Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-04-09
Gus Susrles 9emld.
na,,road Legislation.

The late Legislature passed three
bills In connection with railroad
legislation, besides two bills au-
Ehorizing the construction of rail-
roads-one from Truckee, Nevada,
to Tahoe City, in Placer county;
the other from lone to Sutter
Creek, In Amador county. An act
was also passed extending the time
for the construction OF the railroad
In Santa Maria Valley, San Luis
Obispo county.
The Hart bill legislates the for
mer Transportation Commissioners
out of office, and one mission
er, to be appointed by the Governor
before the first of May, is made the
legal representative of the old Conf
mission. The salary of the new
Commissioner IL fixed at $1,000,
with power to appoint Secretary
at 400.
1t is made the duty of the Com
missioner to inspect all bridges,
etc., and to give notice Of any de.
fective structures, and If the parties
having charge of same fail to carry
out the work, he is guilty Of mis-
demeanor. The Commissioner is
also empowered, upon the repre-
sentation of at least so property
holders residing within radius of
ten miles, to require the erection of
depot or side track. All railroad
companies are required, within 80
days after the passage of the act,
April lst, to file with the Com.
missioner the rates of freights then
in operation, and it is made unlaw-
full for any railroad company to
afterwards increase these rates.
Section seven requires all railroad
companies to furnish certain sta
tistical information to the Commits
sioner. By section eleven the Com
missioner is authorized to fix pro
rata rates of compensation where
the freight passes over two or more
lines of road belonging to different
corporations. The act also seeks to
prevent unjust discrimination, and
defines it as receiving from any
person or persons any less sum for
passage or freight than from any
other person or persons, at the same
and between the same places.
Very many of the provisions of
the O'Connor act Of the last Legis-
iature are re-enacted. The issue of
free passes is prohibited as In the
act Of two years ago, except that
companies are now allowed TO issue
passes to destitute persons.
The Governor also signed the
eminent domain bill. This bill
caused vast amount of discussion
in the Assembly, but it appeared to
meet with approval in the Senate
as it passed without any opposi-
ton. AS it becomes law 1t pro.
vides in general terms that after a
trial by jury and judgment entered,
and pending appeal to the Supreme
Court or other appellate proceed.
ings, the corporation exercising
the right of eminent domain, may
be authorized by the Court to enter
into possession of the land. Provi-
sion is made for payment into the
State Treasury of the amount
awarded by the jury, and such fur
Their sum for costs, etc., as the Court
may direct.
Another act in relation to rail-
roads which received executive ap.
prevail reads as follows: "Every
railroad company heretofore organ
lied under the laws of this State,
and which has completed portion
of its road prior to the passage OF
this act, Is hereby authorized and
empowered to complete its road as
described in its articles of incorpo.
ration, Notwithstanding 1t may not
have begun the construction of its
road within two years after filing
its original articles of Incorporation
and notwithstanding it may not
have completed and put in opera
ton five miles of its road each year
thereafter