PAGENO="0001"
SURVEY OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
PART 5~-~INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
H>EARING~
]~EPORE A
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
GOVflNM1~NT OPERATIONS
ltOlJSE OF PRESEN~ATIV1~S~
~IN~EtIETH cØNGBJ~S
SECOND SESSION
AI~RIL8~ 1968
Printed ~àrt1~e n~e o~f the Oonnnittee oi~ GOrt~èr~mei1t Operations
~rPO~TO
PROPERTy OF RUTr~Fr~s T~
OF SOU~H JERSEy LI BRARY
CAMDEN, N J 08i
~OVØ DOG1
L1 AUG
~ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
~-oos I WASHINGTON : 1968
~7(f/7
~u~Iq /fC1~
PAGENO="0002"
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
WILLIAM L.
CHET HOLIFIELD, California
JACK BROOK~S, Texas
L. H. FOUNTAIN, Nerth Carolina
PORTER HARDY, JR., Virginia
JOHN A. BLATNIK, Minnesota
ROBERT B. JONES, Alabama
EDWARD A. GARMAPZ, Maryland
JOHN E. MOS1~, Oalifornia
DANTE B. FASCE~L, Florida
HENRY S. REUSS, Wisconsin
JOHN S. MONAGAN, Connecticut
TORBERT 141. MM~DONALD, Massachusetts
J. EDWARD ROUSlI, Indiana
WILLIAM 5. MOORBEAD, Pennsylvania
CORNELIUS E. GALLAGHER, New Jersey
WILLIAM J. RANDALL, Missouri
BENJAMIN S. ROS~NTHAL, NewYork
JIM WRIGHT, Texas
FERNARD J. ST GEIIMAIN, Rhode Island
WILLIAM S. MOORHEAD, Pennsylvania
WILLIAM J. RANDALL, Missouri
DANTE B. FASCELL, Florida
DAWSON, IUinols, Chairman
FLORENCE P. DWYER, New Jersey
OGDEN R. REID, New York
FRANK HORTON, New York
DONALD RUMSFELD, Illinois
JOHN N, ERLENBORN, Illinois
JOHN W. WYDLER, New York
CLARENCE J. BROWN, Ja., Ohio
JACK EDWARDS, Alabama
GUY VANDER JAGT, Michigan
JOHN T. MYERS, Indiana
FLETCHER THOMPSON, Georgia
WILLIAM 0. COWGER, K~ntucl~y
MARGARET M. HECKLER, Massachusetts
GILBERT GUDE, Maryland
PAUL N. MeCLOSKEY, Ja., California
OGDEN H. REID, New York
FLETCHER THOMPSON, Georgia
MARGARET M. HECKLER, Massachusetts
CHRISTINE R4T I~AVIS, StGff L~ireotor
JAMES A. LANIGAN, General Counsel
MILES Q. R0MNEV, AssocIate Gendral Counsel
J. P. CARL5ON, Minority Counsel
WIj~I~LAM H COPIINHAVER Msnorsty Professional Sf aft
GOVERNMENT ACTIVrIIES SUBCOMMITTEE
JACK BROOKS, Texas, CluiArmat&
ERNEsT C. BATNARD, Staff Administrator
WILLIAM M. JONES, Counsel
IRMA REEL, Clerk
LVwt~1 UNIeINBOTHAM, Clerk
(II)
I
~
PAGENO="0003"
CONTENTS
Statement of Paul J. Tierney, Chairman, Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion; accompanied by Bernard F. Schmid, Managing Director; Martin
E. Foley, Assistant Managing Direcitor; James L. Barbour, Special
Assistant to the Managing Director; Curtis F. Adams, Director of Per-
sonnel; Robert J. Hartel, Chief, Section of Systems Development; George
J. Lotito, Budget and Fiscal Officer; Alan M. Fitzwater, Assistant Budget
and Fiscal Officer; Fritz R. Kahn, Deputy General Counsel; H. Neil
Garson, Secretary; Bertram E. Stiliwell, Director, Office of Proceedings;
Alvin L. Corbin, Associate Director, Office of Proceedings; Thaddeus
W. Forbes, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings; Matthew Paolo,
Director, Bureau of Accounts; Edward Margolin, Director, Bureau of
Economics; Bernard A. Gould, Director, Bureau of Enforcement; Robert
D. Pfahler, Director, Bureau of Operations; Edward H. Cox, Director,
Bureau of Traffic; James C. Cheseldine, Chief Hearing Examiner, P*ge
Office of Proceedings 2
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A-Combined program fact sheet 3
Exhibit B-Organization chart 4
Exhibit C-Program structure breakdown 5
Exhibit D-General support program (includes program category 5-
Executive and advisory functions, and program category 6-General
management and administration) 6
Exhibit E-Report by the Civil Service Commission "Highlights of the
Interstate Commerce Commission Personnel Management Program"_ - 25
Exhibit F-Program category 1-Regulation of carrier rates, practices,
operating authorities, and finance 35
Exhibit G-Program category 2-Compliance 41
Exhibit H-Program category 3-Supervision and analysis of carrier
accounting and statistics 47
Exhibit I-Program category 4-Supervision and interpretation of tariffs_ 49
TOPICAL INDEX
l'art 1.-Overall agency operations 2
A. General support program (includes program category S-Executive
and advisory functions, and program category 6-General man-
agement and administration)
B. Budget processes 14
C. Accounting system development 15
D. Management information system 16
E. Internal audit system 21
F. Automatic data processing 23
G. Personnel management 25
H. General Accounting Office reports 29
Part 2.-Program review 34
A. Program category 1-Regulation of carrier rates, practices, oper-
ating authorities, and finance 34
B. Program category 2-Compliance 41
C. Program category 3-Supervision and analysis of carrier account-
ing and statistics 46
D. Program category 4-Supervision and interpretation of tariffs~ - - 49
APPENDIXES
A. Written responses of the Interstate Commerce Commission to questions
submitted by the subcommittee 53
B. Minimum limits of insurance on motor carriers 84
(flI)
PAGENO="0004"
4
I
11
PAGENO="0005"
SURVEY OF GOVERN~1ENT O1~RAP!ONS
PAET :5-INTERSTATE COMMIil1~JE OMMISSJ0N
WZ~NE$DAy, ~&PB,IL, 3, 1968
}TotrsE OF
GOVERNMENT Aç,rrvrrIEs St~ooRMrrr1~i
OF TflE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OFERATIONS,
1Va~h~ngton, D C
The subcommittee met at 10 07 a m, in room 2247, Eayburn Hotise
Office Building, the Honorable. Jack Brooks, presiding.
Present: Representatives Jack Brooks, William S. Moorhead, Wil-
liam J. Randall, Fletcher Thompson, and Margaret M. Heckler.
Also.present: Ernest C. Baynard ~staff administrator; William K
Jones, counsel, Irma Reel, clerk, anà Lynne Higginbotham, clerk
Mr. BROOKS. The Government Activities Subcommittee, having been
duly organized under the rules of the House of Representatives and a
quorum being present, is hereby called to order
Today the subcommittee is reviewing the economy and efficiency of
operations at the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The ICC is the oldest as well as one of the largest of the regulatory
agencies It has far reachm~ responsibilities of the utmost importance
to the interstate, transportation industry in the United States.
Approximately one out of every $5 in our national economy is spent
for transportation. Some 9 million Americans, or almost 5 percent
of our population, are employed by the transportation industry These
figures akne indicate the vital role of the ICC in our naf~onal
economy.
The Congress foresaw the need for a regulatory agency in the in
fancy of our modern transportation systeim Legislatiofl was enacted
during the 19th century creating the ICC. Many changes in `franspor.
thtion-and that is an under~tatement-have occurred since that time.
We want to know how well the ICC is performing today
In this hearing, we want to review the operations of the ICC ~ox1 a
program-by-program basis: What is each prograni?' how much is
being spent on it? what is the taxpayer receiving for his money in
this operation? ` *
The Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, Mr. Paul J.
Tiern~y, i's here withus ~oday. Before getting into the questions which
the subcommittee has, Mr Chairman, would you be so gracious as to
introduce' the officials of the ICC that may pdssibly he called u~pon
to te~tify and who are accompanying ~you to this investigation
(1)
PAGENO="0006"
2
STATEMENT OP PAUL L TIERNEY, CKAIRMAN, INTERSTATE COM-
MERCE COMMISSION; ACCOMPANIED BY BERNARD F. SCHMID,
MANAGING DIRECTOR; MARTIN L. FOLLY, ASSISTANT MAN-
AGING DIRECTOR; JAMES L. BARBOUR, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, CURTIS P ADAMS, DIRECTOR OF
PERSONNEL, ROBERT J HARTEL, CHIEF, SECTION OP SYSTEMS
DEVLOPMEN~.; GEORGE J. LOTITO, BUDGET AND FISOAL O~FI-
CER; ALAN 1VL. FITZWATER, ASSISTANT BUDGET AND FISCAL
OFFICER, FRITZ R KAHN, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL, H NEIL
GARSON, SECRETARY, BERTRAM E STILLWELL, DIRECTOR, OP
PICE OF PROCEEDINGS; ALVIN L. CORBIN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,
OFFICE OF PItOCERDINGS; TRADDEUS W. POREES, DEPUTY DI-
RECTOR, OYFICE OP PROCEEDINGS, EDWARD MARGOLIN, DIREC
TOR, BUREAU OP ECONOMICS; BERNARD A. GOULD, DIRECTOR,
BUREAU OP ENFOLCEMENT, ROBERT D PPAHLLR, DIBECTOB,
BUREAU OF OP:ERATiO~NS; EDWARD H. COX, DIRECTOR, BUREAU
OF TRAFFIC; MATTB~EW PAOLO, DIRECTOR, BUREAU O~ AC-
COUNTS, AMI) JAMES C CHESELDINE, CHIEF HEARING EXAM
INER, OFFICE OF PROCEEDINGS
Mr. TIERNEY. Right here at the table to my left is Mr. Bernard F.
Schmid, Managing Director, and to his left is Mr. Foley, Assistant
Managing Director, and Mr. Lotito, budget and fiscal officer.
To my right, as far as our Bureaus are concerned, we have with us
here the head of our Office of Proceedings, who is Mr. Betram Stiliwell,
and representing our General Counsel's Office is the Deputy General
Counsel, Mr. Fritz Kahn, and our Secretary, Mr. Neil Garson.
I will go down the line here: Associate Director of our Office of Pro-
ceedings, Mr. Alvin Corbin; Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings,
Mr. Thaddeus Forbes; Director of our Bureau of Economics, Mr.
Edward Margolin; Director our Bureau of Enforcement, Mr. Bernard
A. Gould; Director of our Bureau of Operations, Mr. Robert Pfahler;
Director of Bureau of Traffic, Mr. Edward Cox; and Chief Hearing
Examiner, Office of Proceedings, Mr. James Cheseldine.
We also have here Mr. James Barbour, who is special assistant to
the Managing Director; Mr. Curtis F. Adams, our director of per-
sonnel; Mr. Robert Hartel, Chief, Section of Systems Development;
and Alan Fitzwater, assistant budget and fiscal officer.
PART 1.-OVERALL AGENCY OPERATIONS
Mr. Bnooi~s. Gentlemen, we welcome you here and we are delighted
to see you.
Mr. Chairman, we have a number of detailed questions concerning
various aspects of the management of your agency which we would
like to submit to you for written responses to be placed in the record.
However, at this time, we would like to discuss some of these manage-
ment concepts.
To begin our questioning, do you have a fact sheet which indicates
the total funds available to your agency as a whole for fiscal year
1968~
PAGENO="0007"
3
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do. The total funds are
`$23,846,000.
Mr. Bi~ooKs. At this point I would put in a copy of exhibit A, the
combined program fact sheet, along with exhibits B and C, being the
organization chart and the program budgeting breakdown, without
objection.
(Exhibits A, B, ancli C' follow.)
500 ___________________
$10 ________________ ________
511 __________________ _____________
512 ___________________ _____________
513 ___________________ ____________
520 ____________________
521 ____________________ __________________ ____________
522 _____________________
523 _____________________
$24
$30 _______________ ___________ _________
540 _____________________ ___________________ _______________
$41 _______________ ______________ _____________
542 _____________________ ___________________ __________________
550 ____________________ __________________ _________________ ____________
600 ______________________ ____________________ __________________
610 ___________________ _________________ ________________
620 ____________________ __________________ ______________ __________________
630 ______________________ ____________________ ________________
`640 ______________________ ____________________ ____________________
650 __________________ ________________ _______________
~60 _______________ ______________ ______________
¶00
800
$10
sli
520
821
830
831
840
841
850
551
860
861
870
871 _________
880 _________
881
EXHIBIT A.-FACT SHJGET-COMJmgED PROGRAM-INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION
100
$00
$00
400
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY PISOGRAM SIJOPROORAM
ICC Total Agency
ODE CODE CODE
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL CODES
FISCAL YEAR 1968
Usobilguted
Capote:
AppeopeisSee Ccm
Ysop Reqemt
t Tetol
Asoiloble 2j
2O~291 ,000
i,6o~,Qg~
,j~Q,,QQ,0
Totsl Obligated
op Espeedod
.
.
`
.
,
-~
,,,,,_,,~,,,
,,,,,,,,,~____________
~
,,,~,
~
Is house" inputs
Personnel: `
Comp.
Benefits
Travel
Expenses:
Communications
Transportation
215,000
108,000
Printing
Supplies and Consum-
able Materials
507,QQ0~,,,,,,,
,_,,_,~4Q,00Q__
Capital Equipment
Land and Structures
Additional Investment
Rents
iiotal ,
~unds distributed
Contracts
Grants
23,~~00
Loans
Benefits
-
Other
Total
rotal
,
Yes:
Input.output ratio
Input
- Output
- Input
* Output
Input
3. Output
4~ Input
4. Outsot
5. Inptit
5. Output
6. Inpt~t
6. Output
7. Input
7. Output
8. Input
8. Output
Psin'tid (era.. sf Bus. taruae,et Iielisitio. Osbrssseittse, Chsieess Jack R*eek. Is Oil-S ass
~/ Anticipatec $386,000 proposed supplemental appropriation for pay increases authorized.
by P.L. 90-206 and the release ~f $317,000 reserve required by P.L. 90-218
PAGENO="0008"
EXHIBIT B.-OBGANIZATION CHART-INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMI~SI0N
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
~ ~ "..-
I L~~5 I E~OF~ 1GEHERALcOU~J ~ECII
___ _____ __ ~ __ __
L!~I
_~I~ ~
D~j
~ji
T:~~i1 r 8UREAU~J
~L~E11 [~~J
r==R L~;:~J
r~=~ ______
L~J _
__ L~J
fl~osA~ j
PAGENO="0009"
5
EXHIBIT 0.-PROGRAM STRUCTuRE BREAKDOWN-INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION
1. RegulatIon of carrier rates, practices, operating authorities, and finance. (Ex-
hlbltF):
(a) Office of Proceedh~gs.
(b) Commissioners and their offices.
(c) Section of Records and Service, Office of the Secretary.
(d) Section of Cost Finding, Bureau of Accounts.
(e) Section of Financial Analysis, Bureau of Accounts.
(1) Boar4 of Suspension, B~re~u of Traffic.
(g) Fourth Section Board, Bureau of Traffic.
2. ComplIance. (Exhibit G):
(a) Bureau of Operations.
(b) Bureau of Enforcement.
3. SupervIsion afid analysis of carrier accounting and statistics. (Exhibit H):
(a) Bureau of Accounts (except sections of cost finding and financial
analysis).
(b) Bureau of Economics.
4. Supervision and interpretation of tariffs. (Exhibit I): Bureau of Traffic (ex-
cept board of suspension and fourth section board).
5. Executive and advisory functions. (Exhibit J):
(a) Chairman, Vice Chairman, and their staffs.
(b) Office of the General Counsel.
(c) Office of the Secretary (except section of records and service).
6. General management and administration, (Exhibit K):
(a) Office of the Managing Director: Office.
(b) Administrative services.
(C) Budget and fiscal office.
(d) Personnel office.
(e) Systems development.
Mr. TIERNEY. I just want to add that, as a result of Public Law
90-218, $317,000 of that figure I gave you is being held in reserve. We
have asked for restoration of that figure, plus a supplemental appro-
priation of $386,000 to cover the balance of our increased costs that
will result from the pay increases.
Mr. BROOKS. I didn't have that information previously. Where does
that fit in on the total agency appropriation?
Mr. SOMMID. That is a footnote on exhibit A.
Mr. BROOKS. It is not reflected in the total delineated on the chart
itself?
Mr. SOHMID. Yes, sir, it is in the total of $23,846,000.
Mr. BROOKS. It has already been calculated into that?
Mr. SCHMID. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. The supplemental plus the release of your reserve is
calculated into the total available?
Mr. SOHMID. Yes.
Mr. BROOKS. This is an additional explanation as to where you ac-
quired that?
Mr. SCHMm. That is correct.
Mr. BRooKs. Proceed, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. TIERNEY. Our employee ceiling, Mr. Chairman, is 1907. That
figure reflects a reductio1.1 of 74 positions in our employee ceiling as a
result of congressional and Budget Bureau actions. That will also be
our ceiling for fiscal year 1969.
We have in the Commission, as of March 23 of this year, some 1,840
ethpioyees.
Our operations cover the entire continental United States, Alaska,
and Hawaii. We have field offices in all States with the exception of
Delaware and Hawaii.
95~-9O8-65-2
PAGENO="0010"
6
£ GENERAL SU~POffrt
Mr. BROOKS. T~Tnder the program budgeting breakdown, ~i~r,:4o YQI1
have a support program covering operations of your office, and other
policymaking personnel not directly attrilrntable to a program
function?
Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Chairman, it is a category we call executive and
advisory functioiis.
Mr. B~OOKS. We will submit exhibit D, the fact sheet of your gen-
eral support program at this poitit in the record, without objection.
(Exhibit D follows:)
ExInBIT D.-FAOT SIIEET-GRNBRAL SUPPORT PR0GRAM-.-INTERST4TE Co~RcR
COMMISSION
Note: Support functions include programs No. 5 Executive a~d advisory fu~s~ti,ons, and
No. 6 Generel management and adminiptration
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY PROGRAM SUBPROGRAM
100 ICC GeneralSUppOCt
CODE CODE cDx
200
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL 3ODES
300
400 FISCAL YEAR 1968
UnnbSgst:d Appconeistins or Cu~~aEt Totol / Totnl Ofiligutud
~ Year Request AnsSsble~ st Rflpended
500 `In house" inputs _________________ _________________ ___________________
510 Personnel: ___________________ ___________________ ____________________
511 Comp. ___________- ________ 2517,000
512 Benefits _______________ ___________ ___________________
$20 Expenses: _______ ____ _________
521 Communications -____________ - 273. oQo
522 `Fransportation _________________ ~
523 Printing _____________ ______________ 88,000
524 Supplies and Consum-
able Materials _______________ ___~~~._ 1s6,000
530 Capital Equipment _______________ _________________ _________________ _________________
540 Land and Structures ________________ _________________ _________________ __________________
541 Additional Inventnsent ________________ ___________________ ___________________ ____________________
542 Rents _______________ _________________ _________________ __________________
555 Tetsl _________ _____________ 3 ,156,00~
600 Funds distributed ________________ _______________ _________________ _________________
610 Contracts ________________ __________________ __________________ ___________________
620 Grants _______________ _________________ _________________ _______________
630 Loann _________________ ______________ _________________ ________________
640 Benefits __________________ _________________ __________________ ___________________
* eso Other __________________ _______________ __________________ ___________________
660 Total ___________________ _________________ __________________ ____________________
300 Total _________________ _________________ _________________ __________________
Pei~ç~scaI
800 Input-output ratio ______________ ____________
810 - Input _____________ _______________ ___________
811 - Output ______________ ___________
820 - Input _______________ __________
821 . Output ____________ ___________
830 - Input ___~j ____________ ___________ - _____________ -
831 - Output
~° ~ ____
841 4. Output ______________ _________
850 5. Input ________
251 5, Optput _________ - ________~ - * _____________ -
860 6. Input ____________
861 6. Output . - _______ -
870 `~. Input _____________
`271 ~. Output ___________ -
8808.Inpu~ ____ _____ *
881 8. Output _______________ _______________
Printed ferns, :1 House Gseeeuosnt Aetisiltus Onbennmittse, Chuisoso Jut Bunks ~`ett4 ape
~j Anticipates $386,000 proposed supplemental appropriation for pay increases authorized
by P.L. 90-206 and the release of $317,000 reserve required by P.L. 90-218.
PAGENO="0011"
7
SUPPO7OP PROGRAM
The Commission's t~upport program consists of two independently identifiable
su~progr~ms entitleo~ "Executive and Advisory Functions" and "~leneral Manage-
ment and Administration." These programs encompass the functions performed
by the Chairman and Vice Chairman and their staffs, the Office of the Mauaging
IMrectgr, the Office of the Secretary, and the Office of the General Counsel.
The two subprograms which make up the general support program follow:
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY PROGRAM SUBPROGRAM
100 ICC General Support Executive ant advisory functions
CODE CODE CODS
200
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL CODES
300
400 FISCAL YEAR 1968
________________ ~ p~cueeee'jT~~7 Tad
000 "In house" inputs _________________
510 Personnel:
511 Comp. _________________ ________
512 Benefits
513 Travel
520 Expenses:
521 Communications
522 Transportation _________________
523 Printing _________________
524 Supplies and Consum-
able Materials
530 Capital Equipment _______________ ________________
540 Land and Structures
541 Additional Investment _________________
542 Rents
550 Total ______ Q93~QQQ __
600 Funds distributed
610 Contracts __________________
620 Grpnts _________________ _________________ ________________ -
630 Loans
640 Benefits
650 Other
660 Total
700 Total
Prim Bisssl
Yeas
800 Input-output ratio ______________ - ________- ____________
810 . Input _____________ - *
811 )utput _____________ - _____________ - ___________ - ________
820 Input ______________ _____________ - __________ -
821 . Output ______________ ______________ ____________ -
830 Input _____________ - _____________ - ____________
831 . Output _____________ _____________ - ________
840 Input _____________ _____________ - _____________ -
841 . Output ______________ ______________ _____________ ________
850 . Input ______________ ______________ - _____________ - _________ -
851 Output _____________ _____________ _____________ -
860 6. Input _____________ - _____________ - ___________ -
861 6. Output _____________ _____________ _____________ - ________
870 7~n___ -. - -___ -
871 7. Output _____________ _____________ - _____________ - ___________
880 8.Input _____________ _____________ _________ -~
881 8.' Output ______________ - ______________ * ______________ - _____________
Pr'cstsd cues,, of H,,,, Gaecmo,nt Asticitiss Oubsaonissm, ChDeto,a Jack B,ssk,
Anticipates $386,000 proposed supplemental appropriation for pay increases authorized.
by P,Ii. 9O-~Q6 and the release of $317,000 reserve required by' P.L. 90-218.
PROG1~AM NO. 5. EXEC7TTIVE AND ADVISORY FUNCTIONS
(a) Statutory authority for members of the Commission, the General Counsel's
functions and the Secretary is found in sections 11, 16(11), and 18(1) respec-
tively, of the Interstate Commerce Act. Administrative authority for the Chair-
man's and Vice Chairman's functions is derived from delegations of authority
PAGENO="0012"
8
contained in the Commission's Organization minutes, items 3.1 through 3.13
inclusive.
(b) The principal ob3ectlve of this program is to provIde the overall execu
five direction of ttie Commission and the legal advisory ai~d ministerial support
services.
The Chairman Is the executive head of the Commission and Is reSlxmSible for
the overnil management and functioning of the CommissiOn the formillatlOb of
plans and policies designed to increase thO effectiveneSs of the Commission in the
administration of the Interstate Commerce Act and related acts, and the develop-
ment and improvement of staff support to carry out the duties and functions of
the Commission. The Chairman acts as correspondent and spokesman for the
Commission in all matters where an official expression of the Commission Is re-
quired The Chairman s responsibilities encompass the entire Commission orga
nization and its operations which are performed with an authorized force of
1;907 employees and a budget in excess of $23 million. Some 20,000 for-hire com-
panies provide domestic surface transportation in the United States that are
subject to the Commission's economic regulations. Such regulations relate pri-
marily to carrier rates, practices, operating authorities, and finance. The scope
and impact of the Commission's work is indicated somewhat by the fact that
approximately $1 out of every $5 in our national economy is spent for transporta-
tion; and the Industry has become a source of employment for some 9 million
Americans.
The Vice Chairman acts for the Chairman during the latter's absence and is
the official through whom the regulatory bureaus report on technical progthm
operations.
The Secretary ~s the official through whom the Commission, its divisions, In-
dividual CommisSioners, boards of employees, joint boards, and examiners issue
their orders and decisions; he is custodian of the seal and records of the Com-
mission and is responsible for the proper documentation of Commission decisions,
procedures, and other transactions; and pursuant to the rules of practice, he is
responsible for processing the official documents pending before the Commission
and for service on parties to formal proceedings.
The Office of the General Counsel defends the Commission's orders promul-
gated pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act and related
acts in the district courts, courts of appeal and in the U.S. Supreme Coutt. It
advises the Commission and its staff on legal questions arising in CommiS~ion
proceedings, and Otherwise acts in an advisory capacity to the Commission and
its staff on legal matters.
(o) The official having direct operational responsibility for this program is
Paul ~. Tierney, current Chairman of the Commission. The Commission's Vine
Chairman is Virginia Mae Brown. The principal officials having operational
responsibilities at the staff level are Robert W. Ginnane, General Counsel, and
H. Neil Garson, Secretary.
PROGRAM NO. 6.-GENRRAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
a. The statutory and administrative authority for this program lies in the
appropriate sections of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. sees. 1 et seq.),
the organization minutes and internal minutes of the Commission, and numerous
other statutes governing the operations and activities of administrative agencies,
such as: the Budget and Accounting Act of 1950, the regulations of the Comp-
troller General, General Services Administration, Civil Service Commission, etc.
b. The principal function of this program is the day-to-day management and
administration of the Commission's work. The program utilizes the latest i4an-
agement tools and concepts at our disposal including the budget process Internal
audit, management information system, and program evaluation to plan overall
objectives in the substantive program areas and to measure accomplishmentS
against the goais..Management's goal is to maintain the output of a high quality
substantive work product, at the highest level possible and with minimum ex-
penditures of manpower and dollars. This program is directed by the Commis-
sion's Managing~ Director, who is assisted by the following four units: (1)
Budget and Fiscal Office; (2) Personnel Office; (3) Section of Administrative
Services; and (4~ Section of Systems Development, and Six, regional managers
who manage all activities of the field staff and field programs.
PAGENO="0013"
871
880
881
~ for pay increases authoi~e~
by 2.0. 90-206 and the release of $311,000 reserve repuired by P.O. 90-218.
Through operation of this program, the Managing Director manages and
evaluates the output of the substantive programs which, as an example, includes
some 20,900 formal and informal proceedipgs in fiscal year 1967 (activity No. 1);
an estimated 10,500 compliance surveys, 3,600 preliminary investigations, and
1~100 final investigations in fiscal year 1968 (activity No. 2); approximately 1,200
accounting examinations, 100 depreciation studies, over 2,000 cost analyses, over
100 projects, studies, and economic analyses in fiscal year 1967 (activity No. 3)
and the examination and criticism of some 215,000 tariff filings annually (acti-
vity No. 4).
In addition to the substantial management and administrative functions out-
lined above, this program also provides substantial support services to the
Commission and all of its operating units, such as a centralized ADP facility, the
operation of a class A printing plant which provides the printing services re1at~
big to the Commission's decisions and its other requirements, and the normal
9
PAGENO="0014"
10
personnel, budget, ~scal, accounting, procurement~ and general housekeeping
services required by a government agency.
c. The ICC official having direct responsibility over the program is Mr. Bernard
F. Sc'hmid, Managing Director.
Mr. TIERNEY. Within that category, Mr. Chairman, are the offices
of the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, the Office of the Secretary,
and the Office of the General Counsel.
In addition to that which might be considered in the category of
support functions is the general management and administration cate-
gory, and that is the Office of the Managing Director who has the
responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Commission.
Mr. BROOKS. Would you give a brief justification for the size and
extent of this support program which you have broken in your agency
into two, more or less well-defined areas?
Mr. TIERNEY. First, in the area of executive and advisory functions,
the Office of the Chairman. The Chairman, as you know, is respon-
sible for the executive direction of the Commission. He is also respon-
sible for developing plans and policies which are designed to more
effectively implement and administer the Interstate Commerce Act.
The Office of the General Counsel is an advisory office. In effect, he
defends in Federal courts those decisions of the Commission which
are appealed to the Federal courts. He also supplies to the Commission
or to the various offices, advisory legal opinions.
The Office of the Secretary-the Secretary has the responsibility for
maintaining all the records of the Commission and he is the custodian
of the Commission's seal. He prepares certifications of papers, copies
of extracts from records filed with the Commission, and maintains the
official minutes of the Commission.
Turning next to the area, Mr. Chairman, of general management
and administration; this is the Office of the Managing Director-
Mr. BROOKS. Before you move to that, how many employees are
there in the first breakdown on your general support section?
Mr. TIERNEY. In the first breakdown there are 86 employees, Mr.
Chairman, and the amount of money for that aspect of the operation
of the Commission is $1,092,895. I believe that represents roughly a
third of the fun4s for these support areas.
Mr. BRooKs. For your total support program?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is correct1 sir.
Mr. BRooKs. Would you continue with the secondary aspect of your
support program?
Mr. TIERNEY. The next area, general management and administra-
tion is the Office of the Managing Director who, as I have indicated,
Mr. Chairman, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of
the Commission. Under him there are four important offices: Admin-
istrative Services, Budget and Fiscal Office, the Personnel Office and
the Systems Development.
Administrative Services is essentially a support area for much of
the Commission. They edit and prepare publications and reports of
the Commission; they operate, within the Administrative Services
Branch, a class A printing plant from which we print Commission
reports and publications. They also provide the. normal procurement,
contracting, and housekeeping functions of the Commission.
Next is the Budget and Fiscal Office which is self-explanatory, I
think, as well as the Personnel Office.
PAGENO="0015"
ii
The Systems IDevelopwent Office is really the office which is~ re-
sponsible for the analysis and development of systems in the Com-
mission, and the important aspect of that office is our computer
operation.
Mr. BROoKs, Before we get into those fields, Mr. Chairman, under
the Budget and Fiscal Office, your first breakdown, is that where you
handle your printing?
Mr. TIERNEY. No, sir; under Administrative Services.
Mr. BROOKS. Your third breakdown under General Management?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is right, Administrative Services.
Mr. BROOKS. Under that section, why would you not use the Govern-
ment Printing Office? What is the necessity for a major printing
operation in addition to the. Government Printing Office?
Mr. TIERNEY. As I understand it, we have received permission from
the Joint Committee on Printing to use a separate printing service
in lieu of the Government Printing Office.
Mr. BROOKS. Why is that?
Mr. TIERNEY. We find it more practical, more expeditious, and more
reasonable.
Mr. BROOKS. It costs less money, is that what you mean?
Mr. SCHMID. That is one of the reasons. But the principal reason is
the confidential nature of the decisions of the Commission. We print
about 50 million pages of decisions and recommended reports.
Mr. BROOKS. You feel that at the Government Printing Office it
would not be secure?
Mr. SCHMID. If pending cases were to go there, there would also
be the possibility of leaks on these cases. Also, it is absolutely essential
to expedite the processing of these decisions once they are made and
release them to the public as quickly as possible, and we can do it
much faster than the Government Printing Office.
Mr. BROOKS. I know the Government Printing Office does print con-
fidential material for the Congress and they have not had any serious
leak problems. I wonder if your staff has ever really put the pencil
to it and decided whether you could use the Government Printing
Office and save some money and not have a duplicate printing estab-
lishment and all the personnel and cost that go with a separate print-
ing operation?
