Daily Republican., 1879-02-05


from falling into contempt from more
lack Of ability to compel respect for
their decision. In that, however, the
law could not have been improved
Had 1t not been a fagrant legislative
guess it would have been our inspira-
ton. The only appeal provided was
to publicity.
The Board Of commissioners was set
up as sort of lens by means of which
the otherwise scattered rays Of public
opinion could be concentrated to a 70
Gus and brought to bear upsn given
point.
The bill charges substantially as
follows:
Section 2 provides that the commits
si0ner shall have no connections with
any railroad company in the State, ex-
cspt in his capacity as commissioner.
SKcTIoK 3rd, provides that these com.
missioners shall have general supervi-
sion Of all railroads and shall examine
them and keep themselves informed as
to their conditions and the manner in
which they are operated with reference
to the security and accommodation of
the public, and the compliance of the
several corporations with the provisions
of their charter and the laws of the
State, and the provisions Of the follow
ing sections shall apply to all railroads
and the corporations trustee owning or
operating the same.
SECTION 4, provides that whoever in
the judgment of the commissioners it
shall appear that any such corporations
has violated any provision of their
charter or any law is here neglected in
any respect or particular to comply
with its term of the act or act in-cor.
porating it or with the provisi ons Of
any of the laws of the State, they shall
give notice to the President Of such cor
porations and If the offence is continued
after such notice the commissioners
notify the Attorney General who shall
take such proceedings as he shall deem
expedient.
Section jth, provide that whenever
in the judgment of the railroad commits
sioners it shall appear that repairs are
necessary upon any such railroad that
any addition to the rolling stock or any
addition to changes of the station houses
or any changes in the rates OF fares for
transpor tation Of freight or passengers
or any change in the mode of operating
the road or conducting its business, it
seems able and expedient in order to
promote the security, commerce and ac-
commodatior Of the public, they shall
give notice in writing to the corpora
ton Of the improvement in the changes
which they adjudge to be proper and a
report Of the proceedings shall be in
cluded in the report of the commits
sioner to the Legisl lature.
Section 9th, any information requir-
ed by them concerning the condition,
and operation and management of such
railroad and particularly with copies of
its leases, contracts and agreements
for transportation with express COM
panies, individuals or otherwise to
which it is a party and also with the
rates for transportation freight and pas
sengers upon its road and other roads
with which its business is connected;
and If it shall appear from such infor-
nation or from any other information
obtained by said commissioners that
any railroad corporation has made any
discrimination in freight charges against
any companies, individuals or localities
the said commissioners shall furnish
and bring such facts to thenotice of the
Attorney General
Section 7 provides that no request Or
advice of the railroad commissioners
shal! nave the effect to impair i'll any
manner or de, ,rse the legal duties and
obligations OF any railroad corporation
or its legal liabilities for the conse-
quence of its acts or the neglect or man
agement of any Of its agents or ser
wants.
Section 8 provides for report from
the commissioners to the legislation.
Section provides for the employ
ment of an export at asalary not larger
than 5000, whose duty 1t is to inves-
tigate or supervise the accounts of cor
porations owning and operating rail
roads.
Section 10 provides that corpora
tion owning or operating railroads re-
fusing to submit its books to the ex
animation of the Board of commission
ers or refusing or neglecting to make
an annual statement on the lst of Jan
uary, shall forfeit in each case $50.
Such statement shall include all par
tculars respecting the railroad, its
business receipts and expenditures,
the accuracy OF which shall BE- sworn
to by any officer of the road or the
Treasurer and Superintendent, and
false oath in such case shall be par
jury.
Section llth provides for salary Of
$40O to the commissioners, an Office at
the state Capital, they shall ride free
over ::the railroads of the State and
may take with them experts or other
agents whose services they may deem
to be Of importance; and they may draw
upon the State Treasurer for a sum not
exceeding 500 to defray expenses for
books, maps, statistics, stationary, &C.,
a statement of such expenses to accom-
pany the commissioners report to the
Legislature.
Section 18th provides that the expen-
ses Of the Board shall be collected by
the several corporations owning or oper-
ating railrsads according to their net
earnings by transportation of persons
or property within the State, which
shall be collected by the State Treas
urer, but in collecting the capitation
tax levied on the said corporation the
amount assessed for expenses of COM
mssioners shall be deducted from said
capitation tax
Considerable discussion pro and con,