WATKINS ON SHIPPERS AND CARRIERS FOURTH EDITION BY EDGAR WATKINS, LL.B., LL.D. Assisted by J. HADEN ALLDREDGE Montgomery, Alabama Member of the Alabama Bar ATLANTA THE HARRISON COMPANY Copyright 1909, 1916, 1920, and 1930, BY EDGAR WATKINS L 2838 JAN 1 5 1931 PRESS OF FOOTE & DAVIES CO, ATLANTA, GA. PREFACE Since the Third Edition of this book, published in 1920, more than twice as many cases have been decided by the Interstate Commerce Commission as had been decided in the thirty-three years of its prior history. This fact and the further fact that the Transportation Act, 1920, had not received any construction at the time of the publication of the Third Edition, and that it has been construed by the Supreme Court since, justifies a new edition. No branch of the law is more important than that relating to the rights and duties of shippers and carriers, and no branch of the law is less generally known. The purpose of this book is to assist those who may be called upon to advise as to such rights and duties to an understanding of this interesting phase of the law. In approaching the subject, the experience of an active practitioner was drawn upon to determine what would be most useful, not only to the legal profession, but to traffic men, whether in the employ of the carriers or of those bureaus organized throughout the country to aid and advise shippers. From this experience, it was thought that where the state of the authorities justified, the law should be given as nearly as might be in the language of the courts of final authority. For this reason, where questions have been definitely determined, liberal quotations have been inserted. In the preparation of this edition, because of professional engagements, it was necessary to obtain the assistance of some capable person. The author was fortunate in obtaining the services of J. H. Alldredge, connected with the Public Service Commission of Alabama, a lawyer of learning, thoroughly familiar with transportation matters, and who is himself the author of a very useful book, "Rate-Making for Common Carriers." Many questions, however, affecting the subject of this book have not yet been settled. Where this is true, the opinions of the federal courts, the Interstate Commerce Commission. |