Mr. SCHMID. The other reason, Mr. Chairman, is the need for proc-
essing these quickly. We usually print and release a decision within a
week to 10 days after the decision is made. Now, we wouldn't possibly
expect the Government Printing Office to handle these things that
fast.
I should add, however, we do use the Government Printing Office
for many of our major work items. We don't print everything in our
own plant.
Mr. BROOKS. Would you give us a breakdown on what percentage
of your printing is done by the Government Printing Office; what
percentage, Mr. Chairman, is done by your own in-house printing
capacity and capability; also, what the total cost is of your own rint-
ing and what the economic justification would be for maintainIng a
separate printing establishment in addition to the Government Print-
ing Office?
Mr. TIERNEY. We would be glad to do that, Mr. Chairman.
PAGENO="0016"
12
Mr. BROOKS. I just feel that it may well be that you could get the
same type of sertice just as fast, just as secure, and at less money if
YOU used the Government Printing Office, which I know many other
Government agencies with highly classified materials do on occasion
use.
Mr. TIERNEY. We will submit that information, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BROOKS. I don't have the figures on that, but there ought to be
a careful ~justification on that if there is one. If it is a matter of get-
ting the Government Printing Office to be more secure or to give you
a fixed time in which to get your decisions out, maybe that can be
arranged without any real difficulty.
Mr. TIERNEY. We will supply that information, Mr. Chairman.
(The information to be supplied follows:)
During fiscal year 1967, this agency procured a total of $138,202 of printing in
Washington, D.C. O~ this, 83 percent was procured from the Government Print-
ing Office; and 17 percent from the Departmental Service Office. Of the total
work procured from the Government Printing Offlce, 71 percent was procured by
GPO from commercial sources. Ninety-eight percent of the work was for over
30-day delivery. Work sent to the Government Printing Office averaged $9.31 per
1,000 units. (A unit means one sheet, size 8 x 101/2 inches, one side only, one
color.)
Additional printifig serviceS (70 percent of which was classified as administra-
tively confidential) were provided at a cost of $258,858 in the agency's own plant
in Washington, D.C., employing 26 persons who worked 990 hours of overtime.
Twenty percent of the production was required the same day, 65 percent in 4 to
10 days, and 15 percent in 11 to 30 days. Cost of producing work in-house was
$4.08 per 1,000 units. (Of the work produced in-house, only 20 percent could
properly be classified as "printing." The balance fails under the ~CP definItion
of "duplicating," haping been produced from typewritten duplimats.)
Approximately 20 percent of the Commission's printing for fiscal year, 1967 was
done by the Govern~nent Printing Office. However, cost of GPO printing equaled
35 percent~of the total printing costs. Only 2 percent of the work done at GPO
involved a 25-percent surcharge as "urgent or priority" work; and. none was
confidential or secret which would have involved surcharges of 15 percent and
30 percent, respectively.
The total cost for printing for the Commission for fiscal year 1967 was $397,060.
This showS a reduction in printing costs of $42,786 from fiscal year 1963 (despite
increases in salaries and volume of work), when total printing costs amounted
to $439,846. The reduction in the Commission's printing costs was achieved
through establishment of a cold-type composition operation in 1963 whIch elimi-
nated a duplicate printing of Commission decisions. Prior to establishment of
the cold-type operation, decisions were printed first at the Interstate Commerce
Commission in legall size typed format; sent later to the Government Printing
Office where they were set in hot type and printed as advance pamphlets to the
bound volumes; page type stored, and printed as a bound volume still later. ~ow
decisions are typed in-house on cold type composing machines during the deci-
sional and review process and Initially printed and served on the parties to the
proceeding in the form of advance pamphlets to the bound volumes. Camera copy
is accumulated and later sent to the Government Printing Office for printing
the bound volume by the offset method rather than letterpress method thus
resulting In an additional savings to the Interstate Commerce Commission over
the system followed in fiscal year 1963 and prior years. All of the printing In
connection with decisions is administratively confidential and of the first priority.
To transfer this work to the Government Printing Office would add surcharges
of from 40 to 60 percent to normal Government Printing Office cost. Any unwar-
ranted delay in the timely release of the Commission's decisions works a hardship
on the industry which it regulates and could result in the loss of many hundreds
of thousands of dollars in revenue.
We believe the economic justification for maintaining a separate printing
establishment at the Interstate Commerce Commission IS clear-it costs the
Government less and gives the public better service.
PAGENO="0017"
13
Mr. BROOKS. Go ahead with your general breakdown. Had you con-
cluded your section on ~dmiiiistrative Services?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes; the Budget and Fiscal Office has ~9 people an4
$266,411 allocated to that Office.
In the Personnel Office, which handles our personnel matters, Mr.
Chairman, there are 18 people with a budget of $208,930.
Our Systems Development Section which I explained has a total of
42 employees and a budget of $568,152.
Mr. BROOKS. Do your systems development people work primarily
with your Budget and Fiscal Office on financial matters or do they
work on the programs and efficiency with which you implement acts of
Congress?
Mr. TIERNEY. They work in a variety of areas, Mr. Chairman. One of
the principal areas is a central status system whereby through the
use of a computer we are able to determine the stages of the various
processes of our cases; the purpose, of course, being to find out where
our shortcomings are in this area and analyze those areas where we
think we can improve the processing.
Mr. BROOKS. The processing of your caseload?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes.
Mr. BROOKS. That is what they use it for primarily?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is one of the principal purposes. We also use it
for payroll purposes and for inventory purposes.
Mr. BROOKS. Who administers this for you, sir?
Mr. TIERNEY. It is in Mr. Schmid's office, but Mr. Robert Hartel is in
charge of it.
Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Hartel, what is your background in this particular
field of data processing equipment?
Mr. HARTEL. I have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in
government. I have had 12 years in the management and systems area,
5 years' experience in the ADP area, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BROOKS. Five years' experience with ADP within the ICC?
Mr. IJARTEL. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. You have been with them in that particular facet of
their operation for that period of time?
Mr. HARTEL. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. Do you on occasion employ consultants who are trained
technicians in the use of this equipment?
Mr. tIARTEL. No, sir; we have not used any consultants. Six or 7
years ago we did have some Bureau of Standards people come in øn a
consultant basis for 1 year, but currently we do not use any consultants
other than there was a Bureau of the Budget contract with a consultant
firm in Philadelphia to review potential uses of computers in the deci-
sional process, but this was a contract let by the Bureau of the Budget,
Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BROOKS. The GSA, the Defense Department, the Bureau of the
Budget, and the Bureau o~ Standards have some pretty competent per-
sonnel in this field. I don't normally recommend that you go outside
and hire a lot of consultants, but this is a very involved field that moves
rapidly and is expanding and moving faster than most of us. You
might be justified in discussing your basic problems and concepts and
how they might be aided by the use of the existing comp~iter art with
95-905-68-----3
PAGENO="0018"
14
some of those folks. I think even within the Government you àan get
some high-grade consultation with a minimum of trouble and time.
I think they would be willing to give you their best advice and I think
you might find, as fast as this technique i~ growing, that you might
benefit some fro~n it and those benefits might be passed on to the
agency as we tryr to. upgrade the efficiency with which you operate.
Mr. SOHMID. Mr. Chairman, may I supplement the refriarks of the
chairman on the use of the computer?
You specifically asked: "IDo we use them in the program areas ?"
The answer is, "Yes." In our Bureau of Accounts, for example, we
have computer programs developing cost formulas that are used in the
rate cases. We also have a data bank with information from our annual
and quarterly reports which are processed with the computer and in-
formation published therefrom.
There are other areas, too, where we do use a computer in the pro-
gram, such as in our Bureau of Economics and some of their research
studies. We apply computer techniques in aiding and assisting in the
developing of that work.
Mr. BRooKs. You can understand, Mr. Schmid, that this ai~t is one
that has grown faster than "Topsy" ever did.
Mr. SCHMTD. I certainly do, sir. It has great potential, but just where
you can use it or apply it to a given agency requires a real definition of
both the problem and the procedures that you are trying' to imple-
ment.
Mr. BROOKS. Among the people at the Bureau of Standards, Dr.
Grosch is a particularly knowledgeable man, Mr. Hartel.
Mr. HARTEL. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. Off the record.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. BROOKS. On the record.
Mr. SCHMID. Mr. Chairman, I want to say in the past we have made
extensive use of the Bureau of Standards, reimbursing them for their
services, and they have been most helpful to us.
In recent years, I would say in the last 2 or 3 years, we have not
made utilization of their services primarily because we have been
busily engaged with our ongoing programs.
We have also utilized the consultant services of GSA. For example,
when we made arrangement for our new computer which was installed
only less than a year ago-
Sir. BROOKS. What type did you get?
Mr. ScITMID. Spectra 70, RCA. 1V~ worked very closely with GSA
and they assisted us all the way through in the arrangements for the
computer.
Mr. BRooKs. That is good.
May I present Congressman Randall, a very distinguished mem-
ber of this committee.
Congressman. do you know Chairman Tierney of the ICC and
Bernard Schmid who is their managing director?
B. BUDGET PROCESSES
I wonder, Mr. Chairman, do you feel that the program budgeting
concept has been fully implemented within your agency in operational
terms?
PAGENO="0019"
15~
Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Chairman, I am having trouble with terminology,
but if you are talking about a program budgeting system-
Mr. BRooKs. In other words, what you do related to the amount of
money you spend and what the yield is in that particular area, in that
program, what that effort is.
Mr. TIERNEY. That is related to the budget, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. Under the current regulations from the Bureau of the
Budget?
Mr. TIERNEY. No, sir; it is not. We have not instituted the program-
ing and planning budget system which the Bureau of the Budget has
recommended. We are in the process of negotiations and implementa-
tion of it to a degree which we think will be suitable to the Interstate
Commerce Commission. That is our situation right now.
Mr. BROOKS. How does that differ from the programs as outlined in
the record that we have already gone over? You say you are now ne-
gotiating with them. Essentially, you have six programs, you have your
support broken into two, and you have four other programs. Do they
recommend any change in that?
Mr. TIERNEY. They haven't made any recommendations now that I
know of.
Mr. ScuMin. Mr. Chairman, the PPBS system was not made man-
datory as far as our Commission was concerned until January 1 of
this year. We have been budgeting and managing the Commission
under the old activities schedule concept which was approved in 1962
and which I agree needs some changes. We have had two meetings with
the Budget Bureau representatives to develop our present system to
conform to the Budget Bureau's directions on the new PPBS system.
We think we have a very good solid base on which to build modern
refinements to come into full accord with the PPBS system. We expect
to be completely aboard in 3 or 4 months.
Mr. BROOKS. You don't anticipate any major problem at all?
Mr. ScTlMn. No, sir.
Mr. BRooKs. You are trying to reexamine this one, to determine
whether it is best meeting the needs of your agency, and then adapt
that without major problems to the existing directives from the Bu-
reau of the Budget?
Mr. SCHMID. That is correct, sir.
0. A00O~[JNTINO SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Mr. BRooKs. Mr. Chairman, I want you to meet a very distinguished
member from Pennsylvania, Mr. Moorhead.
Mr. Moorhead, this is Chairman Tierney of the ICC and, of course,
Bernard Schmid, who has been there for some years as the Managing
Director.
Mr. Chairman, I wanted to ask you, what is your agency doing
regarding the accounting system development?
Mr. TIERNEY. Our System, Mr. Chairman, was developed with the
assistance of the General Accounting Office, and we have a manual
describing the operations of the system which we submitted to the
Comptroller in March of this year request~ng approval. We are still
awaiting that approval. That manual sets forth the Commission's
accounting objectives and policy. Compliance with that is mandatory.
PAGENO="0020"
1~6.
Our system under which we have operated in the past was approved
by the General Accounting Office in 1957. That has been revised now.
We have submitt~d a new manual to GAO for their approval.
Mr. SCEMID. Mr. Chairman, we have informal approval already.
We had a phone call this morning that said our system is approved
and it is going to be formalized in the next few days.
Mr. BRooKs~ Is it cost based?
Mr. SCHMID. Yes.
Mr. BRooKs. I a~iways had a feeling that the GAO shouldn't approve
them, they should lay out the objectives and the guidelines and let you
work them out, arid then if you are wrong, nail you.
D. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
What is the status now of your management information system,
sir?
Mr. TIERNEY. Our management system now, to which we will apply
the computer, includes payroll, budget, leave administration, person-
nel and property inventory. And we have what we call our central
status system which is used to control or manage our proceedings
docket. As a case is processed, information is fed into the computer
at the various stages. Later, we can extract information from the
computer which will advise us as to the condition of our docket-
where there are weak areas, where we can take particular action to
achieve a more expeditious position of our proceedings area which
is really our prime responsibility.
Mr. BRooi~s. I have a good many questions on that which I will
submit to you that are a. little more detailed, Mr. Chairman,
Mr. TIER~sY. We will be happy to answer them, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. RANDALL. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. .ThiooKs. Congressman Randall.
Mr. RANDALL. Mr. Chairman, first, I would. like to inquire, what
effect did the creation of the Department of Transportation . have
upon your commission? You were an independent agency to start
with?
Mr. TIERNEY. We still are, sir.
Mr. RANDALL. You feel you still are?.
Mr. TIERNEY. I feel confident that we are. There is no doubt about
it. Our responsibilities as to motor carrier safety, rail safety, and
pipeline safety were transferred from the Commission over to the
Department. .. . .
Mr. RANDALL. And that is the size of~ it?
Mr. TTERN~Y. That is it. There was also the transfer of jurisdiction
with respect to standard time zenes, but this was very limited, moon-
seq~uential really.
Mr. RANDALL. The fact that you are here means, I assume, we would
have jurisdiction which would not be true if you were a part of DOT?
The fa~t that you. are an independe~it agency is the reason yo~i can
be here with us this morning before this committee?
Mr. Ti~u~r: That you would have no jurisdiction?.
Mr. RA~TDALL. No; that we. do have jurisdiction, which is proved
by the fact you aj~e here this mornlng.
Mr. ~RN~Y~ yes, sir. .
PAGENO="0021"
17
Mr. RANDALL. In surveying the chart here, Mr. Chairman, under
operations I notice a listing of railroads, motor carriers, and rater
carriers. How does that break down as to personnel involved or the
amount of work you do in the overall mission of each listing? What
is the percentage involved? Do motor carriers now absorb a lot of
your energy?
Mr. TIERNEY. It does, sir.
Mr. RANDALL. How much, sir?
Mr. TIERNEY. As far as the caseload is concerned, I think roughly
80 percent is motor carrier application cases.
Mr. RANDALL. In other words, now oniy 20 percent of effort is de-
voted to railroads. What percentage is water carriers?
Mr. TIERNEY. Extremely limited, inland and coastal waterways-
Mr. RANDALL. How do you define coastal waterways?
Mr. TTEE.NEY. It is domestic operations-
Mr. RANDALL. Like the Intracoastal Waterwa~y?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir. Carriers that run, for example, from New
York down to Galveston, Tex.
Mr. RANDALL. I notice there is sandwiched in here a section on in-
surance. What sort of jurisdiction do you exercise over insurance?
Mr. Chairman, what I am trying to bring out, which I thought was
the purpose of these hearings, is to find out how the several agencies
operate or carry on their work. J know I thoroughly enjoyed the ap-
pearance of the Civil Service Commission a couple of weeks ago.
Mr. BROOKS. I don't know if they did, but I know you did.
Mr. RANDALL. I'm afraid I don't have the time this morning. I have
to get to my other committee.
Mr. TIERNEY. Carriers, for example, are required to carry insurance
on the property they carry in the event it is damaged. Also,
liability-
Mr. RANDALL. You have supervision? You issue guidelines and
so forth?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is right. We will not issue a motor carrier
certificate unless he is properly insured.
Mr. RANDALL. And you have just told us that is your big job now,
motor carriers.
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, but I would like to expand on that. The motor
carrier cases represent 80 percent of our caseload; but the 20 percent
involving the rail area represents a lot of work, numerous staff per-
sonnel, and a lot of resources because these rail cases are very complex.
Mr. RANDALL. You have just been through the Penn-Central and a
few other rail mergers. What are your biggest ones pending now?
Mr. TIERNEY. We have 12-
Mr. RANDALL. Just the biggest.
Mr. TIERNEY. The Norfolk & Western-the C. & 0. merger.
Mr. RANDALL. What else?
Mr. TIERNEY. The Rock Island merger ease in the Midwest.
Mr. RANDALL. One more question. On this matter of tariffs here,
how are your energies divided in that field? Do you have more prob-
lems with motor carriers on tariffs or with the rails?
Mr. TIERNEY. About equally divided, I would think. We have more
motor carrier cases.
Mr. RANDALL. You have a lot of cases in the motor carrier field,
don't you?
PAGENO="0022"
18
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
Mr. RANDALL. But they don't take as long.
Mr. TIERNEY. generally speaking, that is a fair description. The
`motor carrier cases are not as complex; they don't take as much time
as the rail eases.
Mr. RANDALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. MOORIJEAD. I wonder if we can get a better breakdown on the
80 percent. It surprises me, that 80 percent of the caseload is motor
carriers. Isthat i~i numbers?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is numbers of cases. We are not talking about
the complexity pf the cases or the time, resources, and personnel
needed to dispose `of the case. A merger case-
Mr. MooRnEAD.~ That, is one case but it might be equivalent in time
to a hundred or thousand motor carrier cases.
Mr. TIERNEY. `That is right. Bec~iuse many of the motor' carrier
cases are quite simple, we can dispose of thew, for example, without a
~hearing on the record, So, in that sense, although the numbers are
great, many of the cases are disposed of veryquickly.
Mr. MOORHEAD. Is there any percentage that would give us a more
accurate. feeling ç~f the workload of the Commission x percent motor
carriers, y percei~t rail carriers, z percent water carriers?
Mr. TIERNEY. We certainly can ~upply that for you.
Mr. MOORHEAD. I am not talking about accurate numbers. Just give
use some rough idea, because I was quite surprised when you said 80
percent on motor carriers. I realize now that you were talking about
the number of c~tses, and this, I assume, does not mean that 80 per-
cent of the total effort of the Commission is directed toward motor
carriers.
Mr. TIERNEY. Director Stiliwell, can you give us any numbers?
Mr. STILLWELL. At the end of February we had 4,146 motor carrier
cases pending; water carriers we had 32; we had 19 ex parte cases
which could be rail or motor; we had 155 finance docket cases, and
that is in the merger field mostly; we had I. & S. cases-that is rail-
23; we had 148 I. & S. cases where the rates have been up for sus-
pension; we have complaints in the motor carrier area, complaints,
revocations and so forth, 299; in the finance area of mergers and
acquisitions for motor carriers, we had 277.
We can furnish you with a complete breakdown if you want it for
the record.
Mr. MOORHEAD. Maybe I am asking the impossible. question, What
I am attempting to find out is how much of the effort of the Com-
mission is directed in the rail field and how much in the motor carrier
field. Again, from 60 to 70 percent would be close enough or in rail
30 to 40 percent-just give an approximateidea.
Mr. TIERNEY. I don't want to be evading the question, but I don't
think we have precisely allocated this effort in that fashion. I would
like to take a look-at it and supply an accurate figure.
Mr. MOORUEAD~ I am not talkingabout precise figures. I am talking
about getting an estimate. I would imagine in 1900 probably 90 per-
cent of your effort would have been in the rail field.
Mr. TIERN~Y. A hundred percent.
PAGENO="0023"
19
Mi~. STILLWELL. Ofrhand, you might say 60 percent in the motor area
and 40 percent in the rail and other areas.
Mr. MooiuiEAD. The additional percentage above a hundred is in
water?
Mr. ST[LLWELL. No, that includes water. There are very few water
cases.
Mr. TIERNEY. Water cases are negligible, sir.
Mr. Moo~IJEAD. Thank you, Mr. Stiliwell.
Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Chairman, we want you to know Mrs. Heckler,
a very able member of this committee. She is a very lovely lady Re-
publican from Massachusetts.
I think under management information system,. Mr. Chairman, you
might, in answering the que~tions that I am submitting to your agency,
want to carefully talk these over with Dr. Grosch who has the kind
of expertise that might yield some real benefit with a minimum invest-
ment in your time and his.
Relating to the discussion with Mr. Randall, how much insurance
are motor carriers required to carry, and is that insurance on what
they are carrying, merchandise, or is that for liability damage as to
accidents they might have? What part do you have in helping to en-
force `those requireme~ts?
Mr. TIERNEY. I don't know the amount. As I understand it, Mr.
Chairman, it is for both liability and insurance on the cargo: $10,000
property damage, $25,000-$100,000 public liability.
Mr. BRoois. $25,000 for what?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is the accidental death or injury and $100,000
for the aggregate.
Mr. BROOKS. For aggregate of one accident. If they kill nine people,
the maximum would be $1QO,000 for the nine people?
Mr. TIERNEY. ,That is right.
M:r. BROOKS. For which they would be' liable?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. It doesn't really seem too high in, the light of current
expenses. .A $25,000 maximum for an individual injury.
Mr. TIERNEY. This is a minimum, Mr. Chairman. Many of the car-
riers do carry more insurance.
Mr. BROOKS. But those with the minimum are the only ones that
are going to hit me with my luck.
On the material that they carry, what is the insurance on that for
damage or loss in transit?
Mr. TIEfiNEY. A thousand dollars.
Mr. BRooKs. YOu mean if I sent a truckload of furniture to Texas,
they would only be required to have $1,000 insurance on it if they clam-
aged it all?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is the limitation flow. I' am sure many of the
carriers, ~of course, carry more insurance than that. That is the mini-
mum as far as the Commissj'o~i requires.
Mr. BRooKs. Why don't you give us `a figure on how many of them
carry the thinimum because I bet you a lot of them carry the minimum.
Do you. have any idea, about that, Mr. Schmid,Mr. Foley?
PAGENO="0024"
20
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Chairman, the carriers subject to our jnrisdiotion
are required to file certificates of insurance which warrant th~ mini-
mum limits, but the certificates do not state the amount of coverage.
Mr. BROOKS. They just guarantee the minimum and beyond that you
don't have any way of knowing what they have in the way of
insurance? .
Mr. FOLEY. We would have to go to each individual carrier~s office
and inspect the records and the policy to determine the amount.
Mr. BROOKS. What makes you thihk, Mr. Chairman, that many of
them have more ~flsurance than that?
Mr. TIERNEY. That has been our experience.
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I used to be in the Bureau of Opera-
tions and before that in the Bureau of Motor Carriers, which was a
predecessor of the Bureau of Operations. We have several times over
the past years made informal studies of the minimum insurance re-
quirements. We have made the informal studies through the use of all
of our field staff.
Mr. BROOKS. Insurance people want it raised and the carriers don't
want it raised.
Mr. FOLEY. We have tried to be independent in our study of the mat-
ter. We are firmly convinced that most of the carriers carry substan-
tially more than the minimum limits that are prescribed by our regu-
lation.
When we had safety responsibility, we had quite composite accident
experience figures showing frequency arid damage amounts. They also
showed us that the minimum limits were adequate to cover the public's
need. This is always subject, of course, to further review at any time
the Commission would wish to consider it.
Mr. BRooKs. I would think the Commission would seriously want to
consider it in the public interest. They might want to raise the mini-
mums, because what the maximums are, who knows? You don't know
apparently. Nobody knows. The public doesn't know. I would think
that a minimum of a thousand dollars on cargo might be a little low,
and if they say that experience has proven that it is not, getting addi-
tional coverage for the few instances where it would be necessary
won't cost them much money. The insurance companies won't charge
them if they have a record that shows that they never lost or tore up
anything that cost them a thousand dollars. The same thing would
be true if they increased the minimum on personal injury. But I would
certainly hate to really get creamed and have the insurance on a nice
fat truck be $59000. It wouldn't get my family very far when
you finish paying a lawyer to sue them for they. wouldn't just give
it to them.
Give me a copy of your last study on that. It might be that we could
get some idea of this.
(The information requested is in app. B.)
Mr. TIERNEY. Carriers are fully liable for the loss and damage irre-
spective of the amount of insurance they carry on their cargo. Ad-
mittedly, Mr. Chairman, there will be carriers which are not financially
able to withstand full liability. Of course, most carriers are. They are
fully liable irrespective of the insurance they carry for damage or
loss of cargo. I believe that some of the statistics we have developed
have contributed to this figure of $1,000 which we believe will take
care of all or most of the situations.
PAGENO="0025"
21
E. INTERNAL AUDIT SYSTEM
Mr. BROOKS, Would you describe briefly your internal auditing
system?
Might I introduce to you Congressman Fletcher Thompson.
Mr. THOMPSON. Good morning.
Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Tierney, Chairman of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, Mr. Bernard Schmid, managing director.
Mr. TIERNEY. The internal auditing function of the Commission is
under the direction of Mr. Schmid, the managing director, Mr. Chair~
man, and the persons who actually perform this service are qualified
in accounting and auditing as well as in management, the substantive
program areas.
Since we are not a large agency, the auditing function is not handled
separately as such. It is carried out in conjunction with other manage-
ment controls, for example our program evaluation process, our central
status system, our field internal inspections and our internal fiscal
audits. That is the summary of it, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Chairman, I have a long interest in this internal
auditing area. To whom do the senior internal auditors report their
findings on investigations or analysis of a section of your agency?
Mr. TIERNEY. They report them to the managing director. Sum-
maries, of course, have been furnished to me or to the vice chairman or
to the members of the Commission, depending on the subject matter
involved.
Mr. BRooKs. Who is the internal auditor?
Mr. TIERNEY. We don't have an internal auditor as such. The whole
program is operated out of the managing director's office, Mr. Chair-
man. For example, our internal audits would be handled through the
central status area, through our fiscal people who conduct fiscal audits,
also through our inspection people who conduct inspections of the
various areas, and the program evaluation process.
Mr. BROOKS. I think this indicates that your internal audit is not
particularly independent of your management or your managing direc-
tor. I would think that in this type of an agency you ought to have ~
fairly independent auditing section. It would probably be a fair, equi-
table system to have whomever is running your internal audit system
report frequently to you, the chairman, and to the managing director,
since his relationship to the operation of the agency is a little different
than being the second man of the agency. He has been there for some
time and his successor will be there for some time. His is a continuing
function, and I think this would be real substantial protection for the
prevention of errors in operation or fraud or mismanagement that
would protect both the chairman and the members of the Commission
and would protect the managing director.
I think if it is just an auditor whom you assign to do that audit,
operating out of your managing director's office, that neither you nor
the managing director will get a really impartial, more or less objec-
tive view of both how the managing director does his job and how all
of the other agency personnel operate and function. This is the danger.
This is what we are trying to get in an internal audit as such.
Mr. SCHMID. May I clarify this a little bit?
Mr. BROOKS. I would be pleased if you `could.
95-908-68-4
PAGENO="0026"
22
Mr. SCHMID. We have actually three different types of internal
audit. In our bu~dget and fiscal office we have a branch of internal
auditors who are ~ngaged primarily in what we call fiscal audits. They
go into the bureaus and the offices here at the headquarters level and
at the field level and develop information on the use of our travel
funds, on the accuracies in payroll operation, and this type of thing,
fiscal operations.
Those things come in directly to me, and I deal with the bureau
directors and our regional managers as soon as we spot deficiencies
and get them corrected.
We have another and a far more important internal audit program,
and I think this is what you are talking about, in which the Chairman
plays a very impQrtant part. We have our program evaluation system.
First of all, at the beginning of every single year, every one of our
bureaus and offices sets up program objectives within the overall mis-
sion of the Commission. We identify roughly 75 or 80 percent of our
major workload j~rogram throughout the Commission. Each and every
quarter the bureau directors, the regional managt~rs, submit statistical
reports and narrative reports pointing out how well they have met
their target dates, if they haven't met them, whyS they haven't met
them, and bringing many related matters itito play on this.
These reports all come directly to me. These reports are analyzed.
There are discussions and conferences with the bureau directors in-
volved, and the final report is submitted to the Chairman. This report
points out how well we are doing in relation to our overall program
objectives and our deficiencies, which sometimes entails action on his
part or on the part of the entire Commission.
Mr. BROOKS. I~ don't want to be unkind, but I realize after you get
all of those reports they do make up a report in final form that goes
to the Chairman which does, as you say, point out that you are doing a
magnificent job, that would be the normal procedure.
I think you, yourself, would be better protected in trying to do a
good job, as you do, and I will give you full credit for that and for
considerable management experience and expertise-but I think if
you had an interiial audit that went across the board with a free scope
to make an individual appraisal of a function or condition, that you
yourself would be better protected rather than have a more or less
perfunctory rechecking of vouchers and totals. This is the kind of
thing the Internal Revenue does when they check the figures on my
income tax. It is pretty much of a routine. They find errors
occasionally.
I think you would be much better protected with that type of free-
dom on the part of your internal auditor to look at the smallest
voucher or a major defect in the implementation of what the Chairman
and what the Board and what you have instructed some of your people
to do. I think the Chairman would be better protected also. I think
when you break them down you limit what they can do.
The AEC and some of the other agencies have used this system and
feel that it is of benefit to them. The best example I can think of is
probably the Agriculture Department. They had a lot of problems that
were not-I don't guess they were going to destroy the country, but
PAGENO="0027"
23
they were problems that started out with vouchers being incorrect and
ended up with people actually on a systematic basis trythg to defraud
the Government.
I think since then the Secretary of Agriculture has a very reliable
internal audit section which he feels will not only expose this type of
activity and these errors, but will prevent them.
What we are trying to do is to prevent people from doing wrong,
not to catch them after they have done it. Catching them is expensive
when they already have done it. They generally don't have any
insurance.
I think that you ought to think about that, Mr. Chairman. It has
some real advantages for you. I wouldn't be Chairman of that agency
without an internal audit that I got to look at first crack. I wouldn't
run that risk. I think there is a risk, because when you are dealing with
1,800 people you always have a problem of people either doing things
wrong intentionally or by mistake.
P. AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING
Now, on automatic data processing, do you have a central organiza-
tion which is responsible for ADP management in your agency, sir?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS, Would you describe its function?
Mr. TIERNEY. It is in the Office of the Managing Director. Our
processing and systems development program is in that area. I believe
that prior to reorganization it w~is in three areas of the Commission.
Now we have placed in one area the central responsibility for auto-
matic data processing.
Mr. BROOKS. And Mr. Hartel manages that section for you?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is correct, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. How would you describe its functions concisely?
Mr. TIERNEY. The section of system developments, Mr. Chairman,
is responsible for conducting studies to determine the feasibility of
applying automatic data processing to the various work of the Com-
mission. While I must admit I am not an expert in this area, as I
understand it, we determine first of all whether there are programs,
for example, worthy of continuing or expanding, and whether auto-
matic data processing can be applied and utilized in the area.
Mr. BROOKS. Is that Spectra leased or purchased?
Mr. TIERNEY. It is leased,
Mr. BROOKS. Leased?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. What does it cost?
Mr. SOHMID. About $120,000 a year, isn't it?
Mr. LOTIT0. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. What would it cost to buy it?
Mr. L0TIT0. I don't have that figure available, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. HARTEL. About a half million dollars.
Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Chairman, does the lease include maintenance?
Mr. HARTEL. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. That is the standard method. How long do you an-
ticipate using this machine?
PAGENO="0028"
24
Mr. TIERNEY. Perhaps a year. We are in a transitional stage.
For example, we have the problem of adapting tariffs to automatic
data processing and we are not sure whether this particular machine
would be adequate for that. As I understand it, it would not be, Being
in a transitional stage, Mr. Chairman, we feel this is the best ap-
proach. Through this, we can use programing which was used in the
older machine. It is compatible for that as well as using information
or data from other areas within the Government.
Mr. BRooKs. I understand this capability.
Did you all make a feasibility study as to the desirability of leasing
or purchasing the machine before you made this lease?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BRooKs. Could we have a copy of that report?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
(The report follows:)
PURCHASE VERSUS LEASE~-SPECTRA 70 COMPUTER, MARCH 24, 1967
Inherent in the selection process is a decision whether to purchase or lease the
computer system to be required. Although many factors are involved in the dect-
sionmaking process, a key factor is the length of time the equipment will be
utilized; for example, the break-even point is approximately 4 plus years, after
which it is more economical to purchase rather than lease.
