8. On the face of this amendment, it seems only to give to the commission the authority to prevent an increase in rates, but the practical result of such a law would be far more reaching. Such a law would mean a rigid freight tariff in place of the present flexible and elastic system of rates which exists alone in this country. Stability of freight rates is important, but not to the extent that the carrier shall not feel warranted in promptly applying remedies for the relief or assistance of shippers who find themselves no longer able to compete, due to advantages which other shippers have secured, or changes which have occurred in the conditions surrounding the marketing of their products. A law which tends to minimize the commercial or competitive conditions existing at the present time will necessarily result to the disadvantage of shippers, to the carrier, and to the communities they serve. It is not necessary here to again refer to the presentation of the importance of the flexibility of rates, which is so clearly shown in the discussion of the influences which control in making reductions, as well as advances of rates by the chairman of the Southwestern Traffic Committee, as quoted under section 5 of this report. The more the committee has reflected upon the probable tendency of the principle announced by this amendment, if incorporated into the law, the more definite has become its conviction that it would ultimately result in destroying that important factor in American railroad management, "the flexibility of their tariffs--their adaptability to the changing commercial and economic conditions." One of the most distinguished and skilled traffic officials in the country, Mr. Henry Fink, in considering this amendment uses the following language: "Railroad officials are constantly engaged in the work of adjusting rates so as to meet as far as practicable the requirement of their patrons. In times of depression of business they make reduction in rates in order to enable shippers to send their commodities to certain markets, and keep industrial establishments from being closed. These reduced rates are often so low as to barely cover the cost of transportation. But they are meant to be temporary in their operation, and to be advanced when business conditions have become more favorable. "It must be obvious that when the restoration of such rates is obstructed, so that railroad officials are not permitted to advance rates except by permission of a government bureau after an investigation which must consume considerable time, railroad officials will naturally hesitate, and often decline, to make reductions in rates which involve considerable loss of revenue without any compensating benefits to their companies, either in the present or future.