Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-01-20
Tho bills Of the transportation
C0lnmissioners.


THO n,Ils OF the Transportation
commissioners.
We are obliged to apologize for
only partial review of very i'm
portant matter. We promised, yes
terday, to give summary of the
four acts which have been pre-
pared by thu Commissioners of
Transportation of the State of CAL
ifornia, and which were forwarded
to the Legislature, the other day,
by Gov. Irwin. The text of these
acts lies before us, and we find that,
to give even syllabus of them,
would take up four or five columns
of the HERALD. We discover that
we have neither the space nor the
leisure to make our review as full
as it ought to be, and We there
fore indulge in remarks of a general
nature only.
By the first act the railway COM
panies of the State are subjected to
the most detailed and elaborate in
QUESTION which any race or class
Of men have ever undergone.
Torquemada himself, the founder
of the inquisition, could not have
shown more ingenuity In framing
a lot of interrogatories.
The general feature of all the
acts is that the Board of Transpor-
tation Commissioners is made an
inquisitorial and supervisorial po-
lice to regulate the railways. Spe-
cific penalties are provided for all
the numerous possible railway
offences anticipated, and the inter-
position of the Board is stipulated
for in every case. They are au-
thorized to take cognizance Of all
complaints, and the machinery of
the District Court is placed at their
service, for enforcing process, etc.
They have power to swear all en-
ployes.
Other general features of the bill
we shall notice without regard to
their order. The maximum per ton
per mile is reduced from fifteen
cents, the limit of the existing law,
to ten cents. The feature which
dominates the whole measure is,
however, a provision which makes
it impossible for the Railway COM
panies to advance their freight or
passenger charges beyond those
which existed on the Sd of Decem.
Der, 1877.
Another feature which we like,
is the provision that the Railway
companies shall provide covered
cars for the transportation OF
second class passengers, at a rate
not more than fifty per cent.
Of that now existing for first
class passengers. 1t is also pro.
vides that if the Railway compan.
les lower their rates, through COM
petition, they shall stay down.
The two last acts are designed to
prevent unjust discrimination be-
tween localities. The fourth act is
short, and as its provisions are OF
great interest to our people, we re-
produce it entire. After the enact
ing clause, it reads as follows:
SECTION /. Within thirty days
after this Act shall take effect,
every company operating any rail
road in this State shall divide its
charges for transportation into two
parts, the one to be termed ter
minal charges, and the other move
ment charges. The aggregate of
terminal and movement charges
shall,in no case, exceed the rates of
charge for transportation lawfully
in force at the time this Act shall
take effect. The terminal charges
for freight may be different on car
load lots, and on lots less than q
car load, and those for passengers
may be different on first class and
second class passengers; but, 9TH
wise, shall be uniform on goods of
the same class and on like lots of
such class. Such division of charg-
es, when made, shall be commune
Gated to the Board of Commission.
ers of Transportation, and o copy
thereof filed in the office of the
Clerk OF every county into or
through which such railroad ex-
tends, and cannot be altered with.
out the consent Of the Com mis-
sioners of Transportation, as pro-
vided by law.
SEC. !. In all cases where a rail-
road reaches navigable water, or
any city or town situate thereon, at
more than one point, or reaches
two or more points between which
competitive means Of communica-
ton may exist, either by water or
railroad, or by rail and water com.
bined, the company operating such
road shall furnish transportation
over 1t to or from any one of such
points, at the option OF tho party
requiring such transportation, at
the lowest rate per mile for move
ment charges, which shall be
charged for like transportation over
said road to or from any other such
point.
SEC. s. The movement charge
for less distance shall in no case
exceed that for = greater distance
which includes such less one.
SEC. A. The rate of freight be-
tween any two Intern ediate points
shall in no case exceed that charged
on the same kind, class and guam
fify of nnoda hot uaon anu tu O.