The selection of the Spectre 70 computer was based on an emergency need to
provide immediate additional computer capacity. With its emulator feature we
can double our throughput without reprograming. However, this is only a short-
time solution and the ultimate solution is reprograming to fully exploit the speed
of third generaition equipment. With this thought in mind, the configuration
Ordered was almost identical to our present RCA 301 configuration. At this time,
questions as to our long-range needs have not been resolved, particularly the
question of random access, core size, and the number and type of tape drives
needed for future applications.
Another concern is the reliability and quality of both the Spectra 70 hardware
and software. Both are new and unproven and in light of the troubles other
manufacturers are having, it would not be unusual for an unsatisfactory per-
formance level to occur.
It is estimated that in approximately 18 to 24 months we will have completed
reprograming to COBOL, will have identified future applications and will have
a firm idea as to our ultimate hardware needs. Additionally at that point in time
the emulator feature will no longer be required.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the Spectra 70 be leased rather than
purchased. At such time (estimated at 18 to 24 months above) as we have a clearer
picture of our needs a decision should be made whether we are going to retain
the Spectra 70 and to review the purchase of any or all o~ its components. The
purchase option of 65 percent of rental costs can be exercised on components
purchased.
Mr. BROOKS. What do you consider to be the most pressing problems
for you to overcome in order to make better and more efficient use of
the computer that you are now leasing?
Mr. TIERNEY. I believe that one of the most important problems is
getting competent programers. I think everybody has that problem in
the automatic data processing field. I am not sure what the other prob-
lems are.
Mr. Schmid.
Mr. SCHMID. One of the principal problems we have, our Spectra 70,
we acquired on Jvtly 1, and most of our programs are written in a lan-
guage that was used on our old RCA-301. We are in the process now
of converting our language to what is called COBOL and FORTRAN,
which will speed up the processing by 25 percent. As soon as we get
PAGENO="0029"
2~
over this hump, which will take some few months, we are goin~ to be
able to speed up and put more things on the computer.
As the Chairman said, we found it rather diMcult to recruit trained
people. Three-fourths of the people in our computer program opera-
tions are relatively new recruits who have the potential to be in this
kind of a program, but we have to train them, Mr. Chairman. After
We train them, we lose about half of them to other agencies and private
industry. This has been a real problem, the personnel turnover.
Mr. BRooKs. This is a problem everybody is facing in this area.
G. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Would you describe for the subcommittee the elements of your per-
sonnel management program?
Mr. TIERNEY. Of course, the personnel management is in the Office
of the Managing Director and under the direct supervision of our
Director of Personnel, Mr. Adams.
Personnel management is extremely important to us, Mr. Chairman,
and we feel we are making every effort in this particular area to im-
prove it. As a result of a Civil Service Commission study, they sug-
gested certain areas of improvement, which are listed in our exhibits
here, and as to all those areas we think we are making progress.
Mr. BROOKS. I would like to put in the record at this point exhibit
E, without objection.
(Exhibit E follows:)
EXHIBIT E.-REPORT BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION: "HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM"
The Interstate Commerce Commission was last inspected during March and
April 1964. This was a followup of the June 1963 inspection. The personnel
management program has probably changed considerably since then.
The 1963 inspection identified specific achievements and weaknesses.
Favorable findings include such things as:
There was attention to planning for and acquiring human resources.
Efforts were being made to increase efficiency of operations and
productivity of the work force.
Ongoing plans for improving work environment and expanding health
services were evident.
There was compliance with legal and regulatory requiremen~~ in
appointments, promotions, and pay.
Major weaknesses include:
Not using total ICC resources for recruitment.
Limited area for promotion and reassignment consideration.
Training and development activities narrow in scope.
Motivation and recognition devices not utilized sufficiently.
Long delays in making decisions regarding work organization and
structuring of positions.
Lack of an effective communication device to help translate written
personnel policies into actual programs in operation.
No systematic approach of evaluating and reporting on personnel
management operations.
Had not established positive-action programs in public policy areas
of special emphasis.
These weaknesses were caused by:
The lack of an effective center of authority for personnel management
growing out of the basic nature of the Commission's form of organiza-
tion. The yearly rotation of the Chairman and the fact that the Execu-
tive Director cannot, regardless of his personal ability, act as a true
manager, creates the possibility of serious personnel management
problems.
PAGENO="0030"
26
An unwillingness by managers to accept their responsibflity for per-
sonnel management.
Interstate Commerce Commission was reorganized soon after our inspection
report was issued; however, we ~1on't know whether the reorganization solved
any of the problems.
Mr. BROOKS. I have a copy of the 1964: personnel management pro-
gram and the highlights on that inspection that was made originally
in 1963. Their findings weren't too favorable. You might be fairly in-
nocent of that. But the favOrable findings were rather limited and
the major weaknesses were pretty significant.
I wonder if you have had a current evaluation of those weaknesses.
What have you done about those? Are you familiar with that docu-
ment, Mr. Schmid?
Mr. SCHMID. Yes, I am.
Mr. BROOKS. I wish you would give us an analysis of what has been
done to meet these specific problems. By now you should have most of
them whipped if you can whip it.
Mr. SOH1VIID. Mr. Chairman, on recruitment, we were trying to
recruit throughout the organization from our central offices. At their
suggestion and working closely with them, we now use our regional
managers in the field; we arrange more extensive interviews with the
various colleges throughout the country; we do some advertising; we
have utilized our field people all the way on recruitment.
On attorneys, for example, where we formerly sent out key people
from Washington to various field offices, we now use our regional man-
agers. We find we get a better cut of young attorneys. We find that the
system is much improved.
The Civil Service hasn't been back to check on this, but I think
when they do they will find we have pretty much adopted most of their
suggestions for improving this one.
Mr. BROOKS. Would you give us a rundown on your efforts to meet
the weaknesses pointed out at that time?
Mr. SCHMID. For the record or right now?
Mr. BROOKS. For the record.
Mr. ScHMID. Yes, sir. I certainly will.
(The information requested follows:)
MAJOR WEAKNESSES-CSC REPORTS OF 1963 AND 1964
1. NOT USING TOTAL icc RESOURCES FOR RECEIIITME~T
We have extended nationwide our clerical, attorney, accountant, and other
specialty recruitmel4t programs through use of our regional managers and field
professional personnel. The regional managers direct the staff in their regionS
in contacting carrier manpower sources and academic institutions. Special atten-
tion is given to minority group recruiting. Use of paid advertising in the various
trade journals has been helpful in locating tariff examiner and accountant per-
sonnel. We continue to use our executive and professional staffs in headquarters
to helprecruit for our positions.
2. LIMITED AREA FOR PROMOTION AND REASSIGNMENT CONSIDERATION
In the clerical and administrative areas, promotions continue to be made
across bureau and office lines underour merit promotion plan. In the technical
and professional area, movement is somewhat restricted because of the special-
i1~i~s involved. Accountants move up in our Bureau of Accounts. Economists,
mathematicians, an~l statisticans move up in our Bureau of Economics. Tariff
exGminers move up in our Bureau of Traffic. Since the consolidation in 1965
of our former three Bureaus of Finance, Rates and Practices, ~icid Operating
PAGENO="0031"
27
Rights into our present Office of Proceedings, the area has been increased for
promotion and reassignment of the ma~ority of our attorneys~ In addition,
promotion and reassignment of nttorneys does take place across lines in bureaus
and offices having attorney positions-the General. Counsel's Office, the Secre-
tary's Ofilce, and the Bureau of Operations. Since the consolidation in 1967 of
our car service and motor carrier functions in the Bureau of Operations fol-
lowing the transfer of our safety fufictions to DOT, the promotion and re~
assignment area has been broadened for car service, special agent, and motor
carrier district supervisor personnel. Although there are area restrictions for
promotion and reassignment depending upon professional and technical skills,
at the executive levels the areas have been broadened. As a notable example,
the present Assistant Managing Director was promoted from a motor carrier
regional director position to a regional manager position; then to the position
of Assistant Director, Bureau of Operations (which in 1967 included rail and
motor functions); then to the present position of Assistant Managing Director,
3. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES NARROW IN SCOPR
A small, highly technical agency as the Commission must rely upon initial
recruitment and selection of highly developed and skilled candidates to meet
existing manpower needs. With limited availability of funds we restrict train-
ing and development activities to that which will meet the most urgent needs
of the Commission. We use on-the-job, off-the-job, and classroom training to
improve the performance of duties of employees in many activities such as
executive development, broad economic regulation, legal technicalities, secre-
tarial sciences, office machine maintenance and repair, statistics, English usage,
and computer and automatic data processing. Courses in FORTRAN Program-
ming have enabled new computer programers to attain a higher degree of pro-
ficiency in a shorter period of time than would have been possible through on-
the-job training. RCA Spectra 70 Programing enabled our programing staff to
become more proficient in utilizing new computer equipment. University courses
in transportation, accounting, statistics, and mathematics have assisted our cost
analyst trainees to accelerate their performance. The Commission continues to
emphasize self-development outside the Commission; however, training and de-
velopment programs have been considerably extended since 1963-64.
4. MOTIVATION AND RECOGNITION DEVICES NOT UTILI~RD SUFTICIENTLY
During fiscal year 1966, the Commission initiated a stepped-up suggestion
system aimed at getting at least one suggestion for improvement from every
10 employees. Suggestions from employees on bow we could reduce costs or do
more work without increased resources, showed impressive gains-not only
surpassing the 1-in-lO rate but an increase of over 800 percent in submissions
over the previous year.
We inaugurated a new element in the awards program to recognize employees
who excel in communication, courtesy, and service to the public. To date over
50 employees have been awarded special Commission certificates of excellence
for their performance reflecting the public service goals.
Since 1963, we have emphasized recognition of employees whose work per-
formance is considered above that ordinarily found in the position. Twice each
y~ar selected employees have been rewarded with high quality within-grade
salary iticreases because of exceptional Work perforniance. Since establishment
of this program, over 165 employees have been so rewarded.
The Oommisslon continues to give emphasis to the motivation and recognition
* of employees under the Incentive awards program timid by use Of other recognI-
tion devices.
5. LONG DELAYS IN MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING WORK OROARIRATION
A~D STRUCTURING OF POSIT~ONS
No doubt there have been delays in certain functional areas regarding work
organization and structuring of positions. We believe it best to proceed with
caution in some of these areas. In connection with career structuring the 1963
Civil Service Inspection Report referred specifically to the question of whether
attorney assignments should be limited to one proceedings area or extended
by establishing planned avenues of development across bureau lines. The question
of specialist versus generalist has been a matter of serious consideration over
PAGENO="0032"
28
the past few years in connection with the processing of our ever.increasing
formal proceedings caseload (rates, finance, and operating rights). However, the
substantial increase In our caseload without an equivalent Increase in personnel
was a primary contlderation in consolidating all of our proceedings work in a
single Office of Proceedings and the use of attorneys in all Specialty areas. We
feel this refinement of our proceedings work over the past few years has been
a good move and will result in continued greater production of eases.
The creation of the Department of Transportation and transfer of ICC safety
functiofis to that agency resulted in our organizing and structuring in one l3nreau
of Operations, the positions in connection with economic regulation of rail, mo-
tor, water, and freight forwarder activities. In general, we believe we give care-
ful consideration to the need for work organizational changes. When changes are
deemed desirable, we move expeditiously and structure the positions as
appropriate.
S. LACK OF AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICE TO HELP TRANSLATE WRITTEN
PERSONNIIL POLICIES INTO ACTUAL PROGRAMS IN OPERATION
The Chairman and Vice Chairman have acquainted themselves with and given
support to the current concepts of the Commission's personnel management pro-
gram, its policies, and procedures. They make their views known to all bureau
and office officials as appropriate occasions arise. The Managing Director effec-
tively presents and supports the personnel program with top management and
has provided the necessary leadership to place personnel programs into actual
programs in operation.
In a small agency such as the ICC, effective communication devices are easily
developed for the mutual exchange of information and ideas between manage-
ment and employees up, down, and across organizational lines in the formula-
tion and change of practices or procedures which affect the individual employee
or group work situations. Information about new or revised personnel policies,
procedures, cbanges~ and development is promptly disseminated to management
officials and appropriate employee organizations before they are made effective
in order to obtain comments and suggestions. Such participation serves to help
translate written personnel management policies into actual programs in op-
eration when the regulations are promulgated~
The Vice Chairman meets each month with the Managing Director and the
regulatory bureau heads to discuss problems and to give emphasis and support
to ongoing programs. At these meetings, the Managing Director discusses new
personnel management policies and reemphasizes those programs which have
become lax. New or revised personnel management programs are discussed at
the lowest levels through bureau and `office supervisory conference devices in
such a manner appropriate to reach the maximum `number of employees.
Top management officials maintain an ~`open door" policy and employees are
encouraged to use various channels of communication to discuss personnel poii-
des and any problems they may have, including consultation with appropriate
union representatives and members of the Personnel Office.
7. NO SYSTEMATIC APPROACH OF RVALUATING AND REPORTING ON PERSONNEL'
MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS
This Commission has a system, conducted by the Director of Personnel, of
reviewing personnel operations and practices, evaluating their effectiveness,
identifying problem areas, and implementing corrective action. This is done
on a regular basis by onsite review and discussion with operating officlals both
in the field and in the headquarters. This system has resulted in greater aware-
ness by supervisors of personnel management programs, techniques, problems,
and approaches for solutions and improvement. Status reports and recommenda-
tions are made to theManaging Director.
In addition, we have monthly reports from regional managers and bureau
and office heads which include personnel management problems. We have an
action plan for equal employment opportunity which requires periodic reports
from bureau and office heads on efforts taken to assure equal employment op-
portunity regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, martial status,
politics, physical handicap, and age.
PAGENO="0033"
29
8. HAD NOT ESTABLISHED POSITIvE-AcTION PROORAMS IN PUBLIC POLICY AREAS OP
SPECIAL EMPHASIS
At the time of the Civil Service Commission inspection in 1963, the program
referred to was the "Equal Employment Opportunity Program". The Civil Serv-
ice Commission's followup inspection report in 1064 indicated that the Interstate
Commerce Commission has made much progress in this program. Since then they
have approved our action plan for equal employment opportunity which also
covers the Federal women's program. This Commission has cooperated fully
in all public policy areas of special emphasis including (1) employment of the
handicapped; (2) employment of the aged; (3) employment of the mentally
retarded; (4) the Neighborhood Youth Corps; (5) Job Corps; (G) the economi-
cally disadvantaged through the Manpower Development Training Act; (7) the
President's Youth Opportunity Campaign; (8) Operation "MUST" (maximum
utilization of skills and training); and (9) employee-management cooperation.
H. GENERAL A000tTNTfNG OFFICE REPORTS
Mr. BROOKS. Has the General Accounting Office issued any audit
reports on the overall operations of your agency, that is, reports not
directed at a functional program of the agency, but rather at the
management and administration of the agency?
Mr. TmaiNEy. The last report was in 1962. The investigation and
audit by the General Accounting Office was in 1962.
Mr. BROOKS. I don't believe that would be current flow.
Turning to your program breakdown-.
Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Chairman, before we leave this, may I ask a
question?
Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Thompson.
Mr. THOMPSON. When DOT was formed, how many personnel were
transferred from your agency to DOT?
Mr. TIERNEY. 430.
Mr. THOMPSON. What functions, basically, were transferred?
Mr. TIERNEY. Safety.
Mr. THOMPSON. These were primarily the safety people?
Mr. TIERNEY. Yes, sir.
Mr. THOMPSON. When they are transferred, there was no decrease
in their employment status?
Mr. TIERNEY. No, sir. In some situations they improved.
Mr. SOHMID. Mr. Congressman, we also transferred a little better
than $5 million.
Mr. THOMPSON. Did that $5 million represent only the salaries'?
Mr. SCHMID. Salaries and related costs.
Mr. THOMPSON. In other words, there was a complete transfer of
this 400-and-some-odd people and all the related costs there?
Mr. SCHMID. Yes, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. Subsequent to a report this committee issued on the
ICC a couple of years ago, they sent us a 20-page letter and didn't
agree with one recommendation we made on railroad safety. Twenty
pages of why we didn't know what we were talking about and why
the things they were doing were correct. Thank heaven they are not
administering~that any more. I don't think anybody can do a worse
job in administering railroad safety. That is the way it came out, 20
95-9O5-6S-~
PAGENO="0034"
30
pages of nothing that the railroad people said. was true at all-that
the ICC was right.
Mr. THOMPSON. I trust on the tariffs and other regulatory functions
of the agency you have found there has been better cooperation?
Mr. BRooKs. Somewhat. We haven't really finished with them yet.
We are just getting started.
Mr. THOMPSON. Those are all my questions.
Mr. BRooKs. Mrs. Heckler.
Mrs. HECKLER. I have some general questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BROOKS. You go right ahead. For the committee's interest, we
will ask the chairman to have the heads of his various programs give
us a synopsis of those. I think tirnewise we can keep that in mind,
but other than that now would be a good time for you to discuss your
questions with the chairman.
Mrs. HECKLER. I must say, Mr. Tierney, my questions initially are
prompted by having attended a convention of one of the nationwide
motor carriers. I eavesdropped a little on their conversations and
learned some of their complaints. I would like to mention a few of
them to you.
The ICC supervises the rates charged by railroads, motor carriers
and water carriers. Have you given any consideration to reducing the
paperwork and the time required in handling the rate changes? Many
of the complaints and criticisms that I heard involved what they con-
sidered excessive paperwork which seems to be generally multiplying.
Have you considered perhaps establishing a block rate whereby car-
riers could have some discretion within a given range without having
to file a rate change with the ICC?
Mr. TIERNEY. We have not to my knowledge, Mrs. Heckler. With-
out giving it some thought in depth, conceivably so many factors enter
into our consideration as to whether or not a rate is reasonable or not,
it would be very difficult to arrive at some sort of a block rate of
reasonableness.
As we administer the act now, there is this area of reasonableness.
We don't have a situation where a rate is automatically too high at
this level or too low at this level. There is this great level of reason-
ableness on the high side and on the low side to permit competition
within the area. But we have not considered a block rate.
The law as administered requires the filing of rates with the Com-
mission. This, as far as rates are concerned, is where the paperwork
is involved. The reason for that law is, of course, to avoid the prob-
lems that occurred way back in the 1880's which prompted regulation,
that they be open published, and available for everyone to examine.
I might say there is much thought being given now, and I am sure
we will make a lot of progress, to the simplification of rates.
One of our problems is that we have, I forget how many, trillions
of rates on file, many of which are not being used by the carriers at all.
Eventually we hope-and this will take time, cooperation, and
money not only in the rate bureaus of the carriers but the industries
themselves-to cancel some of these rates that are not being used.
Mrs. HECKLER. Are you in the process of making changes in this
direction now, or is this in the realm of conversation and speculation?
Mr. TIERNEY. This is in the realm of preliminary studies in this area.
Mrs. HECKLER. Is your Commission conducting studies now?
PAGENO="0035"
31
Mr. TIERNEY. Right now, on this business of tariff simphcation,
there is a study being conducted. The forum being used is the Trans-
portation Association of America in which the Commission, other
Commissions, the Department of Transportation, and industry are
participating.
Mrs. HECKLER. Is it your opinion that the law, as it presently stands
on the books, is needlessly complicated?
Mr. TIERNEY. With reference to-
Mrs. HECKLER. Rates.
Mr. TIERNEY. To rates?
Mrs. HECKLER. Rate change procedures.
Mr. TIERNEY. I think the law is very broad with respect to rates.
Complicating the thing, of course, is the fact that so many rates in
many instances are filed and are on file.
Mrs. HECKLER. This actually means that you have a wide area of
discretion within the Commission to simplify procedures; is that
right?
Mr. TIERNEY. When you get into the publication of rates, I would
say no. As to the requirement that they all be published and open and
every time a carrier wants to establish a new rate, I don't think we
have any discretion as to that requirement.
Mrs. HECKLER. Beyond the question of the publication of the rates,
concerning the structuring of the rates, if you wish to simplify the
procedures, according to what I interpret as your answer, you have
quite a bit of discretion, or the Commission does, that you could exer-
cise as a matter of your own internal regulation; is that not so?
Mr. TIERNEY. Rates involving carriers that are not under our juris-
diction require a combined effort on the part of not only our Commis-
sion but the CAB and the FMC and industry itself.
Mrs. HECKLER. What is the nature of the preliminary study that
you are making in this area?
Mr. TIERNEY. The study is directed toward the simplification of
tariffs, and eventually being able to put them on computers.
Mrs. HECKLER. What steps have you taken to conduct this study?
In other words, how are you doing it?
Mr. TIERNEY. It is being done now. It is at a preliminary discus-
sion stage, and very preliminary at this particular point. The attempt
is to get everybody together and communicating on it.
Mrs. HECKLER. What is the average time devoted to a rate change
proceeding by the ICC, for example, a motor carrier or rail hearing
or pipeline?
Mr. TIERNEY. We are required under the act generally to dispose
of a case within 7 months.
Mr. C0RBIN. Generally the average runs a little less than 7 months,
but if I might just address myself to one other side, Mrs. Heckler,
I think that what the motor carriers you were listening to didn't point
out was the fact that they published thousands upon thousands of
rates to which there are no protests and they go into effect automati-
cally on the effective date. It is only a small portion of the rates that
are published that are actually protested and suspended and then we
have a formal proceeding on them.
Mrs. HECKLER. Mr. Chairman, will you furnish for the record sta-
tistics indicating the number of cases or petitions pending before the
PAGENO="0036"
32
ICC and the time it takes to dispose of them, or your past history on
disposition of these petitions? Can you give us that information?
Mr. TIERNEY. We can do it right now.
Mrs. hECKLER, Please submit it for the record.
Mr. TIERNEY. Surely.
(The information requested follows:)
Total number of cases (including rate cases) on hand Mar. 31, 1968 5, 207
Average time required for disposition during fiscal year 1967 (months) 8. 7
Mr. TIERNEY. I might say there are roughly 5,200 cases pending
before the Commission now, and our average time in disposing of them
is 8 months.
Mr. THOMPSON. Is your caseload increasing?
Mr. TrERNEY. It has been decreasing for a variety of factors. The
numbers are less, but at the same time the cases are becoming more
complex and difficult.
Mr. THOMPSON. May I ask a question?
Back in 1940, we in Georgia, of course, were very upset by discrim-
inatory rail rate structures primarily against the South. It would cost
much more to ship a machine item to the North than it would to the
South, and that was taken care of.
As I understa~d it, there is discrimination that takes place with
regard to the division between several rail carriers in the money that
is paid for a shipment. If something originates in Detroit and it is
shipped to Dothan, Ala., for example, and several rail carriers have to
handle it, the southern carriers tell me that they are not receiving a pro
rata portion for the work they are doing. Do you know anything about
this?
Mr. TIERNEY. There is a North-South divisions case pending before
the Commission. I think that is in court now.
Mr. THOMPSON. Former Governor Sanders of Georgia is the at-
torney in this matter. Why does this exist? What is the rationale for
paying more money to a northern carrier than to a southern carrier?
It doesn't affect the shipper, the shipper can ship for the same price;
it is simply a division of the money between the carriers.
What is the rationale on that, sir?
Mr. TIERNEY. Whether or not there is discrimination, of course, in a
case like that is a question of fact. That was the question before the
Commission in this case. We look at all of these aspects in these cases,
and we come to a conclusion as to what is a fair division. And as in all
these cases where we have East-West or North-South divisions, the car-
riers generally settle these matters themselves as a voluntary matter.
If there is a dispute involved, under the act, the Commission has the
authority in effect to decide the case to determine what are fair, reason-
able, and nondiscriminatory divisions.
In these cases we have found that large amounts of money are in-
volved. Irrespective of which way the Commission goes, it is generally
appealed to the courts.
Mr. THOMPSON. Is it your testimony that when your agency becomes
involved in this you attempt to have a distribution of the dollars in-
volved on an equitable basis between the carriers dependent upon the
amount of work they do and the number of miles over which the item
travels on rails?
Mr. TIERNEY. That is correct.
PAGENO="0037"
33
Mr. THoMPsoN. So the argument in this particular case is a question
of fact and not a question of policy?
Mr. TIERNEY. Essentially it is a question of fact in this case. There
have been some cases in the past where railroads in extremely pre-
carious financial positions were involved, and that might be taken
into consideration by the Commission, looking at our transportation
system as a whole and the public interest as a whole. I don't know
whether that was involved in this case or not.
Mr. THOMPSON. Do you at any time dictate to the various carriers
the percentage that each carrier is going to have when an item is trans-
ferred from one carrier to another and it covers a long distance?
Mr. TIERNEY. No, sir. The only time we would get into a situation
like that is in a divisions case where the carriers are unable to agree
and they come to the Commission and ask us to settle the dispute.
Mrs. HECKLER. Mr. Tierney, regarding your field offices, what per-
centage of your total manpower is located in the field offices? What
are their functions and has any consideration been gi~ten to consolidat-
ing them, to controlling more functions from Washington? In other
words, is there any way to cut dOwn on the paperwork and the man-
power requirements in the field office activities or do you feel that that
is one of the more efficient operations or most efficient operations of
your total department?
Mr. TIERNEY. I will ask Mr. Schmid to get the figures on that. Gen-
erally speaking, I think our field organization is an efficient opera-
tion. We have had several reorganizations in the field for various rea-
sons to make it an efficient operation, to improve management in the
field. We reorganized in 1963 in that area and set up regional man~
agers. We have reduced the number of field offices continuously since
that time. Much of the reduction recently was attributable to the
transfer of our safety work over to the Department of Transporta-
tion. With that many people gone we couldn't justify the number of
offices we had, so we reduced them from seven to six.
But generally speaking, our field complement now is just as low as
it possibly can be for us to carry out our responsibility.
Mrs. HECKLER. How much of the time and resources of the Commis-
sion are devoted to tariff questions?
Mr. TIERNEY. I just can't answer that question. I don't know
whether we have a breakdown of figures on that.
Mrs. HECKLER. Does the personnel of the department which inter-
prets and supervises tariff-
Mr. TIERNEY. That is our Bureau of Traffic Personnel-
Mr. SCHMID. 2,500.
Mr. TIERNEY. 2,500.
Mr. SCHMID. The total cost of that Bureau which deals mostly with
tariffs is $2,390,000.
Incidentally, in response to your earlier question, we have approxi-
mately 550 people in the field and about 1,300 here in Washington.
Mr. BRooKs. They testified earlier they have 1,840 onboard.
Mrs. HECKLER. In Washington?
Mr. BROOKS. No, total.
Mr. SOHMID. About 1,300 of them are in Washington.
Mrs. HECKLER. I just have one other question.
PAGENO="0038"
34
Regarding rail mergers, what measures has the ICC been able to
take or is considering or taking at the present time to reduce the time
and effort involved in the handling of a rail merger ~ It seems that
the delays go on indefinitely.
Mr. TIERNEY. Mergers do take considerable time. We are using every
effort we possibly can, at the same time retaining due process. This
is where the problem is, Mrs. Heckler. But what we are doing more
and more now is applying special staff groups to particular merger
cases with the idea of assisting, for example, the hearing examiners,
making sure they have enough staff, using our economic experts, our
accounting experts to assist them in the analysis of the information.
The major merger cases are assigned to individual commissioners-
this is recent, within the last year or two-for administrative control,
to be sure that time schedules are kept as closely as they can, that there
are no unusual delays.
We hope to improve as we go along to the extent that we can, within
the Commission, conclude the cases as expeditiously as we can. Of
course, after it gets out of the Commission, much of the delay is at-
tributable to actions in the courts. I think in practically all of these
cases, they eventually end up in the court somewhere because so much
is involved and they have a tremendous impact on the economy.
Mrs. HECKLER. Thank you.
Mr. BROOKS. Thank you very much, Mrs. Heckler.
PART 2. PROGRAM REVIEW
Now, Mr. Chairman, turning to the program breakdown, I would
appreciate a brief explanation of what each of the programs is and,
briefly, how it is performed. You have four programs. We have al-
ready covered general support.
Mr. TIERNEY. That is correct, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. You may want to call on the people who run those
programs and give us about 4 or 5 minutes on each one.
A. PROGRAM CATEGORY 1-REGULATION OF CARRIER RATES~ PRACTICES~
OPERATING AUTHORITIES, AND FINANCE
Mr. TIERNEY. We will start with activity 1, regulation of carrier
rates, practices, et cetera.
Mr. BROOKS. That is exhibit F, and it is your program category 1.
Without objection, I will put exhibit F in the record.
(Exhibit F follows:)
PAGENO="0039"
35
EXHIBIT F-FACT SREE'r~-REGULATION OF CARRIER RATES, PRACTICES, OPERATING
AUTHoRITIEs, AND FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY PROGRAM SUBPROGRAM
Regulation of Carrier Rate
100 ICC Practices Operating Autho ities
CODE CODE ant Finance CODE
200
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL CODES
300
400 FISCAL YE~Ut 1968
Uosbligot,d ApDeepristiee or CB~~~BS TotsI Total Obligatel
Coreyor'oS Year Reoo,st Avsitab1e~/ or EuDoDdad
000 "In house" inputs _________________ _________
510 Personnel:
511 Comp. ______________ ________
512 Benefits _____________ _________ 631,000
513 Travel ______________ _________ 171,000
320 Expenses: __________________ ____________
521 Communications _________________ ___________ 82 000
522 Transportation _________________ ______________ ____________
523 Printing ________________ ______________ 00
524 Supplies ansi Consum
able Materials _______________ 319,000
530 Capital Equipment ________________ _________________ _ 22,000
540 Land and Strurtores ________________ _______________
541 Additional Investment _________________ __________________
542 Rentu
550 Total 9.671.000
600 Funds distributed
610 Contracts
620 Grants
630 Loans
640 Benefits
650 Other
660 Total
100 Total
800
830
811
Input-output ratio
-
-
-~
*
1.Input
1. Output
-
820
821
2. Input
2. Output
-
-
-
-
830
831
840
841
3.Inpot
-
-
3. Ootput
4. Input
4. Output
-
-_________
S
850
851
5. Input
5. Output
-
-
S
-
-
-
-
-
6. Input
6. Output
-
*
7.Input
060
061 _______________________ _________________ ___________ ________________ _____________
870 ______________ ______________
871 ________________ ___________ ____________
880 _______________ ____________
881 _______________
JGioI,d for n,a of flso.a Coo orat A~IioiIio, Ssbooanill.a, Chsirooos Jark Boask, a-ott-s
1/ Anticipates $356,000 proposed supplemental appropriationfbr pay i~icreases authorized
by P.L. 90-206 and the release of $317,000 reserve required by P.L. 90-218.
7. Ootput _____________ _________ __________
PAGENO="0040"
36
PROORAM No. 1-REGULATION OF C~itaiaa ~4TES, PRAcTIcES, OPERATING
~&uPiio~rriis~, AND ~INANOE
(a) The statutory authority for the program is the Interstate Commerce Act
and related acts (41) U.S.C. 1, et seq.).
(b) The principal function of this activity is the processing to decision of all
formal and certain informal proceedings arising or initiated under the provisions
of the above acts dealing with the activities of rail, motor, and water carriers,
brokers, freight forwarders, and pipelines. Most of these proceedings are initiated
by carriers, shippers, associations, and other interested persons by the filing of
various types of pleadings, including applications, complaints, petitions, tariffs,
and protests. Others are initiated by the Commission on its own motion and in-
elude investigations and rulemaking proceedings.
Most of the less Important proceedings are decided initially by boards of em-
ployees, with the right of the parties to appeal to a division of the Commission.
The cases of General Transportation importance or of major importance are de-
cided by the entire Commission or by one of the three divisions.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1967, the Commission disposed of 20,932
formal and informal proceedings in this activity. The number of persons engaged
in the program total 732, with a budget allocation of $9,671,000.
