt with, but also their determination and the method pursued in their disposition. COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRIES: As heretofore, in addition to the formal complaints received by the Commission, it has received and replied to innumerable inquiries respecting the rights and duties of both shippers and carriers. Of these inquiries no tabulated record is here made, as in nearly all instances they relate to matters of more private than public interest. Possibly the most frequent complaint received by the Commission has been that of overcharge by carriers for the transportation of freight arising from shipments having been made on the faith of rates quoted by the agents of the transportation companies which subsequently proved incorrect, and a charge then made by the carrier on the basis of its published rates, which invariably exceeded the quoted rates. In all such cases, when, after investigation, the Commission was satisfied that the quotation had been made and accepted in good faith, and the shipment made in reliance upon said quotation, the Commission has decided that this constituted a contract between carrier and shipper to the terms of which both parties were bound, and has frequently recommended a refund or abatement of the amount of such overcharge. This is the position uniformly maintained by this Commission, and it is regarded as thoroughly sound, and, particularly in view 1-26-1909 |