Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-04-22


more than five hundred dollars or bv imprison-
ment of not more than thirty days, both, in the
discretion of the court before which such convic-
tion shall be had.
Section. II. Said railroad commissioners shall,
during the month of January in each year, ascer-
tain and make return to the State Treasurer here
matter provided Jst. The actual cost of each rail-
road in this state up to and including the 3lst Gay
of the next proceeding December and if such rail-
road shall be partly in and partly out of this state
then the actual cost of much thereof is in this
state. 2nd The total gross receipts resulting from
the operation of every such railroad during the next
preceding year ending on the 31st day OF Deeem-
Der, of that part of the which is in this
state. 3rd. The total net earnings resulting from
the operation of any such railroad during the next
preceding year, ending on the 31st day OF Decem-
Der, or that part of the which is in this state
4Jh. 1.-The total Understanding Indebtedness OF
the company owning operating such railroad,
and the amount of interest paid by such company
during the next preceding year, ending on The 3lst
day of December, and if any part of such indebt-
edness has been incurred in consequence OF the
| construction, maintenance, repair, removal or
operation of any part of such railroad which is not
in this state, for equipment for such part, such
railroad commissioners shall ascertain and deter.
mine in such manner as they shall think just and
equitable how much OF its indebtedness is justly
chargeable to that part of said railroad that is in
this state and how much interest shall have been
paid by such company during such year ending on
the 31st day of the next preceding December. or
that part of such Indebtedness which is justly
chargeabe to that part of said railroad that is in
this state. The Board of Commissioners shall pre-
scribe the form and manner in which all reports
required from railway companies under the provi'
of this act shall be made, and suitable blanks
for that purpose, as by said commissioners direct
ed shall be provided for by the Secretary of State.
The records of said board shall at all times be open
to inspection by the Governor, Secretary of State,
Attorney General and Legislature. aE'f
Section 10. Said railroad commissioners shall
have power to classify all articles of freight trans
ported any railroad, except the articles herein
placed in special classes d, E, and II, placing
said articles in either of the general classes herein
.,IoI &c
cept classes d, E, G, and Fl, and are further
powered and authorized to reduce said rates on
any of said railroads or parts of railroads, either
in general or special classes when in their judg
mept, or majority of them, it en- be done with
out Jury to such railroad.
| Section H. Any individual, company, corpo-
| ration, owning, operating, managing or leasing
any CT said railroads or parts of railroads, shall
be bound by the decision of such rail-
| road commissioners, or a majority OF them,
with reference to said rates, and every violation
by said individual, company corporation charg-
ing greater or higher late shall be deemed guilty
! of misdemaanor, and on conviction thereof shall
pay fine of not exceeding two hundred dollars for
each and every ofense and the injured party shall
have right of action against said individual, rail-
| road company corporation operating said rail-
road, in which he la be entitled TO recover three
! times the amount taken or received from him in
excess of the rates prescribed by this act to be
covered as provided in section seven of this act
Section To- Before entering upon the duties of
his Office each of said commissioners shall make
and subscribe and file with the Secretary of State
an affidavit in the following form: /" do sOlemny
swear (or afirm) that will support the constitu-
ton of the United States and the constitution of
the state of Wisconsin, and that with faithfully
| discharge the duties of railway commissioner ac-
cording to the best of my ability that not
stakeholder, officer employe of any railroad or.
| freight company, or IN any way interested there
in and shall enter into bonds, with security ap
proved by the Governor, in the sum of twenty
thousand dollars conditioned for the faithful per-
formance of his duty such commissioner.
Section 16 Each of said commissioners shall re-
ceive for his service not exceeding twenty five hun
dred dollars per annum, payable quarterly, and
three dollars per day for travelling expenses for
each and every day actually travelled in the perfor-
nance of the duties herein required he shall be
furnished with Office, furniture and stationery
| and necessary books and maps at the expense of
the state. The office of said commissioner shall be
kept in Madison, and all sums OF money authorized
to be paid by this act out of the state treasury only
| on the order of the Governor, provided that the
total sum of money to be expended by said commits
sioners for office rent, furniture and stationery
shall not exceed the to tai of eight hundred
dollars per annum.
| Section II. The commissioners shall have the
right of passing, in the performance of their duties
concerning railroads, all railways and railway
trains in this state free of charge.
Section Is. Nothing contained in this act shall
be taken in any manner abridglng or controlling
the rates for freight charged by any railroad
pany in this State for carrying freight which comes
from beyond the boundaries OF the State, and to be
carried across or through the State but said rail-
road companies shall possess the same power and
right to charge such rates for carrying such
freight they possessed before the passage of this
act.
Section 10. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its passage and publication.
Approved March 18th, 1874
Published March IS, 1874.l
CHAPTER BAL.
AN ACT in relation to Railroads.
The people of the State of wisconsin, represented
in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section l. ALI railroads which have been hereto
fore may be hereafter created by virtue of any
Of no 1ir,itc Off1 !, is
State, are hereby declared to be public highways
and all railroads other transportation companies
heretofore hereafter to be created porated
or organized by any law, general or special, of this
State, are hereby declared common carriers, and
shall receive and transport each others passengers,
tonnage or cars, loaded empty, without unrea-
sonabe delay or unjust discrimination, and perish
able property shall have the preference in trans
portation.
Section 2. All individuals, associations and cor
poratlons, shall have equal right to have persons
and property transported railroads, and no
undue or unreasonable discrimination shall be
made in charges for in facilities for transporta-
ton of freight passengers within the State, or
coming from or going to any other State, but ex-
cursion and communication tickets may be issued at
special rates.
Section 8. No railroad or other corporation, or
the essees, purchasers managers of any railroad
corporation, shall consolidate the stock property
or franchises of such corporation with or lease or
purchase the works franchises of, or in any way
control any other railroad corporation, owning or
having under its control parallel or competing
ton act officer of any other railroad corpora
ton owning having the control of parallel or
competing lines, and the question whether rail-
roads are parallel competing lines shall, when
demanded by the complainant, be decided by a
jury, as in other civil issues provided. that the
provisions of this section shall not apply to any
contracts existing. where one corporation has
become responsible for the liabilities of another
either by advance heretofore made, or by the guar
anty of bonds previous to the passage of this act
Section 4. No president director, officer, agent
| or empoye of any railroad or transportation COM
pany shall be interested directly Indirectly in
| the furnishing Of material or supplies to such
company, in the business of transportation as a
common carrier of freights or passengers over the
works owned, leased, controlled or worked by such
company.
Section 5. No discrimination in charges or facil-
/ tiles for transportation shall be made between
! transportation companies and individuals, in
! favor of either by abatement, drawback or other
wise, and no railroad company any lessee, man
| ager employe thereof shall make any preference
in furnishing motive power.
Section 6. Railroad, railway and transportation
companies are hereby prohibited from granting
free passes or passes at discount to any state Off
Ger, Judge of the Supre Court, Judge of the Cir
| cult Court, or judge of any court of record, Or
member Of the Legislature elect, provided that
this section shall not be construed to prohibit any,
one from purchasing one thousand 1000) mile tick
! cts or other Communication tickets at the regular
| tablished rates.