This program constitutes the backbone of the Commission's economic regula-
tory program; it is administered within the framework of the national trans-
portation policy, all to the end of developing, coordinating, and preserving a na-
tional transportation system by water, highway, and rail, as well as other means,
adequate to meet the needs of the commerce of the United States, of the postal
service, and the national defense.
The growing economy constantly demands increased transportation services.
Public and private transportation requirements are met by the institution of new
services or by extensions, realinements, or consolidations of the old ones. Con-
tinued economic regulation by the Commission is essential to the maintenance
and growth of our existing transportation system-a system owned by private
management operated at a profit and which pays huge taxes. Such regulation,
of course, must be sufficiently flexible to respond to changing conditions, to ad-
vancing technology, and to the shifting requirements of commerce as it adapts to
the social and productive needs of the American people.
(c) The person primarily in charge of this program at the staff operating
level is Mr. Bertram B. Stillwell, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Mr. TIRRNEY. If I might start with the Director of the Office of
Proceedings, Mr., Chairman, Mr. Betram Stiliwell.
Mr. Stiliwell i~ here, and he will explain very briefly the operations
of this area.
Mr. BRooKs. Let me ask Mr. Cheseldine a couple of questions while
Mr. Stiliwell is getting organized. He is associated with you in your
shop?
Mr. STILLWELL. He is the Chief Examiner in the Section of Hear-
ings.
Mr. BROOKS. A year or so ago, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Cheseldine,
the subcommittee reviewed the transcript in the Southern Grain case
and, as I recall, the transcript alone was some 35,000 pages. This, of
course, was an extreme case, an extreme example. But a review of other
ICC proceedings suggests the possibility that these ICC hearing ex-
aminers admit almost all exhibits that are offered and permit cross-
examination to continue ad infinitum. It just goes on and on and on.
There are some people, hearing experts, who feel that the hearing ex-
aminers, in effect, lose control of the proceedings with the result that
the hearings go on for months and the decisions in the cases are sub-
jected to pretty extensive delays, and they are expensive for people,
for litigants.
Mr. CHESELDINE. Admitting what you say, generally, I have to say
this in the grain case. Examiner Boisseree is one of our most expe-
PAGENO="0041"
37
rienced examiners. If there was any delay or extension in that, it was
not his fault but the parties involved.
We had a recent extensive P.C. & N. case involving more than
10,000 pages of testimony seeking motor carrier authority out of the
Southeast into the Southwest. That case took almost a year to hear
with hiatuses between sessions, and we had two of the most efficient
examiners that we have on the staff on that case, but it took a year
to hear. But they had to hear a thousand witnesses.
We always hear of complaints that we don't control, but the minute
that we koep something out, then, we have the problem of we don't
afford the parties due process of law.
Mr. BRooKs. Surely 35,000 pages of testimony is not necessary to
make a decision. How much of that is really pertinent to what the
examiner and what the Commission is later going to act on? I just
cannot conceive of there being 35,000 pages of pertinent information
on a decision of the type that was finally rendered.
Mr. CIIESELmNE. The fact about what is brought into the record is
not the examiner's fault. He can't keep stuff out that he doesn't know
what it is about. Don't forget this, we have the most astute lawyers
in the country presenting these cases, and as Judge Friendly said in
one of his reports in the New York Central-Pennsylvania Railroad
merger-it was one of the intermediate reports on the appeal before
the Supreme Court-and he delved into 25 pages of argument of the
parties and characterized the whole thing as merely jockeying for
position. That is what goes on.
It is what is going on in the Rock Island merger case which has
been going on for over a year.
Mr. BRooKs. Don't you think there ought to be some consideration
given to not allowing, in effect, dilatory practices? They are just
killing time and they make a fair decision more difficult. They obscure
the facts by this mass of information which not many people are going
to read and even fewer are going to understand.
I am just wondering if there might not be some way-you are the
chief hearing examiner, you have been in this for a long time-if there
might not be some way of changing this pattern of 10,000~ 15,000,
20,000 pages of testimony and hearings that really are pretty much
your just being tolerant.
Can't the examiner limit the amount of that material that can be
put in the record? Mr. Tierney is not going to read it all.
Mr. CHESELDINE. We have been doing what we can, Mr. Chairman.
I don't know how the testimony in the grain case was, but I know
about these Southwestern cases. All the direct testimony or practically
all of it was put in through written statements, and this hearing was
set on the basis of cross examination.
We tried to cut it down this way. How can an examiner say when
things become cumulative if we are dealing with operating rights that
are up in the millions? If you say, "Cut it off, you have put in enough,"
then we deny the application, they come right back and say we
shouldn't have told them to quit.
Mr. BROOKS. Federal judges have that feeling and they do it. I would
think that examiners would not be jeopardizing their position if they
accepted it for consideration, but don't make it a part of that big
record if you have 14 statements saying essentially the same thing.
95-908-68----e
PAGENO="0042"
38
I do this on occasion here. You have difficulties occasionally be-
tween Members of Congress and witnesses when we are giving them a
bad time. In those kinds of circumstances, sometimes those people bring
in a big book and they want to put it in the record. I tell them we will
appreciate that for the committee, we graciously take it, put it in a
nice area where it can be considered at leisure. I don't print that as
a part of the recoM because some third party might want to look at it.
If it is that thick and has this much of one viewpoint, one posi-
tion, you will never get through it. I think it makes for a more ob-
jective hearing, for a fairer presentation of the facts, if they are in
such shape that people-not just the members of the committee that
are directly concerned or the members of your organization-but some
third party can look at it and it makes sense. If it is 35,000 pages, you
have created a beautiful document that has no usefulness to very many
people.
I wish you would consider that. I just cannot believe that the public
interest is necessarily se1~ved by allowing everybody in the world to fill
up a record that really obscures the facts and makes more difficult a
real evaluation of the varying viewpoints, presentations and issues of
a given Case.
Mr. OHEsELnI~. I quite agree with you, sir, but I do again say that
we are dealing with laywers that are interested in the delay, in con-
stant delay and waiting for the best opportunity for them to present
their situation.
Mr. BRooKs. I would hope that the Commission would consider that.
It might be----
Mr. STILLWELL. If I may, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Cheseldine has only
dealt with some of these big cases, but we do have many procedures for
modified procedure in the handling of cases with special procedures,
by special orders, which the parties reduce their evidence to writing.
I would like to ask Mr. Cheseldine to expand on that. He is the ex-
pert in the field.
Mr. THoMPsoN. I would imagine any time you could have agree-
ment between theparties they could stipulate how these matters would
be handled.
Basically, what you are saying is that one party would not agree
to a stipulation and he wants to get it in the record primarily as a
method of delaying the proceedings. And this is his purpose and
intent.
If this is his purpose and intent, Mr. Chairman, I think you are
absolutely right, that something should be done to put a stop to it,
because it does clutter up the record and it is difficult for an observer,
a casual observer, whether he be a Member of Congress-
Mr. BRooKs. Or a small litigant but a party in interest.
Mr. THOMPSON. That is right.
Mr. CHESELDINE. In the case you have been referring to there was
a lot of money involved, and they are going to fight it right down the
line.
If we don't hear it, they are going to court and it will be thrown
back at us. That is what our problem is. You can't throw things out
you don't know about.
Mr. BROOKS. You know that old saying, "Justice delayed is justice
denied," and it certainly delays a lot of it.
PAGENO="0043"
30
Mr. CHESELDINE. I have been criticized by the Civil Service Com-
mission for keeping my records down to a point that some people
argued that I have already made up my mind and kept the record
that way for that reason.
Mr. Buooxs. I wouldn't worry about that. Was your decision the
right one
Mr. CnE5ELmNE. As far as I am concerned,
Mr. BROOKS. You just saved a lot of money and a lot of bother. I
would be more worried about the rightness of my decision than the
rightness of letting everybody fill up the record so that nobody could
question that decision.
Mr. CiJESELDINE. Mr. Stiliwell and I have both preached this at
various conventions. They take it, they think it is nice, and they go
back to their old practices.
Mr. BROOKS. I think you should consider the possibility of recom-
mendations that would make it more practical to prepare these records
and to hear these cases.
Mr. CIJESELDINE. We have just put a new procedure into effect in
the last 6 or 7 months. We are faced with a lot of what we call shotgun
applications.
We now require the applicant to disclose his entire testimony in
advance so that we can go to the hearing, hear those witness on cross-
examination, hear the protestants and wrap the thing up in one hear-
ing rather than having two or three.
Mr. BROOKS. Of course, I don't think that you as examiners are
totally helpless when you have a hearing. You know, if I were a
hearing examiner, I don't care how many million dollars were at
stake, and the lawyers for one side or the other kept loading up that
record, they would be jeopardizing my good nature.
I think that there is a way to get their attention. It is like telling
them that anybody can do it in 50 pages, but it takes somebody with
brains to do it in one. Just say, "Counselor, I know you are well in-
formed because you are surely well paid, and maybe your client would
encourage you to condense and capsule your comments into 10 or 20
pages instead of 10,000." This is the kind of comment that might get
their attention. They would be trying to appeal that decision just as
soon as I rendered it, and it wouldn't be taking me a whole lot of
time.
I would be guilty, perhaps, of what you might have been accused.
If they insist on just loading you up, tell them you won't allow it. I
don't let agencies do that. We have some agencies that come in and
bring big stacks of stuff, and they want to read page after page. Just
stop them.
Mr. CHESELDINE. I don't ~ay that the whole staff is perfect, I don't
mean that. I don't say I am perfect. We are trying to do a job. We
have some awfully tough cases involving a lot of money.
We also have a lot of small cases, and you can see from our produc-
tion that we are getting them out. We are trying to improve our pro-
cedures, but for everything we think of, the lawyers seem to think of
something to offset it.
We changed the application form; we have changed procedures.
We have done almost everything. But they are one step ahead of us.
PAGENO="0044"
40
We just got instructions the other day to revise the rules again. We
have changed them twice or three times in the last 7 years. They still
try to get around them or have some excuse. Even the matter of post-
ponement of hearings has gotten to the point where they know the
one good reason that they have is somebody is sick,
So somebody has got to get sick. You know you can get a doctor's
certificate for $5 or $10, so that doesn't do us much good.
Mr. BRoOKS. Mr. Stiliwell.
Mr. STILLWELL. The activities which the Office of Proceedings is en-
gaged in consist generally of processing to decision all the formal
cases and many of the informal cases of the Commission. They include
applications for motor carrier operating rights, applications for water
carrier operating rights, rate changes, temporary authorities of vari-
ous kinds, and so forth. We do have a little jurisdiction of the rates
of pipelines.
It is a big operation. It involves a large number of people. Included
in the operation, of course, are the Commissioners and their staff, the
staff of the Office of Proceedings, and the support staffs that are in
the Bureau of Traffic and the Bureau of Accounts.
The Commission has no control for the most part over the number
of proceedings which they are called upon to handle. Most of the pro-
ceedings are initiated by the carriers or by the shippers or by other
people who are interested in some phase of our transportation
activities.
We have no alternative but to process them and process them in the
best way we can and in the fastest way we can. So we have set up an
organization which we feel is very efficient.
The cases of major importance, general transportation importance,
are decided at the Commission or the division level.
All the other cases which we call of minor and lesser importance
are handled by review boards or decisional boards of employees. That
includes the rate changes which are first handled by the Board of Sus-
pension. It includes temporary authorities for motor carriers. It in-
cludes decisions in all the areas in which we operate by five review
boards.
All the board actions are subject to an appeal. Any decision of our
employee boards may be appealed to the appropriate division of the
Commission, so we are able, through the employee board system, to
move the cases at a fast pace and give a quick decision, and at the.
same time, preserve to them the right of appeal to the division or the
Commission.
The cases come in very fast. We have big cases. We have small ones.
We have a case which may involve a request for motor carrier au-
thority that is unopposed. We can handle that very promptly. We
use nothing but an order granting or denying it. That decision is made
by an employee board.
Mr. BRooKs. Mr. Stiliwell, could we give you the right to revise
and extend your comments?
Mr. STILLWELL. Yes, sir.
Mr. BrtooKs. At this point maybe we had better move on if we are
going to hear from the other program directors, Mr. Chairman. Would
you include, Mr. Stiliwell, the number of personnel in your particular
operations?
Mr. Sm~LwELL. Yes, sir. There are 732.
PAGENO="0045"
41
13. PR0~RAM GAPEGORY 2-COMPLIANCE
Mr. TIERNEY. We are down to compliance. Mr. Robert Pfahier, Di-
rector of our Bureau of Operations.
Mr. BROOE~. Before you proceed, I wculil put in Exhibit G and
exhibits H and I at the appropriate points.
(Exhibit G follows:)
EXHIBIT G.-FAIT ~IIEET-OOMPLIA15TCE PEoGRAM~-1OC
500
510
511
512
513
520
521
522
523
524
530
540
341
542
550
600
610
620
630
640
650
600
700
800
818
831
820
821
830
831
840
841
850
851
860
861
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY PROGRAM SUBPROGRAM
ICC Comp1ia~ice
CODE CODS CODE
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL CODIiO
FISCAL YEAR 1968
"Is house" inputs
Personnel:
Comp.
IjeobGgnted
Caeeyoo:e
ApDeoneiotioo OcCOeSSDS
Ysne Recuat
TotS
AORta
Total Obtignt~4
Enpendsd
539~QQQ_
lo82ppQ..._
Bensfith
Travel
Expenses:
Communications
Transpsrtation
Printing
~~QQL~
Sopplies and Consum-
able Materials
Capital Equipment
Land and Structures
Additional Inveotment
BeEtS
.~~t÷O00___.~.
15 ,000_
*
.
~
~
Total
~99~QQp_
-
Funds_distributed
Contracts
Grants
Loans
Benefltn
Other
Total
Total
Input-output ratio
Input
Output
* Input
* Output
Peioe Fiscal
Y:u
=
-
-
-
-
--______
-
-
-
070 ________________ _______________ ________________ ________________
871 ______________________ _________________ ___________
880 ______________________ _________________ ___________ ____________ ______________
881 ________________ ________________ _________________
~inRd Our ass :1 Russo Cossrss,sns A,tinisiss Subsuosnittss, Chsieu'uo Josk 5,ssk, so-sot-a mu
ljAnticipRtes $386,000 proposed supplemental appropriation for pay increases authorized.
by P.L. 90-206 and the release of $311,000 reserve required by P.L. 90-218.
108
200
300
400
PAGENO="0046"
42
PROGRAM No. 2-COMPLIANCE
a. The statutory authority for this program is the Interstate Commerce Act
and related acts (49 U.S.C. sees. 1, et seq.) and the Commission's regulations
(49 CFR 1000, et seq.).
b. The compliance program of the Commission is basically a field oriented pro-
gram. In addition to the effort to detect unauthorized, illegal operators, the field
staff members make compliance surveys on the properties of the regulated
carriers to assure that they are in compliance with the provisions of the law
and our regulations, and with their published tariffs. Where noncompliance is
uncovered in the course of compliance surveys, the findings are handled ad-
ministratively for correction or further investigation is conducted with a view
toward formal action before the Commission or in the Federal courts.
Complaints are received from shippers, other carriers, State regulatory bodies,
and the general public alleging violations Of the laws or regulations. These
allegations are investigated and handled for administrative correction; or where
flagrant or continuing, become the subject of prosecution in the courts or pro-
ceedings before the Commission.
Substantial information is developed concerning violations of the law and
regulations during our compliance surveys and complaint handling. Where viola-
tions are discovered, they are then assigned for thorough field Investigations
directed toward determining the degree of noncompliance by the carrier, and
in some instances by the shipper. In the course of these investigations, persons
are interviewed and evidence secured for consideration for formal legal en-
forcement action. The results of these investigations are then handled by the
Commission's enforcement attorney staff and become the basis of civil or crim-
inal proceedings in the Federal courts or are made the subject of a formal
Commission proceeding.
Punishment and elimination of unlawful acts aids the public by removal of
unfair competition and fosters a sound transport system.
The compliance program also includes the administration of the car service
provisions of the act, and the Commission's agents in the field assure that there
is equitable distribution and efficient use of the national rail car fleet.
Our compliance staff polices approximately 19,000 licensed motor carriers and
brokers of passengers and property, ranging from small carriers with only a
few vehicles operating from one or two terminals, to large carriers operating
several thousand pieces of equipment in numerous States and utilizing hundreds
of terminals; about 558 rail carriers operating over 26,000 stations and yards
encompassing a car fleet of more than 1% million frieght cars; 230 water carriers
operating in coastal and inland waters service; and 89 freight forwarders with
extensive operations.
The compliance program objectives for fiscal year 1968 are 10,530 compliance
surveys, 3,661 initial investigations resulting from complaints or leads supplied
by State agencies, and 1,109 final investigations instituted with a view toward
formal enforcement action. It is anticipated that the investigative activities will
result in the conclusion of 815 cases through prosecution in the courts or by pre-
litigation settlements of civil forfeiture claims plus about 200 formal Commis-
sion proceedings.
c. The investigatory portion of the compliance program is directed by Mr. Rob-
ert D. Pfahler, Director, Bureau of Operations; and the formal legal enforce-
ment activities are headed by Mr. Bernard A. Gould, Director, Bureau of En-
forcement.
Mr. PFAHLER. The compliance program is primarily a field program
which might be related to the activities of a police department or the
nffice of a prosecuting attorney. We are the compliance or enforcement
t~anch of the Commission to make sure that the law, the Interstate
Commerce Act and the related acts, and the Commission's regulations
are complied with by the carriers and the shippers.
We are the eyes and ears of the Commissioners in the field so that
they know what the carriers are doing. We detect completely unau-
thorized and illegal operators, and we make compliance surveys on the
reo'ulated carriers on their properties to assure that they are in com-
plTance with the Interstate Commerce Act and with the related
regulations.
PAGENO="0047"
43
These activities are primarily educational and aimed at voluntary
compliance, but as we pick up willful violations in the course of our
regular compliance surveys, evidence leading toward prosecution is
obtained.
The findings normally are handled administratively for correction
or where further investigations is necessary it is conducted with a view
of action before the Commission or in the Federal courts. We receive
complaints from shippers, other carriers, State regulatory bodies, and
the general public alleging violations of the law.
Where these allegations are made, they are investigated and han-
dled for administrative correction. Where they are flagrant or con-
tinuing, they become the subject of prosection in courts or proceedings
before the Commission.
We develop substantial information concerning violations, and
where these are discovered they are assigned for thorough field in-
vestigations directed toward determining the degree of noncom-
pliance by the carrier and in some instances by the shipper.
In the course of these investigations we interview people andget
evidence for consideration of formal legal enforcement actions. Ihe
results of these investigations are then handled by the Commission's
enforcement attorneys and become the basis of civil and criminal pro-
ceedings in the Federal courts or are made the subject of a formal
Commission proceeding.
Mr. THoMPsoN. If there are criminal proceedings, is this handled
by your staff o~ attorneys or by the Attorney General's Office?
Mr. PFAHLER. We take it through preparing the pleadings, develop-
ing the evidence and then it is turned over to the U.S. attorney, sir.
Mr. THoMPsoN. Is this true in a civil case?
Mr. PFAHLER. We use the civil forfeiture procedure partially. In
some cases we have to go to court. Our compliance program also
includes the administration of the car service provisions of the act.
The Commission's agents in the field assure that there is equitable
distribution and efficient use of the national railcar fleet.
Our compliance staff polices approximately 19,000 licensed motor
carriers and brokers of passengers and property, ranging from small
carriers with only a few vehicles operating from one or two terminals,
to large carriers operating several thousand pieces of equipment in
numerous States and utilizing hundreds of terminals; about 558 rail
carriers operating over 26,000 stations and yards encompassing a car
fleet of more than 1% million freight cars; 230 water carriers oper-
ating in coastal and inland water service; and 89 freight forwarders
with extensive operations.
The compliance program objectives for fiscal year 1968 are 10,530
compliance surveys; 3,661 initial investigations resulting from com-
plaints or leads supplied by State agencies; and 1,109 final investiga-
tions instituted with a view toward formal enforcement action.
It is anticipated that the investigative activities will result in the
conclusion of 815 cases through prosecution in the courts or by pre-
litigation settlements of civil forfeiture claims plus about 200 formal
Commission proceedings.
Mr. BROOKS. Would you give us for the record examples of the type
cases you have against the various types of carriers with which you
are dealing?
PAGENO="0048"
44
Mr. PFAHLER. I would be glad to, sir.
(Information to be furnished by the Commission follows:)
The compliance program is directed chiefly toward promoting the following
domestic ~urface. tr~ansportation concepts and objectiyes: adequate, economical,
and efficient transportation service; sound economic conditions in transportation;
reasonable charges; prevention of unjust disc~iffiinations, undue p~eferences or
advantages, and unfair or destructive competitive practices; and a traiasporta-
tion system adequate to meet vital national needs.
In order to achieve these objectives, oi~ir staff in the field conducts a nurhber of
types of investigations. Ohe of the majov investigatory processes is the conipli-
ance survey, aimed toward assuring compliance by those carriers whose opera-
tions are within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Compliance survey~~re con-
ducted in all areas of the carriers' economic operations, whether the carrier be
rail, motor, water, or freight forwarder, In conducting these compliance surveys,
our staff members physically visit carrier property to exatnine lt~ records, in-
cludillg accounts, ledgers and jotirtials, bills of lading atid freight billS, and
tariff charges. When discrepancies or violations are discovered, they are dis-
cussed with carrier officials; and an attempt is made to obtain vo1qnt~ry com-
pliance. In the event of flagrant, intentional, or continuing violation~s, the matter
wlll be further investigated, documented, and prepared for enforcement actiOn,
either in the courts or in a proceeding before the Cohimission. Examples of viola-
tions disclosed by compliance surveys consist of operating beyond the scope of
authority, extending credit beyond authorized limits, failure to tjmely handle
c~o.d. remittances, rate and tariff violations, and the granting of concessions or
rebates. Compliance surveys are initiated by the Commission's staff and are made
periodically.
While compliance surveys are generally utilized to determine general compli-
aice of carriers authorized by the Commission, road checks conducted at ports
of entry, State weighing scales, or along major routes of commerce, with t17.e
assistance of the State enforcement agencies, are utilized to detOrmine compli-
ance by all motor carriers, whether authorized by the Commission or pur-
portedly operating tinder an exemption or in private carriage. The purpose of
the road check is to physically examine a commercial vehicle's lading being trans-
ported in interstate commerce and the hills of lading and other documents
carried on the vehicle. Examples of violations and questionable operations devel-
oped through the road-check program would be clear-cut and undisguised opera-
tions without any authority; misdescription of freight; improper lease and inter-
change of vehicles by or between carriers; and unauthorized operations per-
formed by means of questionable shipper leasing, buy and sell arrangements,
agricultural cooperative associations, and shipper associations.
In addition to the above means for detecting possible unlawful operations,
another source of snch information is through complaints filed with the Comnils-
sion by carriers, public regulatory agencies, and the gener~i public. Upon re-
ceipt of complaint from these sources, generally an initial investiga~ion is under-
taken when the complaint covers an apparent violation of the law or a Com-
mission regulation. When this investigation is undertaken, it may be physically
conducted at a carrier's headquarters, at terminals or yards, or at a shipper's
place of business. Those complaints received which cover matters not subject to
our jurisdiction, such as intrastate shipments or adjudication of claims for loss
and damage, are handled administratively by personal contact or correspondence
with the carrier involved in an effort to informally resolve the cause of com-
plaint. Advice is also given to the complainant as to other appropriate channels
through which be might secure relief.
From the information developed through the summary investigations outlined
above, a. determination Is made as to whether a more 1nten~lve Investigation
looking toward enforcement action, Is warranted. There are a number of yard-
sticks used by the investigating and enforcement staff to determine whether a
complete investigation is appropriate. Generally before a final investigation is
undertaken, the possibility of complete adjustment through administrative han-
dling is ruled out. `Violations may be flagrant and continuing. The respondent
or respondents may have knowledge as to their unlawful activities but may
nevertheless, be unwilling voluntarily to comply or feel that further determina-
tion of the status of their operations in light of regulations should be tested in
the courts or before the Commission.
The final investigation requires the utmost skillfulness and diligence on the
part of the investigator. Many of the schemes and devices used by unlawful or
PAGENO="0049"
45
questionable carrier operators have become extremely sophisticated aud are
designed expertly to convey an appearance of legality. Jt is the investigator con-
ducting a final investigation, then, who must dig beneath the surface of a ques-
tionable operation and from the evidence uncovered apply the basic criteria
which have been developed through court and Commission proceedings and
present these facts to the Commission's enforcement staff. The subterfuges used
are varied. flowever, one scheme commonly used is referred to as a buy-and-Sell
arrangement, whereby a trucking operator alleges that he is the owner of the
commodity being transported by the use of fictitious documents to indicate such
ownership, when, in fact, the only profit to be realized from the transaction is
compensation for transportation. T~ assist the Commission in dealing with the
buy-and-sell problem, Congress, in 1958, incorporated the primary business test
into section 203(c) of the Interstate Commerce Act.
Another example is a s~bter~uge employed between the owner of trucking
equipment and a shipper, whereby the trucker purportedly leases his equipment
to the shipper to be used in private carriage. The lease, on its face, appears
valid. However, the investigation frequently reveals that the shipper actually
keeps two sets of records. One set is fictitious and is designed to indicate the
arrangement to be lawful. However, the second set of records reveals that the
truck owners were performing a for-hire ttans~ortation serVice identical to
other common carriers.
An example of a railroad granting substantial monetary concessions from its
published tariff rates involves the transportation of carload shipments of mixed
merchandise for freight forwarders. The offense consists of the acceptance and
immediate transportation by the railroad of indi~ridual cars containing freight
forwarder shipments on each of several days during a week, and then consolidat-
ing seven to 10 cars of such shipments on a single shipping document at the end
of the week for billing at the lower "battery shipment" freight rate. The carriers'
tariffs normally require that all cars constituting a shipment be tendered for
transportation on the same day in order to qualify for the "battery shipment"
rate.
Many of the schemes and devices used by truck operators are devised in an
attempt to take advantage of exemptions contained in part II Of the Interstate
Commerce Act. One such exemption is contained in section 203(b) (5). This
allows a bona fide farm cooperative to engage in transportation on a limited
basis for its members and some nonmembers without obtaining operating author-
ity from the Commission. An example of this type of arrangement is where a
truck operator, holding no operating authority from the Commission, organizes
a cooperative by obtaining permission from a number of farmers to use their
names in the formation of the cooperative. The truck operator then provides
transportation services to shippers under the claimed exemption. In many
instances the farmers never r~eOive any benefit from the association.
The above are but a few of the types of methods utilized by truck operators
and shippers to circumvent the requirements of the Interstate Commerce Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated by the Cothmissioh. Often time-consuming
and extenSive investigations are required to obtain the necessary evidence to
undertake enforcement action. This requires that an invOst~gator locate the
critical documents to support enforcement action at the carrier's or shipper's
place of business or elsewhere. Often it is necessary to locate and question
witnesses and secure statements, which, when pieced together with other docu-
mented evidence, reveal the true nature of the transportation operations being
conducted.
As the modus operandi of the questionable and unlawful carrier becomes more
sophisticated, there has been a reciprocal responsiveness on the part of the Com-
mission's staff. Their skill and the time given over to enforcement work have had
to increase as the schemes and devices have become more complicated. The ex-
panded efforts of the Commission in its compliance role have achieved consider-
able success. As an example, a re4~ent series of cases concluded in U.S. district
courts 1n~olved carrier payments to sugar receivers for alleged split delivery cart-
age service which was paid for but not performed. The rebates involved in this
illegal scheme amounted to over a half million dollars, and the investigation
covered a period of about 2 years. Fines totalling in excess of ~450,O0O were im-
posed against several rail and water carriers, sugar dealers, and eartage opera-
tors. Another recent case required about 2 months of investigation and concerned
the failure of a rail carrier, in the State of Washington to assess demurrage in
accordance with the tariff's rules. This case resulted in fines totaling $90,000
against the shipper (a large steel company) and the carrier.
PAGENO="0050"
46
Mr. BROOKS. How many people did you say were involved in your
program?
Mr. PFAIILRR. About 500.
Mr. BROOKS. Of that 500 employed in your total enforcement opera-
tion, how many investigators do you have in the field?
Mr. PFAHLER. There are 48 who are investigators as such, although
the transportation technicians, of which we have 182, do some investi-
gative work as part of their regular duties.
Mr. BROOKS. Our very able Republican counsel, Mr. Copenhaver,
who has been studying other hearings, estimates you have 526-111
in Washington and 415 in the field-and a percentage of those who
would be investigators would be across the board; some would be here
and some would be in the field, correct?
Mr. PFAHLER. We have only one investigator in Washington; 47 in-
vestigators in the field.
Mr. BROOKS. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Chairman.
c. PROGRAM OAThGORY 3-SUPERvISION AND ANALYSIS OF CARRIER
ACCOUNTING AND STATISTICS
Mr. TIERNEY. Next, Mr. Paolo, supervision and analysis of carrier
accounting and statistics.
Mr. BROOKS. You are in the Bureau of Economics?
Mr. PAOLO. Bureau of Accounts.
Mr. SCHMID. Both the Bureau of Economics and the Bureau of Ac-
counts are part of this activity.
Mr. BROOKS. That is where he was identified here, as the Bureau of
Economics.
(Exhibit H follows:)
PROGRAM No. 3.-Suru~visiox AND ANALYSIS OF CA1RuER ACCOUNTING
4ND STATISTICs
(a) The statutory authority for this program is the Interstate Commerce Act
and related acts (4~ U.S.C. sec. 1, et seq.),
(b) The principal functions relating to the supervision and analysis of car-
rier accounting and statistics consist of (1) developing, interpreting, and keep-
ing up-to-date uniform systems of accounts prescribed for the several modes of
transportation subject to the Commi~sion's jurisdiction. There are ii. different
accounting systems involved; (2) prescribing accounting and. statistical report-
ing requirements of annual and periodical reports; (3) examining the accounts,
records, reports, and financial statements of carriers to assure compliance with
the accounting and reporting regulations; (4) compiling and publishing trans-
portation, financial, and operating statistics; (5) performing work necessary for
the finding of value Qf pipeline carrier property for rateinaking purposes; and
(6) performing economic, mathematical, statistical, and related analytical work
necessary to fulfill important aspects of the Commission's regulatory
responsibilities.
Our accounting, reporting, and auditing activities are designed to insure t~rij-
formity in the application of carriers' accounting practices and accuracy in their
results. This is essential so that the financial and statistical reports filed with
the Commission are accurate and reflect factual financial and Operating condi-
tions. The benefits derived from these activities ~tre many. The Commission relies
on the accuracy of the statements, reports, and Commission compiled statistical
publications iii carrying out its many regulatory functions, including merger
proceedings, rate pro4~eedings, and other areas of respOnsibility. The public, in-
cluding stockholders, ratepayers, and financial institutiOns, also depends upon
the reliability of Commission published statements, the accuracy of which is
essential to maintain the continuous integrity of reported data.
PAGENO="0051"
47
EXHIBIT H.-FAOT SHEEP-SUPERVISION OF CARRIER ACCOUNTING AND STATISTICS-
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
500
510
511
512
513
520
521
522
523
524
530
540
541
542
550
300
610
620
630
640
350
660
700
800
810
811
820
821
830
831
840
841
850
851
860
861
870
871
880
881
The economic activities are designed to meet the needs of the Commission for
economic, statistical, and mathematical analyses, information and advice in pro-
ceedings support and policy development. This requires preparing economic,
financial, and statistical studies and analyses of problems directly related to the
function of economic regulation, and providing professional assistance and
services to the Commission, heading examiners, report writers, and others. These
services include preparing expert testimony and exhibits for submission in pro-
ceedings; preparing economic and statistical evaluations of testimony and ex-
hibits offered in evidenve by parties to Commission proceedings; and preparing
sampling guidelines and other criteria to facilitate development and review of
official records by Commission and others involved in Commission proceedings.
100
200
300
400
~~~upp1ernentaiappropr~atiofl for pay increases authorizef
by P.L. 90-206 ant the release of $311,000 reserve ~e3piired by 2.L. 90-218.
