Interstate Commerce Commission has assumed in
interpreting the rights of shippers under the law which railroad
companies are bound to respect in the preparation of their tariff sheets
and classifications cannot but be most gratifying to the people. In a
decision relating to the classification and rates for car-loads and less
than car-loads, filed March 14, 1890, the commission laid down the
following rules for the guidance of railroad companies:

"1. Classification of freight for transportation purposes is
in terms recognized by the act to regulate commerce, and is
therefore lawful. It is also a valuable convenience both to
shippers and carriers.

"2. A classification of freight designating different
classes for car-load quantities and for less than car-load
quantities for transportation at a lower rate in car-loads
than in less than car-loads is not in contravention of the
act to regulate commerce. The circumstances and conditions
of the transportation in respect to the work done by the
carrier and the revenue earned are dissimilar, and may
justify a reasonable difference in rate. The public
interests are subserved by car-load classification of
property that, on account of the volume transported to reach
markets or supply the demands of trade throughout the
country, legitimately or usually moves in such quantities.

"3. Carriers are not at liberty to classify property as a
basis of transportation rates and impose charges for its
carriage with exclusive regard to their own interests, but
they must respect the interests of those who may have
occasion to employ their services, and conform their charges
to the rules of relative equality and justice which the act
prescribes.

"4. Cost of service is an important element in fixing
transportation charges and entitled to fair consideration,
but is not alone controlling nor so applied in practice by
carriers, and the value of the service to the property
carried is an essential factor to be recognized in
connection with other considerations. The public interests
are not to be subordinated to those of carriers, and require
proper regard for the value of the service in the
apportionment of all charges upon traffic.

"5. A difference in rates upon car-loads and less than
car