PAGENO="0052"
48
(c) Mr. Matthew Paol~, Director of the Bureau of Accounts, has direct opera-
tional responsibility over the accounting, reporting, and auditing activities while
Mr. E~iward Margolin, Director of the Bureau of Economics, is responsible for
the economic activities.
Mr. PAOLO. Mr. Chairman, this activity is generally in the supervi-
sion and analysis Of carrier accounting and statistics.
The principal functions relate to developing, interpreting, and up-
~lating uniform systems of accounts which the Commission prescribes
for the several modes of transportation.
We also develop and prescribe reporting systems by which we require
the carriers to report financial and operating data to the Commission.
In addition, we audit and examine accounts, records, reports, and
financial statements of the carriers to see that they are accurate and
in compliance with our accounting regulations.
We also compile and publish financial and operating data of the
industry for the COmmission and the public use.
Another activity involves the evaluation of pipeline operating prop-
erty for ratemaking purposes.
The last function, an important function, is the economic, mathe-
matic and statistical analyses of many of the important facets of trans~
portation for use by the Commission.
We have a staff of some 20'T people doing this work. Approximately
120 of that staff are professionals, including accountants, auditors,
engineers, economists, mathematicians, and statisticians. Sixty-five of
~ur accountant-auditors are in the field examining and reviewing the
records of the carriers.
I believe that basically explains very briefly the functions of this
activity.
Mr. Bnooics. It is a good explanation. Apparently, you do a good
bit of work that is of real benefit to carriers in evaluating what their
costs are, what their profits are, where they are spending their money,
and at the same time you can then compare those with other operators
in overall statistics of benefit both to the public and to the transporta-
tion industry.
Mr. PA0L0. This is correct.
Mrs. HECKLER. Do you receive the financial reports from the
carriers?
Mr. PAOLO. This is correct.
Mrs. HECKLER. Are they submitted according to a unified procedure?
Mr. PAOLO. Yes. We have formats for periodical reports such as
quarterly reports of revenues and expenses, wage statistics and com-
modity statistics, and our annual report is a very comprehensive re-
port of the entire operation.
It not only includes financial data but much statistical data. It
gets into operations, the car miles it gets into a number of areas, the
number of units of equipment and the miles they operate; things of
this nature.
Mrs. HECKLER. How much of this was put on APP?
Mr. PA0L0. As chairman Tierney explained we are working very
hard in this area. Most of it now has been put on APP. We are work-
ing on it very diligently.
Mrs. HECKLER. Are the financial reports of carriers put on APP?
Mr. PA0L0. Yes, particularly in connection with the accumulation
of this data for pu~blication purposes and for analyses purposes. We
make certain analyses through the computers.
PAGENO="0053"
49
Mrs. HECKLER. This is a very computerminded subcommittee.
Mr. BROOKS. Any questions, Mr. Thompson?
Mr. THOMPSON. No questions.
Mr. BROOKS. Thank you very much.
~D. PROGRAM CATEGORY 4-SUPERVISION AND I]~tTERP1~ETATION OF TARIFFS
Mr. TIERNEY. Next is Mr. Edward Cox, Supervision and interp~eta~'
tion of tariffs. He is director of our Bureau of Traflic,
(Exhibit I follows:)
EXHIBIT 1.-FACT SHEET-SUPERVISION AND INTERPRETATION OF TABITES-ICO
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY jla~j0 arid Interpretat ~I~BPRQGRAM
ICC of Tariffs
CODE CODE CODE
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL CODES
FISCAL YEAR 1968
"In house" inputs
Uoobligotod
Personnel:
Comp.
Yono Roquost
Benefits
Travel
Communi
Transpor
Printing
Totsl Totol Obligated
Aouiloblc oe Eupeedni
100
200
:355
400
500
810
511
512
513
520
521
522
523
524
.5311
.540
541
.542
.550
`600
610
620
630
640
650
660
Supplies and Consum-
able Materials
-1.000
nt
estmeot
Total
25~000
-~QQ-
1.757.000
Funds distributed
Contracts
Grants
Loans
Benefits
Other
Total
Input'output ratio
1. Input
1. Output
2. Input
2. Output
Polo: Fiseni
3. Input
3. Outsut
700 Total
800
.810
811
820 __________
821 _____________
830
831
840
841 __________
850
851
860 ___________
861
870
871
880
883
4. Input
4. Output
5. Input
5. Output
6. Input
It Output -
- Innut
- Output
* Input
- Output ______________
Priot,d foe soc of floSs, Gcsceo~oont Actioitioo Soboosooittso. Choicnos Jock B,ook, ~o at
~/ Anticipates $386,000 proposed supplemental appropriation for pay increases authorized
by P.L. 90-206 and the release of $317,000 reserve requi±'e~ by P.L. 90-218.
PAGENO="0054"
50
PROGRAM No. 4-SUPERvIsIoN AND INTISRPRETATION OF TARIFFS
(a) The statutory authority for this program is the Interstate Commerce
Act and related acts (49 USC sec. 1, et seq.) and the Commission's regulations
(49 CFR 1000, et seq.).
(b) The principal functions covered by this program are (1) to receive,
examine, criticize, and file tariffs, schedules, contracts, section 22 quotations
or tenders, for the transportation of passengers and property filed by carriers,
and concurrences atid powers of attorney filed by all carriers; (2) to secure
compliance with the Interstate Cbmmerce Act and rules of the Commission
governing construction, filing, and posting of tariffs and schedules; (3) to
review and dispose of applications for released rates authority filed under the
prov~sions of section 20(11), and ~pplieations for special permission to establish
rates, fares, and charges on less than statutory (30 days) notice or to depart
from the Commissian's rules governing the construction or filing of tariffs and
schedules; (4) to check and prepare rate statements from tariffs and schedules
for use of the Commission and its staff; (5) to handle informal complaints of
shippers, passengers, and others, such as those seeking damages on account of
misrouting, exaction of unjust or unreasonable charges, and claims for recovery
of charges alleged to have been collected by carriers in excess of those legally
applicable; and (6) to process applications submitted by carriers requesting
authority to make reparations on past shipments.
It also maintains a public tariff file where all tariffs, section 22 quotations
or tenders and contracts between freight forwarders and motor carriers are
av~i1able for inspection by the public.
This program is operated totally in the public interest. The filing of rates and
charges with the Commission is the very foundation for the legality of inter-
state surface transportation charges. The philosophies of reasonable and ade-
quate service and the publication of exact charges for transport services are
close to the heart of the regulatory process. Equality of treatment and protection
from unfair or destructive competitive practices, unjust discrimination, and
undue preferences or advantages for others are effected by this program.
(c) Mr. Edward H. Oox, Director of the Bureau of Traffic, has direct respon-
sibility over this program.
Mr. Cox. This activity has to do with the supervision and inter-
pretation of tariffs. Practically all of our activity is required by the
statute itself.
The principal functions that are received, examined, criticized and
filed are tariff publications, section 22 quotations, contracts between
shippers and contract carriers and between freight forwarders and
motor carriers. In other words, to police those requirements of the act
which deal with the preparation, filing and interpretation of tariffs.
We also receive and process applications which are filed under sec-
tion 20(11) of the act wherein the carriers seek authority to establish
rates on a released evaluation basis; also application for special per-
mission authority to establish rates, fares, and charges on less than
statutory notice, and for waiver of the Commission's tariff rules in
certain circumstances.
We also check and prepare rate statements for the Commission
in connection with its work, particularly formal cases. We process and
attempt to settle controversies between shippers and carriers on an
informal basis regarding complaints that they might have about rates,.
service, the interpretation of tariffs and things of that kind.
We also process and dispose of applications to award reparations in
certain types of cases where the appli~able rates under the lrw h~ve
beeen applied but the carriers are prohibited from refunding any part
of those, and where the carrier which has admitted that the rate
applied is unjust or unlawful in some other respect has been willing to
reduce the rate and then come to the Commission for authority to make
PAGENO="0055"
51
reparations, the difference between what he now considers the lawful
rate and what was collected.
We also maintain a file of tariffs for the use of the public. Now the
tariff filing requirements, the functions of this Bureau, are really the
foundation of regulation. By requiring the carriers to file their rates
and charges and to adhere strictly to them, the shippers, carriers and
everyone else is informed as to what the carrier will charge for a given
piece of transportation. It insures the establishment of just and rea-
sonable rates, just treatment for everyone, avoiding unjust discrimina-
tion, prejudice and preference.
I think in a nutshell those are the functions of our Bureau.
Mr. BRooKs. You have how many peop]e in that Bureau?
Mr. Cox. I have 195 engaged in this type of work.
Mr. BROOKS. Most of those are stationed here in Washington?
Mr. Cox. All in Washington. We have no field staff in our Bureau.
Mr. BROOKS. Do you have any questions, Mrs. Heckler?
Mrs. HECKTiER. No, I don't, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Thompson?
Mr. THOMPSON. No, sir.
Mr. BROOKS. I want to thank you very much for a concise explana-
tion of your function and that of your section.
Mr. Chairman-and I want to say to those of you who don't know
that Mr. Tierney was a long time staff member of the Senate Govern-
ment Operations Committee and is familiar with Government opera-
tions generally, and by now he is pretty familiar with the ICC-if
they get tired of you down there, you might come back here and we
will really give them a going over, Mr. Chairman.
It is a pleasure to have you here and your staff. I want to thank you
for your cooperative attitude and your help in making substantial
improvements in your operations.
Mr. TIERNEY. We are grateful for your letting us appear.
Mr. BROOKS. The hearing is adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 1~ :15 p.m., the subcommiUeee was adjourned.)
PAGENO="0056"
PAGENO="0057"
APPENDIXES
APPENDIX A.-WRITTEN RESPONSES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION To QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE
I. GENERAL QUES~FI0NS AFFECTING THE AGENCY AS A WHOLE
A. Justification of' Pers~onnel Not Chargeable to ~peciflc Programs
1. What are the total funds available to your agency as a whole for fiscal 196$?
Our current appropriation (fiscal year 1968) is $23,460,000. However, as a
result of Public Law 90-218, $317,000 of our total appropriation has been plac~?d
in reserve. This effectively reduced our appropriation to $23,143,000. Authority
has been requested to release the reserve so as to cover part of the increased
costs resulting from the pay increase authorized by Public Law 90-206. Further,
we have a supplemental appropriation of $386,000 pending to cover the balance
of our increased costs resulting from pay increases. Assuming the supplemental
appropriation is enacted and the reserve is released as proposed, we would then
have a total of $23,846,000 available to fund the Commission.
2. How many employees does your agency employ?
The Commission's authorized position ceiling is 1,907.
3. What is the geographical extent of your operations?
The Commission's operations embrace the continental United States with field
offices in every State, except Delaware, and Hawaii. Iii addition, we perform a
small number of compliance inspections and investigations of carriers domiciled
in Canada and Mexico, who engage in interstate or foreign commerce.
4. Under the program budgeting breakdown, do you have a support program
covering the operations of your office as well as other policymaking personnel?
The Commission does not formally maintain a general support program in its:
budgetary breakdown. However, our tentative program structure does include
two program categories, entitled "Executive and advisory functions" and "Gen-
eral management and administration." These two categories when combined do
constitute for all practical purposes our general support program.
5. How much money is available in fiscal 1968 for expenditures under this
support program?
Assuming our pending $386,000 supplemental appropriation is approved and
the $317,000 reserve is released, the Commission will have $3,155~832 available
for support programs as identified above.
6. Briefly justify expenditures for the support program In terms of the nature
and extent of your operations and responsibilities.
Included in the expenditures for the Commission's support program are those
relating to the Chairman and the Vi~e Chairman and their staffs; the Office of
the General Counsel; the Office of the Secreta~y; and the Office of the Managing
Director, which includes the Sections Of Personnel, Administrative Services,
Systems Development, and Budget and Fiscal. The Chairman is the executive
head of the Commission and is responsible for the overall management and func-
tioning of the Commission and the formulation of plans and policies designed to
Increase the effectiveness of the Commission in the administration of the Inter-
state Commerce Act and related acts. The Office of the General Counsel defenda
Commission orders in the courts and advises the Commission and Its staff on legal
questions arising in Commission proceedings, as well as in the administration of
its other responsibilitiea The Office of the Secretary maintains the public records
of proceedings, prepares certifications, copies or extracts from recprds filed with
the Commission for use in judicial proceedings an~ other purposes, and maintaina
the official minutes of the Commission. These functions account for at~proximately
one-third Of the support program expenditure.
(53)
PAGENO="0058"
54
The Managing Director is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the
Commission and the management of Commission operations. Included in his orga-
nization are two very substantial central support facilities which directly serve
the substantive program operations. The Section of Administrative Services edits
and prepares for publication (clerical and composition work) all of the Commis-
sion's reports and decisions. Under authority of the Joint Committee on Printing,
it operates the Commission's class A. printing plant which provides the printing
services relating to the Commission's decisions and its other requirements. Addi-
tionally, that section provides the other normal procurement, contracting, and
housekeeping services attendant to our organization. The Section of Systems
Development, the addition to performing systems studies and analyses, operates
the Commission's central data processing facility which includes our "Spectra
70" computer and electrical accounting equipment. These two facilities account
for substantially more than a third of the support program expenditures. The
remainder of the support program (less than one-third of the total expenditures)
is accounted for by the Managing Director's immediate staff, including the re-
gional managers, and the normal services required in the personnel manage-
ment, budget, fiscal, mail, and related areas.
B. Budget Proce$ses
7. Has your program breakdown been approved by the Bureau of the Budget?
No, our program breakdown has not yet been approved by the Bureau of the
Budget. However, we are working with representatives ~f the Bureau of the
Budget and are currently in the process of revising our present activity-oriented
structure to conform to Bureau of the Budget requirements. When completed.
It will be submitted to BOB for approval.
8. Does your program structure flow generally along functional lines of the
agency?
Yes, our present program structure generally flows along the Commission's
functional lines. Although the breakdown has not yet been approved by the Bu-
reau of the Budget, we are utilizing our activity schedule, which is largely func-
tionally oriented, as tentative program categories.
9. Has the program budgeting concept been fully implemented within your
agency as yet in operational terms?
No, the program budgeting concept has not been fully implemented within the
Commission. As you know, we were confronted with a consolidation of functions
following the establishment of the Department of Transportation in 1967; and
this budgeting concept did not become mandatory for the Commission until Jan-
uary 1, 1968. We are currently working with the Bureau of the Budget with the
view of implementing it within the Commission as resources permit. Our present
headquarters and field program evaluation system and our central status system
which covers the proceedings activities utilize many of the principles envisioned
by the program budgeting concept. We consider these systems as a fine base
which with slight modifications should meet the BOB's requirements in this area.
These systems provide a means to define program objectives, to measure accom-
plishments in relation to such established objectives, and seek to insure that the
commission's resources are applied in the most effective manner in carrying
out assigned responsibilities. We are confident that through relatively minor re-
finements, our program evaluation and central status systems will meet the basic
requirements of the planning, programing, and budgeting system contemplated
by the President and the Bureau of the Budget.
10. To what extent do you believe that your new budget concept will improve
the efficiency of agency operations?
Our budget concept and program evaluation systems outlined above have
already been most effective in identifying problem areas, improving our use of
manpower and other resources, and expediting the principal work of the Com-
mission. We anticipate that implementation of the new budgeting concept will
improve the Commission's efficiency to the extent that it will provide more mean-
ingful and valid information upon which to base decisions concerning the alloca-
tion of the Commission's resources.
C. Accounting systems Development
11. Has the GAO given its approval of your accounting system?
Yes, the Commission's accounting system was originally approved by the Gen-
eral Accounting Office in 1957. Our accounting system has since been revised
with the assistance of GAO representatives and was submitted to the Comp-
troller General In March 1968 for approval.
PAGENO="0059"
55
12. Is the aç~counting system basically established in terms of accrual costs
as the GAO and this subcommittee have recommended?
The accounting system has been basically established in terms of accrual
costs, as recommended by the GAO and this subcommittee.
13. What is the target date for completely implementing an accrual account-
ing system throughout the agency?
The Commission has been on an accrual accounting system since 1957.
14. Is your accounting system output-oriented so that it will be on the same
basis as budgeting and planning?
Our accounting system is oriented along organizational and program lines In
order that costs may be identified for budgeting and planning purposes.
15. What basis do you use for establishing the charges for products or services
provided to other agencies, and how are these handled in your accounting
system?
Charges for products or services are established on the basis of actual costs
plus an additional 10 percent allocated for administrative costs Including de-
preciation of physical assets. The amounts are recorded as receivables in the
general accounts.
16. Are capital assets, such as building and equipment items, formally re-
corded in the accounting system, and upon what basis are they depreciated?
Capitalized equipment is recorded as an asset when received and is accounted
for at cost or appraised value at date of acquisition. Depreciation is based on
the estimated life on a straight line basis.
17. Are the costs of the agency's physical assets considered in establishing the
charges for services to other agencies?
Charges for services to other agencies are established on an actual cost basis
plus an additional 10 percent to cover the cost of the Commission's physical
assets and other overhead costs.
18. Are agency accounting reports used regularly in program management?
A series of regular accounting reports designed to meet the needs of all levels
~f management are used in program management.
19. Are agency accounting policies summarized in an accounting manual with
which your staff accountants must comply?
Commission accounting policies and objectives are summarized in the account-
ing manual. Compliance with its provisions is mandatory for the accounting
staff.
D. Management Information ~~stem
20. Do you have an automated management information system for your
agency?
The Commission has implemented various automated management information
systems utilized in the control, review, and planning of our activities.
21. In general, what functional areas are included in the management informa-
tion system? (Examples: financial, planning, and program budgeting, inventory,
personnel, etc.).
The functional areas of payroll, budget, fiscal accounting, leave administra-
tion, property inventory, personnel, and an extensive system for the management
of the formal proceedings docket have been incorporated into our management
information system.
22. Briefly describe the state of development of your system and how it
operates.
The various systems described above are all operational but to some extent
they operate as individual systems. Further integration of these systems toward
a total systems approach is desirable and is currently under review. The central
status system which Is the system used to manage our formal proceedings docket
has proved invaluable in the control and analysis of our primary area of work.
Briefly, when a case is filed before this Commission certain pertinent data such
as case number, date of filing, type of case, and organizational responsibility
are entered into the computer system. As the case moves through various process-
ing stages such as hearing, filing of briefs, issuance of examiner report, etc., such
information is reported to the computer file. Through this system we are able
to identify the status of a specific case, the number and identity of cases at a
specific processing stage such as awaiting hearing, and the age of any case
or a selected group of cases. From this file we produce monthly statistical
analyses which reflect the overall status of the docket. Incorporated in the
system is a series of target dates for each processing step. Each month the
progress of all cases is measured against the target dates established for the
PAGENO="0060"
5ff
pertinent processing step to determine whether they are being processed within
the time frame established. Any case which fails to meet the criteria established
for individual steps will be printed out as a potential out-of-line condition for
management review. The target date subsystem has been of particular benefit to
expedite cases and reduce the So-called regulatory lag.
An additional subsystem analyses of all cases closed during the calendar and
fiscal year to deternjine various statistical data such as processing times, annual
volume, etc.
The central status system has proved of Immeasurable benefit in our program
to expedite cases, improve ~rocednres, and identify needed organisational re-
alinements.
23. DId you perfo~,m a "requirements" analysis of the entire agency, or just
selected areas?
A "requirements" analysis of the entire agency has not been performed because
our limited staff has been tied u~ in hlgh~priority areas. However, several years
ago Bureau of Standards' personnel surveyed and identified major areas which
promised the greatest payoff.
24. To what extent have you considered the need of other agencies for ex-
changing lnformatioh with your agency in the development of your system?
The exchange of information with other agencies and with Industry (especial-
ly input from carriets) was one of the reS~sOns for the installation of a compati-
ble third-generattori 4computei, and its related hardware. The extensive use of
COBOL programing language, which with minor changes allows the interchange
of programs, makes~ us quite flexible in the exchange of information. We have
also incorporated into our system standard eading procedure, when they existed
such as the standard GSA location codes and the standard transportation com-
modity codes (STCO).
25. Are you developing a standard data base of information for the entire
agency?
A standard data base of information is being studied. This data base which
will contain all the information for financial control, personnel control, and
to some extent bnd~eting is presently being designed. It will incorporate the
existing payroll file, personnel and time and attendance file, fiscal accounting
file, and the budget and fiscal file. This integrated file will then constitute a
complete data base of information needed for the administrative and financial
functions of the Commission.
Other data bases are being considered with the overall needs of the Commis-
sion in mind.
26. In reporting statistical information, what standards for coding are you
using?
Where standard codes have been adopted by either Government agencies or
by industry (AAR, ATA) then we have not hesitated to also adopt such codes.
We are currently using the standard transportation commodity codes, standard
point loe~ition codes, standard station numbers, etc.
27. Have you explored all of the information requirements commOn to your
agency which might exist within the data base of other agencies?
We have investigated the majority of the obvious ones. We are currently ex-
changing or receiving data from T)epartment of Transportation, Bureau of
Census, Weather Buieau, NASA, and also many groups in private industry such
as Association of American Railroads, American Trucking Association, and the
Southwest Trucking Association.
28. Are you performing the work in-house, or are you utilizing contractor per-
sonnel?
~All ADP functions of the Commission currently are performed in-house. W~
are not now utilizing contractor personnel except on a very limited basis for
keypunching. However, several years ago we utfflwd professional ADP per-
sonnel from the Bureau of Standards in an advisory capacity and also to per-
form a general survey of the Commission's ADP requirements.
29. What main benefits do you feel your management information system will
provide in the management of your agency's activities?
We believe our management information systems have provided us with tools
needed for effective Control over our principal workload and utilization of man-
power and other resources. It enables us to measure operating performance
against established~goals, identifies critical problem areas, and is invaluable in
carrying out our planning functions.
PAGENO="0061"
57
30. What is your estimated dollar cost for the completion and operation of the
basic parts of your management information system?
We estimate our dollar cost for the ADP operations of our management in-
formation systems to be approximately $75,000 per year.
31. At what level is the determination made concerning what is needed in the
management information system?
The determination as to what Is needed in the management information system
is made by the managing director with final approval of the Chairman.
E. InternaZ auditing
32. Do you have a centrally organized internal audit system within your agency
which operates independentiy of department and agency operations?
Yes, the Commission's internal audit functions are under the management of
the Managing Director, who reports directly to the Chairman of the Commis-
sion. As was pointed out in the Committee on Government Operations eighth
report at the 88th Congress, " * * * smaller agencies may not need internal man-
agement controls where management can be maintained on a day-to-day basis."
In keeping with this philosophy, our internal audit functions are carried out in
conjunction with other management controls. Included are our program evalua-
tion process, our central status system, our field internal inspections, and our
internal fiscal audits.
The program evaluation system provides the means to define program objec-
tives and measures bureau and office accomplishments in relationship to such
established objectives, Taking into consideration overall Commission goals, past
performance, availability of resources, anticipated workload, etc., the system en-
ables the Commission to make sound determinations concerning the efficient use
of its resources. The system also monitors the performance of each program to
determine problem areas, for example, duplication of effort, poor productivity,
inefficient operations, backlogs, etc.
The Commission's proceedings activities are monitored regularly through our
central status system. This system serves as the basic source of information con-
cerning the progress of the Commission's decisional workload. Reports analyzing
the status and progress of the docket in terms of volume, distribution among the
various steps of processing, and elapsed time are prepared each month and cir-
culated to top management.
The objectives of the field internal inspection program are to determine whether
approved programs, policies, and instructions are understood by field officials and
their staffs and whether they are being properly administered in the field. Central
office inspections of technical program operations and field management are made
to assure efficient and uniform administration and enforcement of the Interstate
Commerce Act, related acts, and the Commission's regulations throughout the
field establishment. Reports of these inspections are made to top management.
Finally, our internal fiscal audits are made of all bureaus and offices to deter-
mine compliance with fiscal accounting and reporting methods, time and attend-
ance, leave, travel and other related fiscal matters. An example of the effective-
ness of these fiscal audits is revealed by the results of the GAO audit of the pay
of employees of the Commission for the period October 1, 1961, through June 30,
1965. The audit revealed only one error in salary payments (overpayment of
~371.20) during this period covering over $80 million in disbursements.
33. Is your internal audit staff made up of persons with experience in account-
ing and auditing?
Yes, our internal audit staff includes persons with experience in accounting
and auditing, as well as other management and substantive program areas.
34. Is the scope of review by the internal audit staff limited in any way?
The internal audit process, as described under item 32, encompasses all organi-
zational entities of the Commission with the exception of the immediate offices
of Commissioners. Internal written communications involved in the decisional
process of the Commission (proceedings activities) are considered to be outside
the scope of the internal audits.
35. Are all reports and recommendations of the internal audit staff submitted
in full directly to the head of the agency?
Yes reports of findings and recommendations of the internal audit staff are
submitted directly to the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Commission.
The underlying working papers and source documents are made available when
requested.
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58
36. Is the audit staff responsible to or subject to direction by any official whc~
is also primarily responsible for an activity which might be audited?
No, the audit staff is responsible to and subject to direction by the Managing
Director. This official is not responsible for any of the substantive program areas
within the Commission.
37. Are the personnel assigned to the internal audit function adequately pro-
tected from recriminations and arbitrary personnel action that might result from
an adverse effect of their reports upon other agency employees?
Yes, the personnel assigned to the internal audit function are adequately pro-
tected from recriminations and arbitrary personnel action because they are
responsible to the Managing Director whose functions do not include the sub-
stantive program areas.
38. Are all reports and recommendations of the intetnal audit staff available
to the Comptroller General and to appropriate congressional committees?
Yes, all reports and recommendations of the internal audit staff are available
to the Comptroller General and to appropriate congressional committees. They
have in fact been made available in `the past.
F. Automatic data processing
39. Do you have a central organization in your agency which is responsible for
ADP management?
Yes. In prior years there were three separate ADP activities in the Commission
all located in subordinate bureaus. Subsequent reorganizations have centralized
all data processing including management in the Office of the Managing Director.
40. Will you describe its functions?
The Section of Systems Development is responsibk~, under the Office of the
Managing Director, for conducting studies to determine the feasibility of apply-
ing automatic and other data processing methods to the Commission's opera-
tions and work processes. Whenever potential applications are identified, it de~
velops, validates and implements complete systems. It operates the physical data
processing facility and provides automatic data processing services to the Com-
mission and in certain instances to the public, on a reimbursable basis, in con-
junction with the Commission's improved service to the public program. It also
advises, assists, organizes, and conducts studies as required in the applica-
tion of operations research techniques.
41. Who has the responsibility for deciding whether or not the use of a com-
puter for a particular function within your agency is justified?
The responsibility for decision to use a computer for a specific application
resides in various organizational levels depending upon the magnitude or com-
plexity of the proposed application. For example, a decision on a relatively minor
application may be made at the section chief level in the office of the managing
director, Decisions on larger applications `are made at the level of the managing
director, the chairman or the entire commission, again depending upon the
magnitude of the proposal.
42. On what basis is the decision made? Are there documented systems studies
available for review iti all cases?
The basis used for deciding whether to use a computer for a particular func-
tion varies for each function. Monetary savings, manpower savings, timeliness
of data, availability of data, availability of computer time, availability of data
processing manpower, existing priorities and present workloads and many other
considerations can play a part in this decision.
The following is a list of general steps which are taken in most instances:
(1) Determine a real need for the data.
(2) Review the existing method of obtaining this data, if one already
exists.
(3) Determine if it is possible to obtain the required data by any other
method and detei~mine the cost and timeliness of such a method.
(4) Determine the feasibility of obtaining the required data on the
computer.
(5) Project the costs involved in using the computer including the "on-
going" cost of producing the data and the "one-time" cost of developing the
computer system, i.e, programing, systems design, etc.
The above steps will present a factual picture of the present situation and all
alternate avenues available from which a decision can be based. There are many
tangibles and intangibles which could `and usually do affect the steps taken and the
decisions made.
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There are documented studies available for most major systems. There are also
some systems which have evolved from EIAM operations which will not have docu-
mented studies~ There are also projects especially in the area of support to scien-
tific sampling, which by their nature are determinable without such studies. In
such cases the feasibility of doing these operations manually is nonexistent.
43. Can you cite instances in which a request for a computer system was dis-
approved for lack of adequate justification?
If it is the intent of this question to define the term "computer system" as
meaning computer hardware, we can cite no instance where a request was
denied; inasmuch as the Commission has only one computer and its acquisition
was fully justified.
If the question relates to a specific computer application, we can cite various
proposed applications which were not approved on the basis of a feasibility
study Which indicated that the proposed system could not be justified from the
standpoint of costs, benefits to be derived, the present state of the art or the need
to use a computer to perform the specific function. Among these would be a full
text legal retrieval system, motor carrier index, automated work measurement
system for our printing plant, recordation of lien documents and a disposal sched-
ule for tariffs.
44. Assuming the use of a computer has been fully justified by a proper study,
are there procedures for determining whether the requirement can be satisfied
by using (sharing) equipment already installed in your Agency? Will you de-
scribe the procedure?
Since the Commission ha~ only one computer all computer systems are run
in-house. In rare instances where a very powerful computer is needed to process
a specific task we have made use of computers at the David Taylor Model Basin
and the Harry Diamond Laboratories (formerly the Bureau of Standards).
45. To what extent have you been successful in getting the users to share
equipment instead of acquiring their own?
Since we have one centralized computer no conSideration would be given to a
user acquiring his own computer.
46. Do you review the GSA lists of available excess equipment before going to
the open market to acquire equipment?
GSA lists of available excess equipment are always checked before going to
the market to acquire equipment.
47. Who makes the determination that excess equipment can or cannot do
the job?
The final determination that excess equipment can or cannot do the job is
made by the Managing Director.
48. What has been your experience in making use of excess equipment?
In one iustt~nce' we were successful in obtaining 500 surplus magnetic tapes at
a savings to this Commission of $10,000. In other instances the specific piece of
hardware we sought was not available or what was available was not compatible
with our existing configuration or required extensive repairs.
49. Assuming it is necessary to acquire equipment from the commercial
market, do you normally invite all qualified suppliers to submit proposals. What
are the exceptions?
We make it a firm practice to solicit all qualified stippliers when ADP equip-
ment is acquired. For ~xample, we solicited proposals from 20 manufacturers
at the time we acquired our present computer.
50. Who makes the final selection of equipment, and on what basis is the
decision made?
The final selection of equipment is made by the Managing Director with the
approval of the Chairman.
The basis used for selection of equipment is a combination of the following
factors:
(1) Ability of the bidder to meet minimum specifications presented in our
letter soliciting bids.
(2) Ability of the bidder to successfully run the benchmark problems
that were made available to all interested bidders.
(3) ComparisOn of run times on benchmark problems.
(4) Critical review and evaluation of all proposals.
(5) Comparison of cost to total "through-put" of the interested bidders.
The interested bidder must show the ability to meet the requirements of num-
bers (1) and (2) before numbers (3), (4), atid (5) are evaluated.
51. Describe your program for evaluating the actual results of computer use
against the results anticipated when the use of the computer was approved.
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60
The evaluation ofJ actual results of computer use against anticipated results is
incorporated in various management review systems. The first level of review
consists of monthly progress reports and monthly meetings held with ADP man-
agement personnel. in some critical areas, there are a series of weekly statue re-
ports. Additionally, the overall program evaluation system described previously
provides an evaluation in depth of the effectiveness of various computer Systems
in meeting program goals. The budget process also provides a vehicle which is
utilized to review the results of computer applications as well as the review of
additional applications.
52. In general, ha~re your computers produced the benefits that were expected?
In general, our computer applications have produced the benefits expected such
as a reduction in personnel in some areas, more timely and accurate data, and
access to data which was previously unavailable to those in the decisionmaking
process. However, we have not been entirely satisfied with the magnitude nor
the time required to implement various systems.
53. How many computers do you now have, and how many of these are
purchased?
The Commission has one computer. It was installed in July of 1967 on a leased
basis.
54. Who makes the decision on whether computers are purchased or leased?
The decision whether a computer is purchased or leased is made by the Man-
aging Director with the approval of the Chairman. inherent in the decision is
the length of time the computer configuration will be adequate for our needs.
The decision to lease our present computer which was acquired in July of ~967
was based upon the concept that it was an interim acquisition since it provided
an emulator feature which allowed us to run our existing programs until such
time as they could be converted to higher level languages such as COBOL and
FORTRAN. Also at the time of acquisition a complete picture of our future work-
load, particularly in the area of tariff computerization was not available.
55. Is your agency now using any leased ADP equipment? If so, how much
longer do you expect to use it?
The Commission is currently leasing its Spectra 70 computer. We anticipate
using it until all programs are converted to higher level languages and our future
data processing needs are identified. At that time a decision will be made to
exercise our purchase option (less the emulator feature) or replace the con-
figuration with different hardware. We project this decision at approximately
1 year away.
56. Have you made use of third-party leasing arrangements? If so, what has
been your experience with these arrangements?
The Commission has no third-party arrangements. The matter has been ex-
plored with various lessors but at the time they were not Interested In acquiring
the type of equipment we utilized.
57. To what extent have you developed standard systems or applications which
are used by your computer installations?
Since we have only one computer installation, standardization across various
computers is not a problem. However, we have standardized our programing
languages by using COBOL or FORTRAN, with the major emphasis on COBOL.
Additionally, we are experimenting with generalized information retrieval rou-
tines and the development of standard systems for processing of various statistical
reports from carriers. In the development of our generalized information re-
trieval routines, we are utilizing a comprehensive software package obtained
from NASA.
58. Will you describe the steps you have taken for the development of stand-
ard data elements for use by your department under the program recently
established by Bureau of the Budget Circular A-86?
This agency has commented as appropriate on the various proposed standards
that have been submitted for our recommendation. Additionally key personnel
have participated with various groups in their review and establishment of
standard codes or data elements. Any Federal standards established will be
utilized in our systems as they have been in the past such as our adoption of the
STCC commodity code.
59. What do you consider to be the most pressing problems that need to be
overcome for you to make better and more efficient use of computers in your
agency?
Our most pressing problem from an operational point of view is the phasing
out of the emulation mode in running our programs. Attainment of this goal
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will provide 25 percent more "through-put" in our existing system. From a per-
sonnel point of view, there Is a need for better tral~ed people, a reduction in the
amount of turnover, a greater management knowledge on the part of ADP people
and greater ADP knowledge on the part of operating and management personnel.
G. Personnel Management
60. Where is the responsibility placed for manpower planning in your agency?
The Managing Director has the manpower planning responsibility. Ilowever,
it should be recognized that staff action is subject to approval of the Chairman.
The Managing Director relies on the budget and fiscal office and the beads of
bureaus and offices to develop and recommend manpower needs.
61. What manpower requirements are forecast for your agency and how are*
these determined?
Manpower requirements for fiscal year 1969 total 1,907 in our budget submittal,
a decrease of 74 positions due to budgetary restrictions impo~ed bycongressional
and Executive actions during the current fiscal year. Forecasts for fiscal year
1970 are no less than the 1969 figure. Manpower requirements are determined
through the budgetary process, in which the work objective submissions of the
bureaus and offices are evaluated by the Managing Director and his staff. Pro-
gram objectives and manpower requirements are discussed and critically re-
viewed in meetings with bureau and office representatives. The Managing
Director then makes a determination of manpower needs which is submitted to
the Chairman for approval.
TurnOver figures for past years are studied and the impact of factors such
as the draft is analyzed. On the basis of such studies, forecasts are regularly
made for attorney, hearing examiner, accountant and auditor, tariff examiner~
cost analyst, motor carrier district supervisOr, stenographer, and typist needs.
62. Is the work in your agency organized with some consideration of the effect
on position classification so that the mission can be accomplished with the mini-
mum number and cost of positions?
Yes. For example, after the transfer of all safety functions to DOT in April
1967, we consolidated the remaining economic regulatory rail, motor, water, and
freight forwarder functions of two bureaus into one Bureau of Operations. This
eliminated one bureau bead position and one assistant bureau head supergrade
position immediately and led to the elimination of eight supervisory positions
in the field on March 8, 1967, with position cost savings. Also In April 1967, we
consolidated two western regions, eliminating one regional manager position
and several subordinate positions and reducing our total nuthber of regions and
technical program operating districts to six. Since 1965, we have reduced from
10 bureaus to five and established one office resulting in the elimination of
several top-level positions.
63. Is the classification of positions in your agency in accord with applicable
Civil Service Commission statidards?
Yes. The 1963 Civil Service inspection speCificall~y found that we are in com-
pliance with legal and regulatory requirements in appointments, promotions,
and pay. The report stated that a review of 100 positions revealed no inaccurate
grade allocations, confirming our adherence to pertinent civil service standards.
64. Has the agency established career possibilities to assist in development
and advancement of employees?
Since mid-1961, our executive development program has effected a planned
program for the identification, selection, and development of executives in
grades GS-14 and above. More recently, we have up-dated the executive develop-
ment program to incorporate the requirements of the Civil Service Commission's
executive assignment system.
From time to time we have surveyed our ethployee rolls to identify (1) under-
utilized skills, and (2) employees with potential for additional skills. Employees
underutilized with skill and who are shown to have the potential are reassigned
to more meaningful duties in which advancement is po~slble. Efforts are also
directed toward providing training to those with potential for learning new
skills needed in the Commission.
We have a number of career ladders developed ~or oecupational groups under
the merit promotion programs. These ladders provide information to the em-
ployees on career opportunities in specialty fields.
65. Would you describe what means your agency uses to recruit quality per-
sonnel?
In recruiting quality personnel, we, of course, utilize the full resources and
assistance of the Civil Service Commission. Further, we develop and use two
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primary sources o1~ labor: (1) academicia and (2) industry. We concentrate on
those schools wbi~b offer such courses as will best qualify it~ st1~ents for
transportatiop careers. We draw upon the assistance and advi~ce of the teaching
staff, am) we actively recruit on-campus. Our field staff niembers assist our
recruiting at schools, as well as in private industry.
We also recruit by advertising in selected professiotial and trade journals,
Finally, we `continuously strive throughout the year to establish satisfactory
relationships with a number of high schools nationwide in order to secure the
higher quality graduates for clerical positions. In short, we aggressively compete
for talent.
66. Does your agency emphasize promotion of employees on the basis of merit?
The Commission has expressed clear policy to promote on merit and has
adopted plans and procedures which implement that policy without regard to
race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, politics, physical hand!-
cap, and age. We have individual promotion plans covering every identifiable
position category In the competitive service. We are convinced that our merit
promotion program operates on merit and without bias, etc. This is confirmed
somewhat by the absence of employee appeals.
67. How does your agency consider employee complaints, grievances, and
appeals?
Our grievance procedure was carefully structured in consultation with the Civil
Service Commission and it is in accord with the latter's approved procedures.
Our procedure provides for three levels at which employee complaints are
processed. We strive to resolve as many complaints as possible at level 1~ where
face-to-face discussion between the employee and his various supervisors is
encouraged.
Level II constitutes the formal, structured process where the grievance is
referred to the Pesonnel Director for decision. It is at this level that the em-
ployee has a right to a hearing conducted by a trained impartial hearing officer.
At levels I and II, the employee has a right to a representative of his own choice
to assist him in processing his complaint.
Level III is a review by the Managing Director of the record made at levels
I and II. The decision at this level is the final decision. This procedure is in
accordance with the Civil Service Commission's instructions and it does not
apply to tb~se matters appealable to the Civil Service Commission; i.e., adverse
actions, performance ratings, reduction in force, violations of merit promotion
plans, discrimination complaints, and position classification.
Those matters not subject to the grievance procedure outlined above are han-
dled under the Commission's appeal system, which provides for the employee
(1) the right to reconsideration, with an impartial hearing, of any proposed
adverse action (separation, suspension, change to lower grade, etc.); (2) the
right t~ appeal the~ decision on reconsideration to higher authority (the Manag-
ing Director) ; (3) the right to a representative of his choice; and (4) the right
to appeal to the Civil Service CommissionS
68. Is personnel management considered to be an Integral part of the mission
of your agency?
Yes; personnel management is considered an integral part of overall manage-
ment in accomplishing the Commission's mission, It is our philosophy that our
human resources are our most valuable asset and that our manpower require-
ments are considered inseparable from the major objectives `of the Commission,
Recruiting, training and developing, and maintaining an efficient productive work
force are the responsibility of each manager.
69. How does yOur agency treat equal employment opportunity and employ-
ment of the handicapped?
Equal employment opportunity is very important `to us. It is inherent in our
concept of "merit j~rinciples" and we have given considerable attention to this
matter. The Civil Service Commission has approved our "action plan" for equal
employment opporthuity. The plan is all inclusive and is thoroughly understood
and participated in at all levels of the CommLssion.
H~ GAO Audit Reports
70. Has the Genexal Accounting Office issued any audit reports on the overall
operations of your agency; that is, reports not directed at a functional program
of the egency,' but rather at the management and administration of the agency?
The last reports of this nature that we are aware of were in 1962. One was
entitled "Review of Selected Activities, Interstate Commerce Commission" and
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63
another was entitled `Report on Review of `Management of Selected Field Opera-
.tions, Interstate Commerce Commission."
~1, If so, to what extent have the recommendations contained in these reports
been carried out?
All of the major recommendations contained in these reparts have been iniple-
mented or disposed of in a manner acceptable to the GAO. Insofar as we are
aware there are no items outstanding in such reports that require further action.
IL QtE5TIONS ON AGENCY OPERATIONS AT THE PROGRAM LEVEL
Program No. 1.-Regulation of Carrier Rates, Practices, Operating Authorities,
and Finance
1. What is the nature of and authority for this program?
This program, basically regulatory in nature, involves the formal economic
regulatory functions of the Commission and is divided into three major
categories: the regulation of rates, services, and related practices; the licensing
of new operations; and the approval of certain carrier financial transactions. The
Commission's jurisdiction and authority in these areas is spelled out in the
Interstate Commerce Act and related acts (49 U.S.C4 sec. 1, et seq.).
In the rate area, the proceedings, generally, involve the rates, fares, charges,
and practices of rail carriers, express companies, pipelines (other than gas and
water), motor carriers, water carriers, and freight forwarders, and the granting
of relief from the antitrust laws to carriers party to collective rntiernaking agree-
ments. In addition, proceedings are handled which arise under a number of mis-
cellaneous provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act and other related acts, such
as the Railway Mail Service Pay Act.
Some of the more difficult proceedings in this area which require large expe~di-
tures of time and manpower are those where the carriers themselves are unable
to agree on the manner in which their joint rates should be divided; the general
rate increases of all modes of surface transportation; grain rates, port equaliza-
tion proceedings; controversies involving intermodal competition; compensation
to be paid railroads for transporting mail; and approval by the Commission of
proposals by the Postmaster General to change the rates on postage, zone or zones,
and the conditions of mailability of parcel post.
Our licensing activities stem from the statutory requirements that motor
carriers, both common and contract, water carriers, freight forwarders, abd
brokers muSt obtain appropriate authority before instituting new interst~ite
operations. In addition to the applications for operating authority, this area in-
cludes applications for exemption from economic regulation; investigation pro-
ceedings looking to the prescription of rules and regulations governing
operations of such carriers, formal complaints and investigations ~oncerning fail-
ure of carriers to comply with the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act or
any requirements established thereunder with respect to operating practices; the
suspension, change or revocation of certificates, permits, and licenses; and the
granting of temporary authorities for motor carrier service.
Motor carrier applications seeking new operating rights repesent a substantial
portion of the entire program. The mo1~o'r carrier area of the work continues to
show phenomenal growth as the, need for further extension of motor carrier
service keeps pace With the expanding national economy.
With respect to the regulation of carrier financial transactions, the finance
area includes applications, investigations and complaints involving rail carriers,
motor carriers, water carriers, and freight forwarders under various ~ection~ of
the Interstate Commerce Act. These proceedings primarily involve permissive
applications for authority to construct, acquire, or abandon lines of a railrOad
or the operation thereof; proposed discontinuances or changes in the operation
by railroads of trains or ferries; approval for motor carriets or water carrier~
to enter into contracts and agreements for the pooling or division of traffic aud
earnings; authority for railroads, motor carriers, water carriers, or freight for-
warders to consolidate, merge, transfer ownership, or acquire control of carriers,
and, when directly related to such authority, the granting of certificates or per-
mits to motor carriers in connection therewith; anthority to issue securities or
to assume obligation and liability with respect to securities of others; authority
to sell securities without competitive bidding; authority to alter or modify out~
standing securities and obligations; authority to hold the position of officer. or
director of more than one railroad; and formal investigations concerning possible
violations of the act relating to the foregoing subjects; and under the provisions
of the Uniform Bankruptcy Act, a~proval of plans of reorganization, submission
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64
thereof, to credithrs and stockholders for acceptance or rejection, recommenda-
tion of formulas for segregation of earnings, ratification of trustees, ~fixing of
maximum limits of allowances to trustees and other parties in mterest~ and
authorization or deposit agreement in connection with railroad, reorganization
or receivership proceedings.
2. Who is the person primarily in charge of this program at the operative
level (name and title)?
Bertram E. Stiliwell, Director, Office of Proceedings.
3. How much money and capital equipment is available under this program
for fiscal year 1968?
$9,671,000 including $22,000 for capital equipment.
4. Would you describe the output generated by this program?
The output generated by this program is the decision of the Commission in
the proceedings described in response to question No. 1.
5. Can you quatitify this output in any way?
Yes. For exaxtiple in fiscal year 1967, this program disposed of more than
24,000 formal and informal matters which are enumerated in their different
categories as follows:
Applications for permanent motor carrier certificates, motor contract
carrier permits and broker licenses 6, 986
Complaints, rulemaking and revocation proceedings 123
Applications for permanent water carrier operating rights 17
Applications for freight forwarder operating rights 21
Applications for "grandfather" and interim motor carrier operating rights
filed under section 7(c) of the Transportation Act of 1958 5
Applications for "grandfather" certificates of registration under section
206(a) (7) 5
Applications for certificates of registration under section 206(a) (6)_ 52
Applications for temporary authority under section 210a (a) 5, 507
Applications to deviate from regular routes 410
Proceedings to revoke operating rights without hearing 620
Authorizations under section 5(2) involving railroad properties not includ-
ing those involving less than 25 miles of track 71
Certificates of convenience and necessity issued for abandonment of lines
of railroads under section 1(18) 71
Certificates of convenience and necessity issued for construction of lines
of railroad 35
Certificates of cofivenience and necessity issued for acquisition and op-
eration of lines of railroad under section 1(18) 9
Train dlscontinuahce proceedings under section 13(a) 167
Applications and petitions involving securities under sections 20a and
214 206
Finance applications, complaints, and investigations under section 5~ 314
Finance temporary authority applications under section 210a (b) 178
Applications for transfer or lease of operating rights under section 212(b)
and section 206(a) (6) or (7) 878
Applications for transfer or lease of operating rights under section 312 7
Applications for transfer or lease of operating rights under section
410(g) 4
Applications for unification of water carriers under section 5(2) 1
Bate cases disposed of during the year, investigations, and suspensions~. 65
Formal complaints 82
Investigations 20
Exparteproceedings 8
Fourth section applications - 16
Petitions disposed of in all of the above categories 2, 586
Board of Suspension-Protested rate proposals 4~ 549
Board of Suspension-Petitions 509
Fourth section Board applications 537
Fourth section Board petitions 41
6. Would you describe the principal operations that are involved in producing
this output?
In the exercise of its quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative functions in the
regulation of carrier rates, practices, operating authorities, and financial mat-
ters, proceedings before the Commission are instituted In several ways. For
example, rates are filed by carriers-rail, niotor, water, arid freight for*arders
subject to the Commission's jurisdiction-to which interested persons file pro-
tests. This brings into issue before the Commission the lawfulness of such pro-
PAGENO="0069"
65
posal, or the Commission may suspend a rate filing. In addition, the Commis-
sion may on its own motion institute an investigation Into new or existing rates
to determine their lawfulness. Also, complaints against an existing rate or
practice may be filed by an affected party. In processing these cases, it is neces-
sary to prepare and analyze cost data, cost studies, and formulas. Under other
sections of the Interstate Commerce Act, carriers may seek relief from the
provisions of the act under special circumstances by filing appropriate applica-
tion, e.g., relief from those provisions of the act making it unlawful to charge
more for a shorter than for a longer haul, or a greater compensation on a
through rate than the aggregate of the intermediate rates.
In the operating rights area, applications for certificates or permits to con-
duct operations in for-hire motor carriage in interstate or foreign commerce
as common or contract carriers, for licenses to conduct operations as brokers
in arranging transportation by motor carriers in interstate or foreign commerce,
to conduct opeations as common or contract carriers by water, to operate as
a freight forwarder in consolidating and distributing freight, to gain the benefit
of certain exemptions from regulation provided for in the act, all are initiated
by the filing of the interested party of an appropriate application. Also, formal
complaints may be filed against carriers by persons alleging operations are
unauthorized, or the Commission may institute an investigation proceeding on
its own motion to determine the legality of a carrier's operations.
In the finance area, approval of the Commission is required for two or more
earners-rail, motor, or water-to consolidate or merge their properties and
franchises into one company; for a carrier to purchase, lease, or operate the
properties of another; for one carrier to acquire control of another through stock
ownership; for a person to acquire control of two or more carriers; or for
authority to abandon or extend lines of railroads. All such cases are initiated
through the filing of appropriate applications by the carriers seeking this statu-
tory approval. Additionally, formal complaints are filed charging unlawful con-
trol, i.e., realizing control without obtaining Commission approval, and investi-
gations are instituted by the Commission where such unlawful control may be
suspected. Train discontinuance proceedings are initiated by a railroad filing
notices of its intent to discontinue or change its passenger operations or service
and the Commission, in its discretion, may institute an investigation of such
proposal. In connection with finance cases, accounting and financial analyses
are prepared and considered in the disposition of proceedings. Issuance of se-
curities by rail and motor carriers subject to the Commission's jurisdiction must
be approved, and phases of the loan guarantee program are administered by the
agency.
in all areas, rulemaking proceedings also are instituted and developed-either
by the filing of appropriate petitions by interested persons or on the Commis-
sion's own initiative-looking toward the promulgation of a general rule ap-
plicable to a mode or group of carriers.
In adjudicating these proceedings before the Commission, two principal proc-
essing procedures are employed-oral hearing and modified procedure without
oral hearing. At times a combination of the two procedures may be utilized.
Whatever procedure is followed, the agency must insure adherence to the legal
requirements of the Interstate Commerce Act and related statutes including the
Administrative Procedure Act, all toward the end of promoting the public In-
terest as dictated by the national transportation policy while, at the same time,
protecting the rights of the individuals concerned.
If it is determined that an oral hearing is necessary, the proceeding is referred
to a hearing examiner, appointed pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act,
who presides at the hearing in the matter. He governs the case during the course
of the hearing, administers oaths to witnesses, makes rulings on evidence, re-
ceives exhibits, and generally is responsible for the compilation of the formal
record upon which the agency's decision is based. A transcript of the record is
made by a court reporter and all witnesses submit their evidence under oath.
Both the proponents and opponents (applicants, protestants, complainants, de-
fendants, respondents) are allowed to be represented by counsel at such oral
hearings and each side is given an opportunity to adduce evidence through the
direct and cross-examination of witnesses.
The hearing examiner functions as a trial judge, rules on the admissibility of
evidence, and generally directs the course of the hearing. Subsequent to the close
of the hearing and after the filing of briefs, if any, the hearing examiner reviews
the record that has been compiled and based on such record Issues his report' in
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66
the matter, making findings of fact, resolving any legal issues that are presented,
and reaching an ultimate conclusion if the relief sought should be granted in
whole or in part, or denied, and giving his reasons for such ultimate conclusions.
Under the Commission's general rules of practice, persons who do not agree with
this decl~ion may file appropriate appeals in the form of exceptions to the
examiner's recommendation, and other parties to the proceedings have an op-
portunity to reply thereto. These plendings, tOgether with the record in the case,
are submitted to an appropriate appellate body for review and further decision.
This may be an employee review board, composed of three senior staff attorneys,
created pursuant to pertinent statutory authority; or, if the case is complex,
precedential, or of national or general importance, it may be referred to the entire
Commission, or to a division thereof composed of three Commissioners, for ap-
pellate review of the hearing examiner's decision. The appellate body may issue
another report or a decision and order which, in effect, is an abbreviated deci-
sion, in those instances in Which the hearing officer's treatment of the issues is
adequate, and his decision is affirmed.
After decision by the Commission or a division thereof, depending on whether
a change has been made to the initifil recemmendation of the hearing examiner,
a further appeal Inthe nature of petitions for reconsideration, further hearing,
oral argument, or some other relief may be filed. In all instances in which the
intermediate relief is a decision by an employee board, petitions may be filed and
any party before The Commission may have his case considered by the Commis-
sion or a division thereof.
Under the second named procedural method of disposing of the caseload-
modified procednre-no oral hearing is held. Parties present their evidence in
the case through the submission of verified (sworn) statements to the Commis-
Sion. Opening statements are filed by the proponents of the relief sought, and
opposing parties then are given an opportunity to file their verified statements;
in turn, the parties filing the initial statements are given an opportunity to file
rebuttal statements. Following the submission `of these statements, the record is
submitted usually to an employee board which issues the initial decision through,
in some instances, an initial report under modified procedure may still be issued
by a hearing examiner.
Following the issuance of the initial decision, the procedural relief and
processing steps Within the Commission are the same as outlined with respect
to the oral hearing procedures. The evaluation, analyzation of the record and
pleadings, draftiI~g of reports and orders is, almost exclusively, handled by
attorneys other than hearing examiners. Each Commissioner also has his per-
sonal staff of attorneys to assist and advise him. All Commission decisions may
be appealed to a court of law, and the processing of the case and the report of
the agency must reflect all procedural and substantive safeguards, and contain
adequate reasons, based on the record, for the conclusions reached.
In those cases in which an operating authority is authorized to be issued to an
applicant after the application is finally adjudicated, a certificate, permit, or
license is prepared and released upon receipt of evidence of public liability in-
surance for the protection of the public, cargo insurance (if applicable), designa-
tion of agent for service of process in those States in which the carrier will oper-
ate, and acceptable rate filings to cover the grants of authority. In those cases in
which the transfer of an operating authority or mergers and consolidations of
carriers are approved, appropriate operating authorities reflecting the approval
are prepared upon compliance with the same regulations relating to the filing of
insurance, designation of agents for services of process, and the filing of rates.
The support of all these functions requires docketing, service of orders, plead-
ings, notices, and decisions.
7. How many employees are involved in the program and in what general type
of employment cat~gories do they fall?
There are a total of 732 employees involved in this activity, of whom 403 are
professional and 329 are clerical personnel,
Nine Commissioners are engaged in adjudicatory activities with a total staff
of 77; 41 are professional and 36 are clerical employees.
The Office of Proceedings, which is the office primarily responsible for the ad-
judicating of all ~f the formal case work of the Commission, consists of 422
employees, Of these 268 are professional employees, i.e., attorneys or adjudi.
cators, and the balttnce (154) are clerical personnel.
The Section of Cost Finding has 55 employees of whom 37 are professional
(cost analysts) and 18 clerical personnel.
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The SeetIon~ of Financial Analysis has a staff of 11 of whom nine are
sional and two clerical.
The Board Of SuspenSion has 44 employees of whom 38 are professional and
six are clerical personnel,
* The I~ourth Section Board has 11 e~rnployeeS Of whom 10 are professional and
one is clerical.
The Section of Records and Service in the Office of the Secretary has 112 em-
ployees, all of whoffi are clerical.
8. What is the grade structure and how many super grades-quota and non-
quota-are involved?
This activity involves grades from GS-1 through GS-18.
There are 120 super grades in the Office of Proceedings; of these 109 are hear-
ing examiners appointed pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, and are
in the nonquota super grade structure; the other 11 super grades are quota posi-
tions. There are 184 attorneys assigned to the Office of Proceedings in grades
GS-7 to GS-15 who are engaged in the preparation of reports and orders de-
scribed in response to question No. 6 above, or are assigned to the employee
boards. Assisting two of these boards are 12 adjudicators (who have legal or
equivalent experience but are not required to be admitted to a bar).
The grade structure in the Commissioners' Offices is from GS-3 through GS-15.
The Section of Cost Finding has 37 cost analysts positions in grades GS-7
through GS-15; and 18 clerical positions in grades GS-2 through GS-7.
The Se~tion of Financial Analysis has nine analysts in grades GS-9 through
GS-15, and two clerical personnel.
The Board of Suspeimion grade structure is from grade GS-2 through GS-15.
The Fourth Section Board grade structure is from grade GS-5 through GS-14.
The Section of Records and Service grade structure is from grade GS-1
through 15-li.
9. What capital equipment, such as ADP, if any, do you rely upon to fulfill this
program?
In addition to the usual office equipment, such as typewriters, files, office furni-
ture, law books, etc., the Commission's centralized ADP facility is utilized.
10. Do you expect the expenditures or the benefits of the program to grow
appreciably in the future?
Both the expenditures and benefits of the program will grow with the increase
in population, the relocation of industries, and the expanding economy. The ex-
tent of the growth is a factor over which the agency has no control. An America
on the move will demand more and better facilities and services at reasonable,
nondiscriminatory rates~ This demand will result in increased activity for the
economic regulator-more applications for approval of new or additional operat-
ing authority; more applications for approval of consolidation of carriers and
proposed corporate and financial structures; and more contested rate proposals.
The increased activities will require more expenditures and will result in more
benefits to the public.
11. At what level are the personnel responsible for the various parts of the
program coordinated to determine if the program as a whole is being efficiently
carried out?
The Director of the Office of the Proceedings.
12. Is there a continual program review within the agency, other than the
annual budgetary review, to determine more effective and efficient ways to achieve
these program objectives?
The Director with his principal assistants conducts a continuing program re-
view to determine more effective and efficient ways to achieve the objectives.
Another means is the Commission's central status system, under which eacl~
active case on the Commission's docket (as many as 8,500 cases) is controlled
from date of `filing to final decision including its exact processing stage and
the date it reached that stage and preceding stages. Through the coi~itrol devices
incorporated in this system we can determine the age of any specific docket,
series of dockets, or the entire docket. Additionally we can determine how long
a specific case has been at a particular processing stage and by applying pre-
programed quality (elapsed time) criteria can identify and print out any out-
of-line case for the review of management. Additionally, through accumulated
listings of cases at a particuPlr processing stage, we can detect possible trouble
spots and initiate corrective action. Through statistical comparisons of elapsed
processing times with prior periods, we are aware at all times of the actual
condition of our docket both frow a quality and quantity standpoint. We have
found this system to be an effective control and planning tool and it has con-
PAGENO="0072"
68
tributed significalltly to the more effective management of our primary work-
load, namely, formal proceedings cases.
1. To your kncwledge, does this program duplicate or parallel work being
done by any other agency?
I know of no program subject to our jurisdiction which duplicates, overlaps,
or parallels work being done by any other agency. There are, of course, other
agencies responsible for economic regulation, such as the Civil Aeronautics
Board, the Maritime Commission, the Federal Power Commission, and others.
However, their activities relate to transportaiton over which this Commission
has no jurisdiction nor do they have jurisdiction over the transportation regu-
lated by this agency.
14. Is your organizational structure such that the program is being carried out
most efficiently and effectively?
Yes. We always are seeking ways to improve our practices and procedures. For
many years, one o~ the Oommission's most pressing problems has been how to
to cope with its liñge caseload. In fiscal year 1966, 11,572 cases were filed with
the Commission, and over 80 percent of those involved were motor carrier appli-
cations. Since 1961 the number of filings has increased by 60 percent, while the
size of the staff ha~ been reduced slightly. In spite of this, we have reduced the
average time it takes to dispose of a formal proceeding.
We have greatly increased the number of cases being handled without oral
hearings. Improvements have been made in our mostly widely used application
form which have the effect of requiring those seeking motor carrier authority to
prepare their cases more fully before filing their applications. In 1966, we
adopted, for the fitst time, a schedule of filing fees. We have taken a number of
steps to expedite the handling of cases.
One of our most successful innovations to deal with our workload has been the
assignment of decisionmaking responsibility to three-man employee boards. Fol-
lowing amendment of the act in 1961, employee boards began handling contested
as well as unopposed cases, and they have relieved the Commission of the r~spon-
sibility of considering several thousand proceedings annually.
15. Are there any outstanding GAO reports on this program? If so, what is the
status of the GAO recommendations the report contains?
No.
16. What slgnifi~ant problems, if any, are you facing in accomplishing the
program objectives?
Some significant, problems encountered in accomplishing the program objec-
tives are in the legislative area. Included are needed changes in the act related
to service, These involve substantive and procedural changes In those provi-
sions concerned with train discontinuances and additional authority to eucour~
age the handling of small shipments by motor carriers through control over
through routes and joint rates.
SMALL SHIPMENTS
The Commission is very much concerned with improving the transportation
system over which It has jurisdiction. One problem which we intend to continue
to study intensively and in depth during 1968 is the transportation of small ship-
ments. The number of informal shipper complaints about the deterioratioi~ of
service for the movement of small shipments has been increasing sharply in the
past year or two. The carriers, too, are unhappy about the situation, complaining
that there is no profit in small shipment transportation. Whether the root of the
problem lies In carrier practices, the rate structure, or somewhere else, we hope
to find solutions.
Closely associated with the small shipment problem is the matter of motor
carrier joint rates and through routes. shippers need motor carrier service
between widely scattered points, and must rely to a great extent upon the co-
ordinated Services of two or more carriers for the movement of any given ship-
ment. The CommissIon now has no power to compel motor carriers to establish
through routes and to publish joint rates, although it does have this power with
respect to railroads and water carriers. Refusals on the part of motor carriers
to handle shipments originating on the lines of other carriers are being brought
to our attention with increasing frequency. We are convinced that if ~c1equate
motor service is to be made available to the Nation's small businesses, we must
be in a position to require carriers to enter into through route arrangements
where there is a pijblic need for service. Legislation to remedy this matter is
pending in both Hcolses of the Congress.
PAGENO="0073"
lUlL PASSRNGER SERVICIS
~rhe Commission also Is considering the matter of preserving railroad pas-
senger service. Of particular concern to us are the present statutory provisions
relating to the discontinuance of passenger trains~ A railroad proposing a dis-
continuance must give the Commission at least 30 days' notice, and not less
than 10 days before the effective date of the discontinuance the Commissioti must
decide whether an investigation is warranted. We then can require the railroad
to continue operations for a 4-month period. In this time, the Commission thust
decide whether the service should be continued for a period up to 1 year or dis-
continued. In proposals involving the elimination of a railroad's entire passenger
operations, or a large segment thereof, we are faced with insufficient time to hear
public and railroad witnesses and to make a truly informed decision in this
4-month period.
The Commission's jurisdiction in this area, including the 4-month time limit,
was added to the Interstate Commerce Act in 1958, when the general railroad
financial picture was not nearly so bright as it is today, when State action bad
prevented the discontinuance of many unprofitable trains, and when there ~vas
little evidence of the desire to abandon or restructure all service. Today the
situation has changed. We have made specific legislative recommendations in this
area.
RAILROAD MERGERS
The rail merger picture is far from complete. Extensive proposals to restruc-
ture the rail system In the West now are under active consideration. A number
of vital aspects in the eastern rail situation are still pending. Taken together,
these proposals involve nearly all of the major railroads in the United States.
The ultimate disposition of these cases will, therefore, determine the structure
of the rail system of this country for years to come.
TRANSPORTATION BY AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES
A strong prosperous common carrier is the backbone of this country's trans-
port system. Regulated common carriers, charging rates which have been found
to be just and reasonable, providing services which have been found to be re-
quired by the public convenience and necessity, and required by law to handle
all the traffic tendered to them, constantly face competition from those whose
operations, for one reason or another, are exempt from the Commission's eco-
nomic regulation. One such group-the agricultural cooperatives-has recently
achieved a substantial victory in the courts that enabled it to become a serious
competitive threat to regulated carriers. It has been held that an agricultural
cooperative may transport commodities baying no relation to farming activities
from persons who are not farmers to persons who are not farmers, so long as the
transportation serves financially to support the cooperative's farm-related activi-
ties. Thus, an agricultural cooperative, after transporting its members' products
in one direction, can use its vehicles for any other service whatever on the re-
turn haul. We believe that this poses a serious threat to common carriage in
all modes. That agricultural cooperatives will attract significant volumes of
traffic is indicated from the fact that the Department of Defense has commenced
tendering shipments to them. We already have submitted for congressional con-
sideration corrective legislation.
FREIGHT CAll SHORTAGES
As a result of a recently enacted statute (Public Law 89-340), the Com-
mission has authority to prescribe "incentive per diem" charges which, It is
hoped, will effectively stimulate individual railroads to build and maintain their
fair share of the freight car fleet required to meet the demands of commerce
and the national defense. Although the Commission is acting expeditiously, It
is not realistic to expect that Implementation of its authority under this statute
will immediately "solve" the problem.
17. Do you administer any grants, loans, or other disbursed funds related tO
this program? If so, is the size of your administrative staff commensurate With
the magnitude of the outlays?
Part V of the Interstate Commerce Act, enacted In 1958, permitted the Com-
mission to guarantee loans to railroads. The provisionS of that act terminated
on June 30, 1963, except with respect to applications then pending and guaran-
tees previously made. All apphiètttions pending on that date have been acted upon,
PAGENO="0074"
70
and the proceeds of all guaranteed loans have been disbursed. Petitions to modify
the provisions of guaranteed loans previously made continue to be ruled upon
and policing of the loans will continue until all loans are repaid. The staff is
sufficient to administer the program.
18. If your appropriatjor~s were reduced, how would you absorb the cut-~by an
overall reduction, or by cutting or curtailing certain activities?
The decision as to how th~ Commission. would absorb any reductions ii' appro-
priations is one made by the Comjnission. `Ubi~ program would, of course be
guided by the app~oacb decided upon in applying budgetary cuts.
19. If achlitiopal funds were availablo, what would you do with the new money?
We would hire additional personnel to redtice backlogs, shorten the time nece~-
sary to process case~, and get into areas where additional person~el are required
to make significant inroads; such as censolidation of motor carrier certificates.
Program No. 2.-Uo*tpliance
1. What is the nature of and authority for this program?
The National Transportation Policy (49 U.S.C. preceding sec. 1) declared by
the Congress, requires that all provisions oj~ the Interstate Commerce Act be
enforced to meet the aims of that policy. Other than those provisions dealing with
safety, the enforcement of that act, as well as the Elkins Act, parts of the Clayton
Anti-Trust Act, and other supplementary legislation is the responsibility of the
Commission. These statutes are codified in various sections of titles 2, 15, and 49
of the United States Code. The Commission's regulations promu1g~ted thereunder
are contained in various parts of title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The
compliance program is directed ~hiefiy to promoting the following domestic, sur-
lace transportation concepts and objectives: adequate, economical, and efficient
transportatjon service; sound economic conditions in transportation service;
sound economic conditions in transportation; reasonable charges; prevention of
unjust discrimination; undue preferences or advantages, and unfair or destruc-
tive competitive practices; and a transportation system adequate to meet vital
national needs. Thus, we are authorized and obligated under these provisions, for
example, to require that carriers obtain appropriate authority before instituting
eerviee and that thereafter they operate within the limits of their operating
authorities, charge rates in accordance with their lawfully filed tariffs, and do
not perform uncompensated services; that they do not unduly favor in service
Or charge any particular shipper but that all are treated alike; and that they
maintain insurance for the protection of cargoes transported and to compensate
the public for any personal injurins and property damage they may cause.
The broad terms and importance of this Congressional mandate require that
there be maintained continuous contacts with carriers of all modes and all those
most affected by the transportation industry and also requires cooperation by
Commission persortnel engaged In this `program with regulatory personnel of
the Department of Transportation, other Federal departments and agencies, and
the various State governments in promoting the listed transpdrtation goals not
only with respect to matters whichare Within the Commission's jurisdiction but
also "nonjurisdlictjonal" matters where this Commission receives complaints or
requests for information and assistance from the public or has uncovered infor-
mation of use to such other governmental body.
2. Who is the person primarily in charge of this program at the operative level
(name and title)?
The investigatory portion of the compliance program is directed by Robert D.
Pfahler, Director, Bureau of Operations; and the formal legal enforcement activi-
ties are. headed by Bernard A. t~ould, Director, Bureau of Enforcement.
3. How much money and capital equipment is available under this program for
fiscal 1968?
* The Interstate Commerce Commission has set aside $6,499,000 to conduct the
compliance program and an additional $15527 for capital equipment.
4. Would you describe the output generated by this program?
The compliance program maintains continuous contact with domestic surface
carriers of all modes, those most affected by the transportation industry, and
utate regulatory agencies. Inspections and investigations are conducted to deter-
mine the degree of compliance with the Interstate Commerce Act and related
acts, with the ruie~ promulgated pursuant thereto, and with published tariffs
by carriers and shippers. Where noncompliance is uncovered in the course of
regular compliance surveys by the field staff, the findings are handled adminis~
~ratively for,correctjon or further investigation is instituted to determine w~hether
PAGENO="0075"
71
the evidence warrants formal action before the Commission or in the Federal
courts.
Complaints are received from shippers, other carriers, state regulatory bodies,
and the general public alleging violations of the law or regulations. These
allegations are investigated; and where deviations from the law, regulations,
or tariffs are fotind, they are given administrative handling for correction; or
where flagrant or continuing, become the subject of prosecution in the courts
or proceedings before the Commission.
A large volume of complaints is received covering matters over which the
Commission has no jurisdiction. In those instances the staff members endeavor
to reconcile the cause of complaints with the carrier or, when appropriate, refer
it to an agency which has jurisdiction. For example, complaints covering safety
matters are referred to the Department of Transportation, which now adminis-
ters the Federal safety functions, and complaintS covering interstate tran~orta-
tion are referred to the appropriate state regulatory authority.
Substantial information is developed concerning apparent violations of the
law and regulations from our own findings during compliance surveys, fro~n
the handling of complaints, and from information supplied by. state regulatory
bodies. The violations uncovered are then assigned for thorough field investiga-
tions directed toward determining the degree of noncompliance by the carrier,
and in some instances by the shipper. In the course of these ~nvestigattons, per-
sons are interviewed and evidence secured for consideration for formal enforce-
ment action. The results of these investigations are then handled by the Com-
mission's enforcement attorney staff and become the basis of civil or &lin~nal
proceedings in the Federal courts or are made the subject of a formal Cortimis-
sion proceeding. The compliance program also includes the administration of
the car service provisions of the act, and the Cothnfisslon's agents in the field
assure that there is an equitable distribution and efficient use of the national
rail car fleet.
5. Can you quantify this output in any way?
Iii carrying out the compliance program, our staff polices more than 19,000
licensed brokers and motor carriers of passengers and property ranging from
small carriers with only a few vehicles operating from one or two terminals
to large carriers operating several thousand pieces of equipment in numerous
States and utilizing hundreds of terminals: about 558 rail carriers operating
over 26,000 stations and yards encompassing a car fleet of more than 1% million
freight cars; 230 water carriers operating in coastal and inland water service;
and 89 freight forwarders with extensive operations. In addition to the author-
ized carriers, there are also innumerable illegal and questionable operators whose
activities must be investigated to determine whether or not they are operating
outside of the law.
In the investigative area, the compliance program objectives for fiscal year
1968 and 10,530 compliance surveys, 3,661 initial investigations resulting from
complaints or leads supplied by State agencies, and 1,109 final investigations in-
stituted with a view toward formal enforcement action. It is anticipated that
the investigative activities will result in the conclusion of 815 cases through pros-
ecutions in the courts or by preUtigation settlements of civil forfeiture claims,
plus about 200 formal Commission proceedings.
The punishment, correction and elimination of unlawful acts aids the public
by removal of inequities such as unfair competition. These efforts foster a ~ounil
transport system.
6. Would you describe the principal operations that are involved in producing
this output?
In the conduct of the Commission's compliance program, several Investigatory
methods are utilized. Normally in dealing with authorized carriers, the field staff
conducts compliance surveys on the carriers' property. These surveys consist of
a visualinspectioxi of the carriers' facilities, operations, and records. When dis-
crepancies or violations are discovered, they are handled with carrier officials
for correction if they can be handled a~ministratively. If the violations are fla-
grant and continuing, documentation is made of the records for use in further in-
vestigation or for* enforcement action.
Numerous investigations arise as a result of complaints from the shipping ~ub-
lic, State enforcement agencies, or other carriers. `When they cover matters
subject to our jurisdiction, t1~ey are assigned for formal investigation. At this
level the staff member must expiore all details of the complaint with the respond-
ent, the shippers involved, `and possible witnesses. As a result of this formal
investigation, a decision will be made by the field program directors as to whether
PAGENO="0076"
72
or not the matter should be handled administratively, by prosecution in the Fed-
eral courts, or as a formal case b~fore the Commission. When flagrant and con-
tinu~ng violatrons are discovered, either as a result of a compliance survey or a
complaint investigation, the report and documented evidence are submitted to
the Commission's enforcement attorneys. ~t'lie eni~orcement attorneys will review
the report of investigation and documented evidence to get the past record of
the respondents, and from the evidence submitted will prepare a memorandum
of review which will outline the facts in support of a recommendation to proceed
to the Federal courts or the Commission for formal proceedings, or whether the
evidence and precedent cases would foreclose a successful prosecution of the ease.
7. How many elnployees are involved in the program and in what general type
of employment categories do they fall?
Po carry out the compliance program the Commission has established 506 posi-
tions in the following categories:
Attorneys
Tra~isportation technicians 182
Investigators 48
Clerical 226
Total positions 506
8. What is the grade structure and how many super grades-quota and
nouquota-are Involved?
The Commission's compliance activity has a quota of 4 super grades. There
are no nonquota grades involved in this program. The grades distributed
through~ut the program are as follows:
No.of
Grade: positions \
17 2
16 2
15
14
13
12
11
10
11
30
35
191
11
2
1
2
5
16
125
61
12
Total positions 506
9. What capital equipment, such as APP, if any, do you rely upon to fulfill
this program?
The compliance program had no major items of capital equipment, such as
APP of Its own, however, this equipment Is available from a centralized position
at headquarters. The o~ily capital equipment utilized in the compliance program
is typewriters, calculators, and similar office equipment.
Automobiles for use of the field staff are obtained from the General Services
Administration on a lease basis.
10. Do you expect the expenditures or the benefits of the program to grow
appreciably in the future?
The expenditures for the compliance program are made primarily fqr personal
services and travel to enable the maintenance of an adequate staff with suf-
ficient mobility to cover the widespread geographical locations in which the
surface transportation industry operates. Transportation is a growing industry
and will continue to grow as the country grows in population and industrial
capacity.
There have beex~ modest staff Increases authorized by the Congress for com-
pliance purposes throughout this century; and as further growth itt the industry
develops, It appettrs desirable that the compliance effort keep space of the
ittdnstry regulated. However, it Is not foreseen that there will be any large
9
8
7
5
4
3
PAGENO="0077"
73
additions of staff unless additional regulatory authority is assigned by the
Congress.
The principal benefit from an effective compliance program is a national
transportation system adequate to meet vital national needs and that the follow-
ing domestic surface transportation concepts and objectives are met: adequate,
economical, and efficient transportation service; sound economic conditions in
the industry, reasonable charges; prevention of unjust discriminations; undue
preferences or advantages; and unfair ~r destructive competitive practices. Our
efforts are geared toward producing these benefits, and it is expected that
these benefits will continue to accrue to the shipping public and the nation.
11. At what level are the personnel responsible for the various parts of the
program coordinated to determine if the program as a whole is being efficiently
carried out?
The compliance program in the field is administered in six geographical
regions, and it is headed by a regional counsel and a regional director. Other
staff members are located in the regional headquarters offices and in other
offices located throughout each region. There are a total of 82 offices throughout
the United States. The regional counsel coordinates the wctivities of the trial
attorneys in their handling of formal actions before the Commission or In the
Federal courts. The regional director coordinateS investigative and administra-
tiVe portions of the program at the field level. These field program directors, in
turn, are responsible to their bureau directors in Washington, who, assure that
the entire program is coordinated and efficiently administered.
12. Is there a continual program review within the agency, other than the
annual budgetary review, to determine more effective and efficiertt ways to
achieve these program objectives?
In addition to the annual budgetary review, the compliance program is in-
cluded in the Commission's intensive program evaluation system which is ad-
ministered quarterly by the managing ~1irector to assure that program objectives
are being adhered to and the goals set are being met. In each region there is a
required internal inspection program, wherein the individual staff members and
their office staffs are visited to determine their on-the-job performance and if
they are properly performing their work. Additionally, Washington headquarters
officials make internal .inspection visits to the field offices to assure the effective-
ness of the field inspection program. Quarterly reports are required from field
s~aff ,meml?ers, whicll are utilized both at the regional office level and at the
Washington headquarters leve1~in the quarterly program evaluations. Statistical
resalts of the compliance efforts are reviewed by both the regional program di-
rectors apd by the Washir~gton ofjlce staffs, with a view to ascertaining conform-
ance with the estab~ished program objectives. [n addition to the formal ipspec-
tion and evaluation programs, there is a continuing dialog between the regional
managers and the field program directors and between headquarters and the
field en specific program and current problem areas. Monthly progress reports
are received in Washington covering investigatory matters. When fipal investi-
gations have been completed in the field, memorandums of review are prepared
and submitted to Washington with the recommendations of the regional dir6ctQr
and regional counsel as to whether or not the matter should be given further
handling in the courts or before the C.ommissiou. These are reviewed in the
Washington office so that there will be uniformity in the compliance progr~un
throughout the entire country.
13. To your knowledge, does this program duplicate or parallel work being
done by any other agency?
There are no other .agencies duplicating or paralleling~ the work being per-
formed by the Oommission'S compliance program.
14. Is `your organiz~ttional structure such that the program is being carried
out mostefficiently and effectively?
The Commission's organization has undergone several reorganizations and re-
alinements, both in the field and at headquarters, during the past several years.
These ~banges have assured both the efficiency and the effectiveness of the' coin-
pliancé program. .
15. Are there any outstanding 41A0 reports on this program? If so, ~krhat is the
status of the GAO recommendations the report contains?
No. `
16. What significant problems, If any, are `yOu facing in accomplishing the
program objectives? ` ` `
PAGENO="0078"
74
The significant, continuing problems being faced in accomplishing the compli-
ance program objectives arise from the fact that there are many thousands of
licensed carriers and uncoitnted numbers of unlicensed carriers subject to eco-
iiomic regulation by the Commission; the complexity of financial schemes and
relations among carriers and shippers to disgu~s~ rebates, concessions, and mis-
application of carrier rates or carrier funds; and the increasing sophistication of
schemes to conduct unlawful motor carriage purportedly as exempt or private
transportation and the ease and speed with which those schemes and relationa
can be changed to evade enforcement. Some of our current compliance problema
are:
Inspection of records-The Commission has ample power under the act to in-
spect the records of all transportation companies clearly subject to the provi-
sions of the act. There are many motor carriers conducting operations purport-
edly under one of the exemptions in the act, or as private carriers. Where there
bs some reason to believe that a carrier does iiot qualify for an exemption, or is
effecting a disguise of private carriage to hide unlawful for-hire carriage, in-
vestigation to reveal the true status often is hindered hy refusal of the carrier
to furnish information or to permit review of its records.
compliance work in this field would he aided if the act permitted the Com-
mission to inspect and copy such records of purported exempt and private motor
carriers as bear upon their status under the act.
~S'n~aU shipments.-One of the very serious problems confronting the Com-
mission is the maintaining of adequate service to shippers and receivers of
small quantities of freight, particularly where the goods are not profitable to
handle or more to or from outlying locations. The burden of supplying this serv-
ice has fallen principally upon motor common carriers either alone or in con-
junction with freight forwarders.
Motor common carriers are required by the terms of their certificates to render
a reasonably continuous and adequate service at all of their authorized points.
Where the shlpmehts can move from origin to destination by a single carrier,
the Commission's present powers are generally adequate to cope with the prob-
lem. Recently the elimination from certificates of all restrictions that permitted
only truckload service was ordered by the Commissioner, but the order is not
yet effective. However, where the services of two or more motor carriers are
required to effect delivery, the carriers lawfully may refuse to join their services.
The Commission has recommended to Congress that it be given authority to
require motor common carriers to join in providing through service where this
is shown to be in the public interest. Two pending bills, S. 751 and H.R. 6533.
would carry out this recommendation. Enactment of this legislation would not
solve the whole problem, but it would be of considerable assistance.
Agrienitural cooperative assookttions.-Tbe act exempts from economic regu-
lation, in rather getieral terms, motor vehicles controlled and operated by farmer
cooperative associations and federations of such associations. Over the past few
years many complaints have been filed alleging the unlawful transportation of
general freight by such associations and by persons purportedly qualifying as
farmer cooperatives. In formal proceedings the Commission interpreted the ex-
emption as applying only to farm-related commodities. This was upset In court
proceedings which followed the view that non-farm-related commodities could be
transported if this was incidental to the association's farm transportation and
necessary to enable it to continue that transportation.
A considerable amount of very profitable truckload freight is being hauled by
these associations at the expense of the common carriers upon which the public
generally must depend for service. The problem of confining these associations,
both the legitimate and the quentionable ones, to "incidental and necessary"
general freight hauling is a major one. Bills which would limit this exemption
to the transportation of farm products, farm supplies, and other farm-related
traffic, S. 752 and KR. 6530, are ~w pending.
suspension and revocation of wtor carrier authority.-Phis enforcement
measure is combersome because of the necessity for proving not only a willful
violation of the act or of a regulation or operating authority, but also a willful
failure of the carrier to correct the violation when ordered by the Commission
to do so These provisions woul4 be strengthened by the enactment of legislation
proposed in S. 753 and H.R. osai which presently are before the Congress.
17. Do you administer any grants, loans, or other disbursed funds related to
this program? If so, is the size of your administrative staff commensurate with
the magnitude of the outlays?
PAGENO="0079"
75
The Commission's compliance program does not administer any grants or
other disbursed funds.
18. If your appropriations were reduced, how would you absorb the cut-by
an overall reduction, or b~ cutting or curtailing certain activities?
The decision as to bow the Commission would absorb any reductions in appro-
priations is one made by the Commission. This program would, of course, be
guided by the approach decided upon in applying budgetary cuts.
19. If additional, funds were available, what, would you do with the new
money?
Our present compliance efforts are very limited in view of the large numbers
of authorized carriers and the extremely large numbers of locations from which
they operate. Additionally, the completely illegal, unauthorized carriers have
become much more knowledgeable as to the rules and regulations of the Com-
mission and have developed highly sophisticated schemes and devices to circum-
vent the law. This results in the investigation being extensive and time consum-
ing. If additional funds were available, we could provide additional staff and
travel fnnds, which would make it possible to increase the frequency with which
we are able to condflct compliance surveys of the individual carrier's operations
and devote additional effort to the elimination of unlawful operations by both
certificated and noncertificäted carriers. This would materially improve our as-
surance of compliance with the laws and regulations by the carriers. Addition-
ally, it would be possible to better serve the public with respect to jurisdictional
and nonjurisdictional complaints. Despite our best efforts, we are unable to
eliminate a backlog of such complaints throughout the Nation. More rapid han-
dling of them would benefit the shipping public. Any increase in the investigatory
efforts would produce a like change in the cases handled by the attorney staff,
Program No. 3.-Supervision and analysis of carrier accounting and statistics
(Bureau of Accounts, Bureau of Economics)
1. What is the nature of and authority for this program?
This activity is authorized under the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. § 1,
et seq.) and related statutes covering carrier accounting systems; prescription
of accounts and inspection thereof; economic and statistical analyses; reporting
requirements, including depreciation, destruction of records, and valuation of
carrier property.
2. Who is the person primarily in charge of this program at the operative
level (name and title)?
Matthew Paolo, Director, Bureau of Accounts.
Edward Margolin, Director, Bureau of Economics.
3. How much money and capital equipment is available under this program for
fiscal year 1968?
For the fiscal year 1968, $2,762,779 has been allotted to the operations coverec~
under this program. Capital equipment involved is $6,049.
4. Would you describe the output generated by this program?
Accounting rules and regulation; record retention regulations; reports on
examination of accounts and records (audit) ; economic, statistical, and mathe-
matical studies and analyses; probability sample programs, financial and sta-
ti~tical publications; depreciation studies; construction cost indexes for the
railroad and pipeline industries; and annual reports on pipeline valuations.
5. Can you quantity this output in any way?
Yes; we have records of output in the several categories compiled monthly.
6. Would you describe the principal operations that are involved in producing
this output?
Development of accounting rules and interpretation thereof; audit of the regu~
lated industry accounts and records; compilation and publication of transporta~
tion statistics; the development of depreciation studies; statements regarding
the valuation of pipeline property; and analyzing and evaluating economic and
statistical data.
7. How many employees are Involved in the program and in what general type
of employmemut categories do they fall?
There are 207 employees involved in this program. of which 121 are profes-
sional accountants, economists, statisticians, transportation analysts, auditors~
and engineers, and 86 subprofessional and clerical.
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8. What is the grade structure and how many super grades-quota and non-
quota-are involved?
The professional employees range from GS-7 through GS-17. ~ubprofessional
and clerical employees are grades OS-i through 05-13. There are two bureaus
involved, each staffed with one GS-17 and one GS-16. (All four are within the
quota.)
9. What capital equipment, such as ADP, if any, do'you rely upon t~ fulfill this
program?
Autos are leased from GSA. ADP equipment is centralized under general man-
agement and administration.
10. Do you expect the expenditures or the bepefits of the program to grow
appreciably in the future?
Barring any unforeseen developments, we do not expect the e~peuditures to
grow appreciably In the near future. The program has been beneficial to the
Ooinmission and to the general public for many years. We anticipate continued
growth in the benefits in light of the increasing complexity of economic issues,
in general, and in the transportation industry, in particular. Transportation is
one of the largest industries in our natipnal economy, encompassing approxi-
mately one-sixth of our gross national product.
11. At what level are the personnel responsible for the various parts of the
program coordinated to determine if the program as a whole is being efficiently
carried out?
Director, Bureau of Accounts.
Director, Burenuof Economics,
12. Is there a cçntinuai program review within the agency, other than the
annual budgetary review, to determine more e1~fective and efficient ways to
achieve these program objectives?
At the activity level, there is a continuous program review of the work pro-
duction and processes by the Bureau Directors, the responsible section chiefs, and
field program directors. The Bureau of Accounts operates an internal inspection
plan throughout its field offices to improve the quality of the output. The opera-
tion of all the Commission's programs are included in the Commissio&s intensive
quarterly program evaluation, which is conducted by the managing director's
office.
13. To your knowledge, does this program duplicate or parallel work being
done by any other agency?
No.
14. Is your organizational structure such that the program is being carried out
most efficiently and effectively?
The organizational structure is subject to continuing review to assure flexi-
bility and responsiveness to the Commission need. No change from the present
structure appears tO be needed at this time.
15. Are there any outstanding GAO reports on this program? If so, what is the
status Of the GAO recommendations the report contains?
No.
16. What significant problems, if' any, are you facing In accomplishing the
program objectives?
Budgetary limItat~ons in our vital programs. (See 19 below.)
~7. Do you administer any grants, loans, Or other disbursed funds related to
this program? If so, is the size of your administrative staff commensurate with
the magnitude of the Outlays?
No.
18. If $ur ~pproiiriations ~er~ reduced, how would you absorb the cut-by an
overall'reduction, or by cutting or curtailing'certain activities?
The decision as to how, the Commission would absorb any reductions In ap-
propriations is ofl~ made by the' Commis~ioti. This `progranl would, of course, be
guided by the approach decidnd'upon in applying budgetary cuts.
19. If additional' funds Were available, what Would you do with the new
money?
We would employ additional engineers for our valuation program and auditors
for examination of accounts and' records of the regulated industry, and the
accounting examination of the financial reports filed by the Industry. We also
would recruit personnel for needed economic, mathematical, and statistical
ai~aiyses. ` ` `
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Program 7~o, 4. -B~upervision andY jet erpret ation of tariffs
1. What is the nature of and authority for this program?
Most of this program is required by the provisions of sectIon 6, section 20(11),
section 22, a~d section 409, and related Sections of the Xnterst~tte COmmerCe Act.
These sections require the filing of tariffs, contracts, ccrnctt±renecs, and po~vers
of attorney, section 22 qdotatlons or tOnders, and permit the ljIiug~ of applica-
tiop~ for waiver of the provisions of section 20(11.) rel~tin~ to released rates
a~thority, and sectidn 6 an4 related sectiOns of the act relating to authority to
establish rates, fares, or charges upon less than statutory notice, or depart from
the Commission's established ta~ff publishing rules.
2. Who is the person primarily in charge of this prQgram at the operative level
(~iame and title)?
Mr. Eçlward H. Cox, Director, Bureau of Traffic.
3. Row much money and capital equipment is ~lvallable under this pi~ogram
for fiscal year 1968?
` A total of $1,757,136, which includes $6,000 for capital equipment is available
forJlscal. 1968.
4. Would you describe the output generated by this program?
Most of this activity is required by statutory provisions and Includes certain
support activity. The Bureau niust recel~e and handle all matters for which It
is responsible and performs such duties as are required by the statute and as are
delegated to it by the Commission. It examines tariffs for form, construction,
and compliance with Commission orders and the statute. It receives quotations
and tenders filed under section 22 of the act for the U.S. Government and makes
them available for public inspection, and receives and examines contracts be-
tween (1) motor contract carriers and shippers, and (2) contracts between
freight forwarders and motor carriers. It considers and disposes of applications
fQr authority to limit the carriers liability which are filed under the provisions
of section 20(11) of the act and receives, analyzes, and disposes of applications
filed under section 6 and related sections of the act for authority to make changes
in rates on less than statutory notice and to depart from the Commission's tariff
publishing rules.
It also provides rate information and interpretations of published tariffs and
schedules for the Commission and its staff; assists in the settlement of informal
complaints between shippers and carriers of controversies involving the proper
interpretations of tariffs; and processes reparation epplications.
It maintains a file of tariffs a~d other material which is available for inspec-
tion by the public at all times.
5. Can you quantify this output in any way?
In fiscal year 1967, there were 215,540 tariffs and schedules received. Of this
number, 24,582 were criticized for failure to comply with the Commission's
tariff publishing rules and ether matters, and 3,703 were rejected for failure to
give statutory notice, failure to comply with orders of the Commission and for
other reasons. There were 9,336 powers of attorney and concurrences filed, of
which 1,857 were criticized for failure to be filed in the proper form or to be
properly executed. Thirty thousand eight hundred and thirty-two quotations of
reduced rates filed pursuant to section 22 for transportation of property for the
U.S. Government were filed and made available for public inspection.
Six thousand seven hundred and eighteen special permission applications were
analyzed and disposed of, and 83 released rate applications were disposed of.
There were 2,259 informal complaints regarding rates, service, and other mat-
ters disposqd of, and 465 applicatIons by carriers subject to parts I and III of
the act for authority to award reparation. The reparation involved In these appli-
cations and approved totaled $1,202,266.
6. Would you describe the principal operations that are involved in produc-
ing this output?
a. Examination of tariffs, schedules, and contracts for compliance with the pro-
visions of the act, the Commission's tariff publishing roles, and orders of the
Commission,
b. Examination of all powers of attorney, concurrences and section 22 quota-
tions or tenders for compliance with the statute and the Commission's regulations
as to form and execution.
c. Applications for authority under section 20(11) of the act are analyzed
by a member of the staff to determine the merits of the application and to make
a recommendation to the Released Rates Board for disposition. The Released
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Rates Board then considers the application and suppQrti~ig data aud enters an
order either granting or denying the application.
d. Special permission applications are* received and analyzed by staff mem-
bers and a recommeuaation Is made to the Special Permission Board for disposi-
tion of the application. The application and the recommendation are considered
by the Specia' Perpiission Board which then issues an order either granting or
denying the application.
e. Informal cou~plaints of shippers, passengers, and others involving rates,
failure to give service, and other similar matters are examined by the staff and
as a result of their independent research, the interested parties are advised of
the informal view~ of the Commission regarding the matters under consideration.
f. Special docket applications submitted by parts I and III carriers for
authority to make reparation on, past shipments where lawfully applicable rates
have been assesse~l but which the carriers and shippers believe to be unreason-
able, are analyzed and considered and a recommendation submitted to the Com-
mission for djspo~ition of the application. An order is then entered by the Com-
mission either granting or denying the application.
7. How many employees ~re involved i~ the program and in what general type
of employment categories do they fall?
There are 195 employees involved in this program. They fall in the following
general type of categories:
Tariff examiners, tariff analysts, and supervisory staff 68
Rate examiners, rate analysts~ and supervisory staff 60
Clerical staff 60
Administi~atii~e 7
Total - 195
8. What is the grade structure and how many super grades-quota and non-
quota-are involved?
There are two super grades involved, one GS-17 and one GS-16. Both are
within the quota assigned to the Commission. The following shows the grade
structure:
GS-17 1
GS-16 1
GS-15 2
GS-14 2
05-13 5
05-12 4
05-11 -- 11
05-10 21
GS-9 51
GS-8
05-7 - 3
GS-6 12
OS-S - 8
05-4 28
05-3 -, 9
GS-2 2
Total 195
9. What capital equipTinent, such as APP, if any, do you rely upon to fulfill this
program?
None.
10. Do you expect the expenditures or the benefits of the program to grow
appreciably in the future?
The regulated carriers and the shipping and traveling public are responsible
for the greater portion of the workload of this Bureau. There have been con-
tinuing increases in some areas of this program, and it is assumed that these
increases will continue. The expenditures and benefita may be expected to in-
crease commensurate with the increased activity.
11. At what level are the personnel responsible for the various parts of the
program coordinated to determine if the program as a whole is being efficiently
carried out?
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Under the general direction of the JDirector, two~a~si~tant t~ir~ctQrs (GS-1~),
chiefs ~f their respective ~ectLQns and their assista~its, ire responsible to see
that the program is carried out efficiently.
12, Ts there a continual progran~i review wit~iin ~he Agency, other tliau the
annual budgetary review, tQ determine more ef~ç~otive and efficient ways to
achieve these program objectives? S
There is a continuing work evaluation review within the agency through the
program evaluation process. In addition, the Bureau of Traftic has had a con-
tinual study of its workload for many years to see that improvements in internal
procedures are considered and put into effect and that manpower is utilized in
the most efficient and effective ways at all times.
13. To your knowledge, does this program duplicate or parallel work being
done by any other agency?
No.
14. Is your organizational structure such that the program is being carried
out most efficiently and effectively?
The organizational structure is constantly being appraised and evaluated and
recommendations are made, and implemented so that at all times the program
Is being carried out in the most efficient and effective manner. It is believed the
present organizational structure is such that it results in the most efficient and
effective use of manpower to attain the objectives of the program.
16. What significant problems, if any, are you facing in accomplishing the
program objectives?
This Bureau in the operation of tills program is in the nature of a service
bureau inasmuch as it is not in a position to control its workload in any respect.
It must receive and handle all matters for which it is responsible and perform
such duties as are delegated to it by the Commission and statutory provisions.
The regulated carriers and the shipping and traveling public are responsible for
the greater portion of the workload governed by this program. The work product
embraced in other activities of the Commission ultimately has to be translated
into tariff publication, and increased workload in these areas result in increased
work in this particular program. When this occurs, the present staff engaged in
these activities is hardpresse~ to cope with the workload and to afford the car-
riers and the shipping public the service to which they are entitled.
17. Do you administer any grants, loans, or other disbursed funds related
to this program? If so, is the size of your admi~iistrative staff commensurate
with the magnitude of the outlays?
No.
18. If your appropriations were reduced, how would you absorb the cut-by
an overall reduction, or by cutting or curtailing certain activities?
The decision as to how the Commission would absorb any reductions in ap-
propriations is one made by the Commission. This program would, of course, be
guided by the approach decided upon iii applying budgetary cuts.
19. If additional funds were available, what would you do with the new
money?
Increase the staff in certain areas. This would afford them additional time in
order to more thoroughly perform their duties and would result in a better work
product which would be of benefit both to the regulated carriers and to the
shipping public. ______
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIvE SUPPORT PROGRAM
(Includes executive and advisory functions and general management and
administration subprograms)
1. What is the nature of and authority for this program?
The nature of this program is that of providing executive direction, legal
counsel, and ministerial support services to the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion and that of providing day-to-day administration and management of the
Commission's operations. Its authority can be found in the Interstate Commerce
Act and various Commission miAutes.
2. Who is the person primarily in charge of this pPogram at the operative level
(name and title)? S
The functions assigned to the executive and advisory subprogram are those
relating to the duties performed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman and their
staffs, the Office of the General Counsel, and `the Office of the `Secretary. The
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current Ch~tirman ~1s Paul J. Tierney. The Vice Chairman Is Mrs. Virginia Mae
Brown. The `General Counsel is Robert W. Ginnane, and the Secretary Is H. Neil
Garson. Bernard ~3'. Schmid, Managing Dicector, Is In charge of the general
management and a~lministratioi1 subprogram. lie is assisted by Chief of Ad-
ministrative Services William M. Rowe, Budget and Fiscal Officer George ~
Lotito, Director of Personnel Curtis F. Adams, and Chief of Systems Develop-
ment Robert r. llai,tel, Who are in charge of the ttnit5 which support the overall
management and administration of the O~mm4sslon's work.
3. How much mOñëy and capital ~qnlpment Is available trndeP this program
for fiscal 1968? ~`
A total of approximately $3,156,000 which includes $11,000 for capital equip-
ment is available utider this program for fiscal 1968.
4. Would you describe the output generated by this program?
Executive direction and advisory services are a continuing function and not
conducive to output ~measurement. However, the Office of the General Counsel, as
principal legal counsel to the Commission and its members, prepares advisory
opinions reflecting legal res&iröh and analyses on such difficult questions as the
Commission and its members may submit. A~ counsel defending the orders of
the Commission before the appropriate reviewing courts, the Office of the Gen-
eral Counsel prep4res and serves whatever pleadings and briefs the cases may
require and presents oral argument before the courts. The Secretary Is the offi-
cial responsible for the issuance of orders and decisions, custodian of official
records, processing of official documents, and for service on parties. The ifb~ary,
reference services, and mtUlrooln are other services assigned to the Secretary.
In addition to ove~al1 managetm~int and special management studies, evaluations,
and, analyses, the Output generated by this progvam is that of the usual adniinis-
tratlve support program, including budget, fiscal, personnel, administrative, and
ADP operations.
5. Can you quantify this output ~nany way?
The output generated by the Qilice oi~ tt~e' Ge~neral Cottnsel can be quantified.
During Ilseal year~ j968, it is anticipated that api~roxinia~el~ 290 opinIons to the
Commission or its members will be prepared; It i~ afitielpated that approximately
112 court cases wijl be processed 1~y this Ofl~p~. 3~1ie output associated with the
Office of the Secr~tavy can be quantified. iror example, approximately 1,700,000
notices, reports,~ and so f~rtJ~, w~lI be received and served; 2 million pieces
of mail processed; ii,00O dockéts made up; and 9,000 pages of decisions will
be digested during 1968. Further, many areas in the general `management and
administration su~program can be. quantified, such as pages printed, vouchers
audited, personne1~ actions, and ~o forth.
6. Would you describe the principal oper~tious that a~e involved in produc-
ing this output? ~
Executive direction and legal counsel services are the principal operations in-
volved in producing this output insofar as the ~ba1rman, Vice Chairman, and
General Counsel are concerned. The Secretary handles the ministerial duties
associated with service of process, issuance of decisions, and so forth. In the
general management and administration subprogram, the principal operations
involved in producing this output are those employed in the science of manage-
ment: (1) budget process, (2) personnel management, (3) admInistrative serv-
ices, (4) automatic data~procesSing operations, (5) program evaluation, and
(6) internal audit.
7. How many employees are involved in the program and in what general
type of employment categories do they fall?
Exeeuti'vo end a44i$ory s'abprogram
A total of 86 employees are involved in this subprogram. The general type of
employment categpries in which they fall is as follows:
Chairman and vicO chairman 2 Public information officer 1
Attorney-Adviser 14 Public information specialist 3
Chief of Section 1 Secretary and Assistant Secre-
Congressional Liaison Officer---~.~ 1 tary
Deputy and Associate General Special Assistant to the Chair-
Counsel - 8 man 1
General Counsel I Trial Attorney 10
Legislative Attorney 2 NonprofessIonal staff-secretarIal
Librarian 2 and clerical services 42
Minute clerk 1
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General management ~md adn ni8tra~t~o~ ~ubprogram
A total of 181 employeeS ate thi~9lved ifl this program. The employment cate.
gories ii~ which they fall are as follows
Managing
Assistant Managing Director.~..~~~._
1
1
Special Assistant
Regional manager.._..~
(3
Budget and fiscal officer
I.
Assistant budget and fiscal officer....
Chief of section .~
Assistant chief of section
1
2
I
Assistant to the chief
1
Assistant accounting and fiscal
officer
1
1
Director of personnel_
Assistant director of personneL.__
Confidential assistant
Management technician~.
1
1
3
Management specialist .~____
I
Budget analyst
3
Management analyst_~__.~.....__..~__
Piscal assistant
2
1
8. What are the grade structure and how many super grades-quota and non-
quota-are involved?
Yikoeoutis.~e and advisor~j 8ubproØ'a~m
The grade struettire for the 8~ In this subprogram Is as follows:
Chairman (Presidential appoin- GS-12 .....~ 4
tee) 1 G$-11 9
Vice Cbairmau (Presidential ap~ GS-9 6
pointee) 1 GS-8 3
GS~18 1 GS-7 7
GS-17 .~----~ 1 GS-6 .. 11
GS-16 4 GS-5 7
GS-1~$ 14 GS-4 ~ 8
GS-14 4 GS-3 3
GS-13 2
The follOwing six positions are supergrade levels, and are within the 4tlota
assigned to the Commission:
General Counsel ~ 1 GS-18 Secretary ~ 1 GS-46
Deputy General Counsel 1 GS-17 Congressional Liaison Otflçer_ 1 GS-46
Associate General CounseL.... 2 GS-i~G
General man gement and adn$nistrati~on t~ubprogram
The following two positjons are supergradç ~eve1~, and are within the quota
assigned to the Commission:
Managing Director 1 GS-18 I Assistant Managing Director.. 1 GS-1T
9. What capital equipment, such as ADP, if any, do you rely upon to fulfill
this program?
Internal auditor.,.~ 2
Program analyst 2
Classification specialist 3
J33mployee development officer......~._ 1
Placement specttalist_...... 4
Staff nurse .~___ 1
Operations research analyst I
Computer prograiner 5
Computer specialist 3
Computer systems analyst 5
Computer systems operator.._...~.... 4
Computer aid 1
Card punch supervisor 3
Card punch operator 16
Wage Board printing plant staff.. ..~. 29
Nonprofessional staff-secretarial,
cleri4~al, and administrative serv-
ices ..~_- 72
The grade structure for the 181 employees in tl4s subprogram is as follows:
GS-18 1 GS-8 3
GS-4~ 1 GS-7 .~. 15
GS-15 11 ~ 8
GS-14 3 GS~-~ 29
GS-13 8 GS~4 14
GS-12 12 GS-8 19
GS-11 14 Wage Board
GS-~9 14
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We rely heaviI~ upon All? e~iil~inebt ~ fhi~ri5h thanagement information
data such as tbe~ ceptral status report cpu rniu~caseload, payroll records, ac-
counting records and inventory control 4I~o it should be noted that all ADP
and printing services are located within this program to provide central services
for the substantIve oper~ating prOgrams of the entire Commission~
10. 1)0 you expect the expenditOres or the beaeflts of the program to grow
appreciably in the future?
While the exp~niliturës for this program will probably remain constant for
the~foreseeable ftture, it is hop~dthât ~ubstantial benefit to .the transportation
industry and the shipping public will accrue through better utilization of the
entire Commission's resources, all resulting from responsible executive direction
and overall mans~gement.
11. At what level are the personnel responsible for the various parts of the
program coordinated to determine if the program as. a whole is being efficiently
carried out?
The Chairman as executive head of the Commission coordinates the various
parts of the executive and advisory subprogram in order to assure that the
program as a whole is being efficiently carried out. Management aspects of the
program are coordinated by the Man~ging Director for the Chairman. Further,
as the chief administrative officer af the Commission the Managing Director
coordinates the various parts of the management and administrative subprogram
to assure that the program as a whole is being efficiently carried out.
12. Is there a continual program reView within the agency, other than the
annual bi~getaq revj~w, to, dete.~Inine mpre e~ective, and efficient ways to
achieve these progi~ath objtIvë~? S
The executive and supervisory personnel associated with this ~rog~rairt exer-
cise continuous review and evaluatlop in or4er to determine the most effective \
and efficient ways to achieve the program objectives. For example, the Commis-
sion s several bur~au~s and t~be Office of the Seu~etary are covered b~ th~ program
evaluation system This system provides a means to identify and define program
objectives, measure accomplishments in relation to such established objectives,
and seeks to insUre that the Commission's resources are applied in the most
effiective manner' The proceedings operations are closely reviewed through the
central status system. Further, the Managing Director continually reviews and
evaluates for the Chairman all Commission programs as well as the areas under
his immediate supervision in order to determine the most effective and efficient
ways to achieve the program objectives.
13. To your knowledge, does this program duplicate or parallel work being
done by any other agency?
This program does not duplicate work being done by any other agency.
14. Is your organizational structure such that the. program is being carried
out most efficiently and effectively?
In our judgment, the organizationai structure Is such that this program is
being carried out in the most efficient and effective manner possible. We con-
tinually strive, however, to effect improvements that will increase efficiency and
economy in our organization and operations.
15. Are there any outstanding GAO reports on this program? If so, what is
the status of the GAO recommendatlon~ the report contains?
There are no outstanding ~AOreports on this program.
16: What significant problems, if any, are you facing in~ accomplishing the
program objectives?
Proceedings before the Commission and suits challenging the Commission 5
actions are becoming increasingly complex. hence, executive direction and ad-
visory services to the Commission have likewise increased in complexity
17. Do you administer any grants, loans, or other disbursed funds related to
this program? If so, is the . your administrative staff commensurate with
the magnitude of the outlays?
No grants, loans, or disbursed funds are administered that relate to this
program.
18 If your appropriation uere reduced how would you absorb the cut-by
an overall reduction, or by cutting or curtailing certain activities?
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During the past several years, the Coinmi~sion ha~ done much to lm~ro~ its
way of doing business. We have made major reorganizations and instituted far-
reaching procedural innovations in order to meet our responsibilities within tight
budgetary restrictions. The luxuries, such as specialization, enjoyed by most
agencies, have been foregone in an effort to handle our mounting workload. We
are now at the point where we have exhausted major avenues of self-help. This
was pointed out to the Bureau of the Budget in our budget transmittal letter
and reiterated to the BOB staff dui~ing the btidget hearing that we have cut our
programs to the point that further reductions would seriously impair the Com-
mission's ability to carry out its legislath~e respon~ibilities. Despite our appeals
to the BOB, our end of fiscal year 1968 position ceiling was reduced by 74 posi-
tions, and our 1969 allowance was established at the same reduced level. It was
the Commission's position that it would not jeopardize all of its programs by
across-the-board reductions. Thus it was necessary to eliminate one program
in its entirety and drastically reduce two others. The situation has not changed.
If further reductions are imposed, the Commission will have to reevaluate its
remaining programs and apply the reduction in those areas having the lowest
priority. Although we have not yet curtailed any of the resources available to the
proceedings area, we can hardly escape such action if further substantial reduc-
tions are made. This, of course, will only jeopardize our ability to cope with the
heavy proceedings caseload and will undoubtedly cause delays in processing
cases to conclusion.
19. If additiona' funds were available, what would you do with the new
money?
Because of the increasing complexity of the proceedings before the Commis-
sion and the suits ~hallenging the Commission's actions, additional funds being
made available for this program would be used to hire two additional attorneys
and supporting personnel for the Office of the General Counsel. All other func-
tions of this program relate to the present level of substantive operations of the
Commission. Additional funds would not be required unless our present leyel
of substantive operations would appreciably increase,
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APPENDI~ B.-~MINm1:uM LIMITS OP INSURANCE ON MQTOR CARRIERS
As a matter of jaw, a ~ommo~ ca~rier s~ibject tb economic regulation nftdér
the Interstate Con~nerce~ Ac1~ Is liable for the full actual loss~ damage, or injury
to the cargo transported (49 U,S~C~ 2Q(U). The statute confers np jurisdiction
on the Commission to determine the question of carrier liability. This question
is reserved to the courts.
Under title 49 1~ited States Code, section 315, ançl the Commission's regula-
tions (49)CFR 1043), motor carriers subject to our jurisdiction are required to
maintain minimum limits ~f insurance a~follows
Limit for bodhy:
injuries to or death
of all ~ersons mit for loss or
Limit for bodily injured or killed in damage in any 1
Kind of equipment injuiies to or death arty I Occident accident to property
of 1 person (tubject to a of others (excluding
maximum of $25,000 cargo)
for bodily~ injuries to
or death of 1
person)
~
Passenter equipment (seating capdcity):
7 passengers or less $25,000 $100,000 $10~000
8 to 1~ passengers, incl~tsive 25, 000 150, 000 10, 000
13 to 20 passengers, intlusive 25,000 200,000 10,000
21 to 30 passengers, Inclusive 25, 000 250, 000 10, 000
31 passengers or more.t_.,L - 25, 000 300,000 10. 000
Freight equipment: All mofor vehicles used in the
transportation of propert~( 25, 000 100, 000 10, 000
Fttrther, thotor cohsmon carriers of property (with exception as to ceatain rela-
tively ]?oW*value ±canmodlties, such as tho~se generally moved in bulk) are re-
quired to maintain security siifficl~nt t~ compensate shippers ~or loss or damage
to cargo as follows:
One thousand dollars for loss or damage to cargo carried on any motor
v~hicle; and
Two thousand dollars for loss or damage, or aggregate of losses or dam-
ages, to cargo occurring at any one time or place.
The Bureau of Operations (and its predecessors) has from time to time con-
duced informal studies examining the above-stated minimum limits to determine
whether they are adequate for sufficient protection to the public. The 131/PD
limits have been increased twice since enactment of the Motor Carrier Act
(known as part II of the Interstate Commerce Act) in 1935. The present mini-
mum requirements were adopted in 1957. The cargo limits have not been revised
since 1936, but we have a pending study of this which will be presented to the
Commission for decision later this year. We anticipate the study to be supporte
by a recommended increase in the cargo limits.
As a practical matter, almost all of the approximately 19,000 motor carriel
subject to our jurisdiction maintain substantially in excess of the minimui~
limits described above. The cost of the excess insurance is relatively insignificant
above and beyond the cost of the basic coverage. Not all States require motor car-
riers to carry minimum amounts of insurance, but of those which do, our BI/PD
minimums are well above those of every State, except Alaska ($100,000/$300,000
and $10,000) and Minnesota (which recently went to $50,000/$200,000 and
$15,000). Four States have slightly higher minimums for motor carriers of ex-
plosives. However, our investigation of the latter feature reveals no justification
for a higher minimum for this class of carrier.
Our studies in this area have been informally conducted by our section of
insurance and the field staff as appropriate. A recent survey of insurance com-
panies indicates the average bodily Injury claim from all vehicular accidents
is $1,300 and property damage average claim is $175. Insurance companies whose
business is predominantly motor carrier insurance reflect an average bodily In-
jury claim of $1,800 and property damage claim of $400. Further, studies by the
insurance industry indicate that less than three-fourths of 1 percent of all bodily
injury claims resulted in payments exceeding $25,000 per person. Accordingly,
our minimum limits seem to provide more than adequate protection for the pub-
lic in the vast majority of cases.
PAGENO="0089"
Our general view is that we cannot guarantee the existence of insurance to
cover all possible claims. This would require minimum insurance of astronomical
figures. Basically, we attempt to protect the vast majority of claimants for losses
incurred of average and well-above-average damages. Paramountly, we are pro-
te~ting the public against fre~uency of losses rather than the occasional rarity of
catastrophic loss.
Undoubtedly, some judgments have been obtained in excess of our minimum
requirements, but presum~bly the motor carrier involved either carried higher
limits voluntarily or was finan~cia1ly able to pay the claim.
As to cargo claims, it is interesting to note from statistics recently published
by the ATA National Freight Claim Council covering loss and damage freight
claim statistics for 1967 as reported by 7'~ motor common carriers of freight, a
total of approximately 34 million claims were paid in 1967 covering every pos-
sible cause of loss, damage, or injury to the property. The average amount paid
for each claim was less than $40. Accordingly, we feel that the Commission's
$i;000 minimum on cargo protection is sufficient to afford protection for the
average claim for loss or damage. However, we may consider increasing the cargo
minimums later this year. The mere shrinkage of the dollar since 1936 may
prompt such consideration. It is interesting to note that the $1,000 minimum
protection required under our regulations has no exceptions as to cause. There-
fore, if a shipper establishes that the loss or damage occurred while the ship-
ment was in the carrier's possession, the carrier is liable for full loss under the
law and the shipper is further protected tip to the $1,000 minimum even if the
loss or damage resulted from an act of God.
Under our rules, a motor carrier is required to file evidence of insurance at
least up to the minimum limit, by means of a certificate such as is attached here
for your convenience. Further, the motor carrier's insurance policy is endorsed
(example attached) so as to guarantee protection to the public up to the mini-
mupi limits at least. This endorsement makes the insurance company responsible
for any judgment recovered against the motor carrier arising from the use of
motor vehicles operating under ICC authority. Any limitations in the basic policy
are negated, as respects the public. Limitations or conditions, such us deductibles.
sthedule of equipment, territoral limitations, etc., cannot be used as a clefeiise
to a claim presented under the ICC filing.
Probably one of the most dramatic examples of benefit to the public from our
minimum cargo insurance requirements was seen in the bankruptcy and liquida-
tion of Yale Transport, Inc., in 1965-66: Yale failed, bankruptcy proceedings en-
sued. In liquidation, it was revealed that approximately 16.000 loss and damage
claims were pending and there were insufficient funds to pay them. Under the ICC
filing, the insurer promptly proceeded to handle all the cargo claims. Approxi-
niately 2,000 remain to be settled. Yale carried a $5,000 deductible in its cargo
policy. Notwithstanding this contractual agreement between the insurer awl the
notor carrier, the claimants were fully paid for their losses and damages up to
e $1,000 minimum in each case. Only 50 of the 16,000 claims exceed the $1,000
imilmum. but the aggregate of all the claims exceeds ~vell over $1 million.
It is critical to the public that under our insurance program the insurance com-
panie~ who file with the ICC remain financially sound. Therefore, to assure the
public of as complete protection as possible, the Commission investigates, amia-
lyzes, and determines the a cceptnbility of insurance companies. Any company
which, in our opinion, does not possess adequate financial strength, satisfactory
reputation, or general business acumen is disqualified or refused approval. Upon
disqualification, all existing insurance filings for such company must be replaced
by an acceptable insurer.
For the period 1960 through 1967, the insurance industry encountered 138
company bankruptcies. None of these companies were qualified with this Com-
mission at the time of bankruptcy because of our having disqualified them from
1 to 4 years prior thereto. We have withdrawn the acceptances of over 50 com-
panies and refused initial approval to more than 30 companies since 1060.
The Commission receives and answers thousands of inquiries regarding motor
carrier insurance annually. We have received no complaints from the public
regarding the inability to collect on a claim against a regulated motor carrier
since 1957.
Thousands of motor carriers operate in interstate or foreign commerce under
one or more of the exemptions of section 203 (b) of the act. These are not subject
to our insurance regulations. Private carriers of property by motor vehicle are
likewise not subject to our insurance regulations. We do receive complaints
regarding the lack, or inadequacy of insurance on such carriers, but are without
jurisdiction to remedy such cases.
PAGENO="0090"
PAGENO="0091"
PAGENO="0092"
8S
Form BMC-90.
ENDORSEMENT FOR MOTOR CARRIER POLICIES OF INSURANCE FOR AUTOMOBILE BODILY
INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 215 OF THE INTER-
STATE COMMERCE ACT
The policy to which this endorsement is attached is an automobile bodily
injury and property daniage liability policy aRd is hereby amended to assure
compliance by the iRsured, as a motor carrier of passengers or property, with sec-
tion 215 of the IRterstate Commerce Act aRd the pertiRent rules and regulations
of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
In consideration of the premium stated in the policy to which this endorse-
ment is attached, the company hereby agrees to pay, within the limits of liability
hareinafter provided, any final judgment recovered against the insured for bodily
injury to or death of any person, or loss of or damage to property of others
(excluding injury to or death of the insured's employees while engaged in the
cdnrse of their employment, and property transported by the insured, designa ted
as "cargo"), resulting from negligence in the operation, maintenance, or use of
motor vehicles under certificate of public convenience and necessity or permit
issued to the insured by the Interstate Commerce Commission4 or otherwise in.
tnnsportation in interstate or foreign commerce subject to part II of the Inter-
state Commerce Act, regardless of whether such motor vehicles are specifically
described in the policy or not.
`The liability of the company extends to such bodily injuries and deaths and
lokses and damages whether occurring on the route or in the territory authoriEed
tobe served by the insured or elsewhere.
Within the limits of liability hereinafter provided it is further understood
and agreed that no condition, provision, stipulation, or limitation contained in
the policy, or any other endorsement thereon or violation thereof, or of this
endorsement, by the insured, shall relieve the company from liability hereunder
or from the payment of any such final judgment, irrespective of the financial
responsibility or lack thereof or insolvency or bankruptcy of the insured. How-
ever, all terms, conditions, and limitations in the policy to which this endorse-
ment is attached are to remain in full force and effect as binding between the
insured and the company, and the insured agrees to reimburse the company for
any payment made by the company on account of any accident, claim, or suit
involving a breach of the terms of the policy, and for any payment that the com-
pany would not have been obligated to make under the provisions of the policy
except for the agreement contained in this endorsement.
It is understood and agreed that, upon failure of the comnpany to pay any flual
judgment recovered against the insured as provided herein, the judgment credi-
tor may maintain an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against the
company to compel such payment.
The limits of the company's liability for the amounts provided in this endorse-
ment apply separately to each accident and any payment under the policy be-
cause of any one accident shall not operate to reduce the liability of the conipan~
for the payment of final judgments resulting froni any other accident.
The company shall not be liable for amounts in excess of the following for eac?
accident:
PAGENO="0093"
Kindof equipment
~
~
Lintitfor bodily
injnriestoordeatt,
of all persons
`LihiitfOt bodily injured or killed in
4njuries4o ordeath any 1 accident
of 1 person (subject to a
mä~ximum of $25,000
for bodily lriju~lesto
or death of 1
person)
Limitfor loss or
kdathageIrlad~ F
aocidentto pro~erfy
of gthers (excluding
cargo),
~
~
(1)
(2) (3)
(4)
Passenger equipment (seating capacity):
7 passengers or less~.~
81o 12pädsen~e~s,Hoclusive_~_____.._~_:
13 to 2Q passengers, ~
~
31 passengers or motdL1
Freigkt dqulpmedt~: All~motorodhicVes utèd'~n ~thé
krahsportatiori of pr~opsrty4_~_~_J~
$25, 000~ $100, 000
Z5~000~ 150,000
~5,Q00 200,OQO
2~,0O0 250,00O
25,000 3O0, 000
~, P1)0 ~0Q, 000
$10, 000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
~
10,000
`W~i~v~r x~quire~ b~t the, C ~ ~w~s to furnish to tile
Oo~n,nussio~i a. dt~p1icate ori~rnt~l o~ sp~i4 A)Ollcy a~id all ~t~lorsem&it~ tb~rçou
Tills en4orsewent x~it~y not beca~ice1e wi~hout ç~aucellatiorL of the pQlk~ to
wbieb~ it is attac~ed~ Su~ ca~ncellatiqn m~y ba ef~ecte~t by the company or the
iusure~j,givjng3(~ fla,ys' not~c~i~, writjpg to l~he ~uterstate Commer~e Comp4ssjpu
at its office lit W~sbingto~, s~tid~ 30 ~a~' n*ice, to cpmmeiice to rwi from
the date nttice. is actually re~teivecl iii~ t]~e Ofhi~e qfsaicl Commission.
Attached to and forming part of policy No. issued by ~
~ (hereini called com~aan~) of ,~
to of ~
Form BMtJ-82.
SCHEDULE OF LIMITS.
MOTOR CARR~ IRS ~OO1~Y INJURY UABILLTY PROP~?TV DP~MAI~LIRBII4TY
Datedat
,1~____.
Countei~ignec1. b~
this ~ day of
(~utborized conipany representative)
ENDoR5nMIImTT ~on `1\~oron CoM~qN CAmilim PoLloijss or INSUEANCII Felt
CA!Etoo LIAnnirrY UNDuR S~o~Io~ 215, 1NrE15sT4TE Co~MnncE Aor
The poll~yto which tils e~dc1rsemeutisattache~l is a cargo insuranqe ~olicy,
and is bei~eby amended to assuro c~iupllauce bythe i~spred, ~s a commo~ carrisr
of property by motor vehicle, wltb~oeetfou 2~5. o~ th~ ~nte~~stgte Commerce Act,
- Ith reference to makint compensation ti~ shippers or ç~Q~sigpees for t~l property
`onging to shippers or consignees cOm4sg~into the~possossiou of sue~i carrier in
~nection with its transportation service, and with the pertinent rules and
tilations of the~Interstate Commerce Commission.
consid~ratisn of the premium stated. in the policy to which this en~orse-
~nt is attached, the company hereby agrees to pay, within the limits of liability
PAGENO="0094"
S9
SCHEDULE OF LIMITS.
~1OTQR ~ UABIL,ITY~PP9P~TY PAMAf~L1ABiMTY
Limitfor bodily
nj~iestopr death
of all persons Limitfor loss or
Limit fo~ bOdily InjU~ed or killed in ~da0iageirfâtly 1
KI d of equipment ~n~urIes to ordeafh ai~y 1 accident aociden~ to properf~v
of 1 person (subjecttoa of pthers(excluclin$
mt~ximum of $25,000 cargo)
for bodily iuiu?ies to
or death of 1
person)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
~
Passenger equipme t (seating capacity):
7 passengers o less $25, 000 $100, 000 $10, 000
8~o12~p~ddsen e~s,lhclusive ~ ~5jOOO t60,000 10,000
13to~0pasae ~ ~5,Q0If -, ~QQ,0O0 IQ,000
21to 30 passe ~ar~,IncIu~ ~ ~ 2~, 000 250 000 10,000
31 passongOrs rmote 25 000 30& 000 10 000
Freight éqUl~fne5nt~ Alimotor ~ehicFOs utèdflnthê .
tratispoftatl'Dn of pcoperty4_~~-- ~. ~ 100,000 10,000
~` ~
roqttfrq~. bSr the zii~u1~sjon, the company ag fS ~o furnish tQ t~tie
a th~piicàte ori~ina~ OC said policy ailci all ezoclOrsem~nts th~±eon.
sequent n~ty ~wtbeciq~cele4Wlth0ut cancellation o~ the pollc~ to
ttachecl4 Such carn~el~atiqn may be e~ected~ b~ the compauy or the
g 30 Ua,ys' notice 1~ ~ri~tug to the ~uterotate Commerce Comquission
a Washington, D,C.~ said 30 day~! nQtice, to c~mmeace to run from
ce is actually received in the Otilee of paic1~ Commission.
o and forming part of policy No. issued by ~
(herein called company) of _~~_ ~
* _of ~
_.~._...., this ~ day of
~
CounterOrigned by ~-~--~
(Authorized contpany representative)
~tE1~T FOR MoroR CoMMON C~zRIEB PoLIcIss OF INSUISANOJI FOit
LIABILFtY UND~11i S~c~oN~ 215, IwcEnswE COMMEaCE 4~cr
to which this e~dor~equ~nt is attache~ is a cargo insurance policy,
~ amended to assure ~oqupli~uce by the i~spred, ~s a commo~t ca~rier
by motor vehicle, wlth~eettou 2~5. of th~e ~ntevstate Com~ierce Act,
ce to making compensation to shippers o~' ~Qq3~ignees for ajl prc~pe~çy
shippers or consignees comitiginto tbe~posscesiofl of siu~ qarrier in
rith its transpo~rtation service, and with the pertinent rules and
f the Interstate Commerce Commission.
rittisn of the premium statecL In the policy to which this endorse-
ched, the company hereby agrees to pay, within the limits of liability
Wbu~v~r
qnmlssic~a
This en4o
WhiCh it is
insu~ed~givi
at its o~ce
the date not
Attached
to
Dated at
Form BMC-
END0LISE:
The polic~
and is herel
of property
With refere:
belonging tt
connection
regulations
In consid
ment is att~
~32.
PAGENO="0095"
90
hereinafter provided, any shipper or consignee or all loss of our damage to all
property belonging to such shipper or consignee and coming into the possession
of the insured in connection with its transportation service, for which loss or
damage the insured may be held legally liable, regardless of whether the motor
vehicles terminals warehouses and other facilities used in connection with the
transportation of the property hereby insured are specifically described in the
policy or not. The liability of the company extends to such losses or damages
whether occurring on the i oute or in the territory authorized to be served by
the insured or elsewhere, except as follows:
(Name as exceptions only States in which the Insured's operations are covered by other
insurance)
Within the limits of liability hereinafter provided it is further understood
and agreed that no condition provision stipulation or limitation contained in
the policy, or any other endorsement thereon or violation thereof, or of this
endorsement by the insured, shall affect in any way the right of any shipper or
consignee or relieve the company from liability for the payment of any claim
for which the insured may be held legally liable to compensate shippers or
consignees irrespective of the financial responsibility or lack thereof or in
solvency or bankruptcy of the insured HoWever all terms conditions and
limitations in the policy to which this endorsement is attached are to remain in
full force and effect as binding between the insured and the company. The in-
sured agrees to reimburse the company for any payment made by the company
on account of any loss or damage involving a breach of the terms of the policy
and for any payment that the company would not have been obligated to make
under the provisions of the policy, except for the agreement contained in this
endorsement.
The liability of the company for the limits provided in this endorsement shall
be a continuing one notwithstanding any recovery hereunder. The company shall
hot be liable for an amount in excess of $2,000, in respect of any loss of or dam-
age to or aggregate of losses or damages of or to the property hereby insured
occurring at any one time and place nor in any event for an amount in eycess
of $1,000, in respect of the loss of or damage to such property carried on any
one motor vehicle, whether or not such losses or damages occur while such
property is on a motor vehicle or otherwise.
Whenever requested by the Commission the company agrees to furni~b to the
Commission a duplicate original of said policy and all endorsements thereon
This endorsement may not be canceled without cancellation of the policy to
which it is attachud Such cancellation may be effected by the company or the
insured giving 30 nays notice in writing to the Interstate Commerce Commission
at its office in Washington, D.C., said 80 days' notice to commence to run from
the date notice is actually received at the Office of said Commission
Attached to and forming part of policy No issued by the
(herein called. company) of
to .- of
Dated at , this day of
` 19____.
Countersigned by
(Authorized company representative)