The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-23
Thursday. January 20. 1879
The interstate Commerce Bill.

comments called forth from parties and '
papers of every complexion II
There has been a growing feeling in the q
minds of the public, and of business men
especially, that congressional action was
demanded by the arbitrary rulings OF GER
tain corporations in the matter OF rates
charged for the transportation OF freight
on different public highways. The con"
stantly recurring competition between
railroads that results in the formation OF
pools for the government of freight
charges; the instability of the rates fixed
upon; the excessive charges upon local
freight; the system of rebates, by which |
certain shippers are enabled to get much |
lower rates than others, are some OF the
many causes urged by the people as nit
igatiDg against the true business and In |
dustriaI interests Of the country, and fur
nish ample ground for the complaints
made by the shippers against the railroads.
The bill, as amended and passed by the
lower house, is the result of three years
study of the subject by Mr.. Regsn, and he
claims that it covers the whole ground of
complaint, without creating any abridge-
ment of the rights of the various corpora
tons as common carriers, or rights vested
in them by their charters.
The first and second sections of the bill
are designed to do away with the system
ofrebates, or that species of favoritism that
permits one shipper to have decided ad-
vantage over another. No one part OF the
claimed Encouragement of railroads has
caused such widespread dissatisfaction
and such continuous complaint, as the
system of rebates. Mr.. Regan claims
that, in q great measure, the non-prosperity
of the farming community is due TO the
ruinous rates charged by the various cor
porations acting as common carriers, dis
eliminating against the farmer in favor
of the middle-man. Mr.. Regain does not
attempt TO regulate the commerce of rail-
roads where such commerce is conducted
wholly within one state, but only that
which is destined for some point beyond the
border of the state in which it is shipped.
Recognizing tho principles of state sover-
eighty in so far as TO give to each state
the right to control the business interests
contained within it's own boundary Mr.
Regan limits the field of action of his bill
to that which passes from one state tt
another, aud thus comes under the contro
Of the central government.
Section three provides that no person O.
persons, land wherever the words person
or persons are used, Mr.. Regan intend
then to cover the general or common nam
Of common carriersD shall enter into an
pooling arrangement for the transportation
of freight, over any railroad or parts O
railroads, passing from one state to another
or where the competing points are in dill
ferent states. Nor shall any person Q
persons enter into any arrangement b
which the carrying of freight shall be de-
layed, or transferred from car to car, i
order to exempt such freight from comm
under the general meaning of this bill
That is, bulk freight shall not be broke
on arriving at the frontier OF any state, an
transferred to another company, 10 Ordt
to prevent such freight from being col
veyed from the point of shipment to de
tination in one continuous carriage.
The fourth section provides that I
common carrier shall charge or receive al
greater compensation for carrying any ella
of freight shorter than a longer distanc
nor for receiving, storing or handling sue
freight. The Trainer of the bill claims tn
this section is designed to dosaway wit
and prevent, the custom so common amor
railroads and 80 ruinous to the produce
of chargiDg higher rates of freight betwet
near by non com peting points and dista
competing points. At present the "a
from Chicago to Davenport is greater thi
from Chicago to Omaha under the pr
visions of this bill such discriminate
would be misdemeanor, punishable
fine.
The fifth section is one of the most east
eomprehended, as we'll as a most equitat
provision. 1t requires that all persons e
gagged in carrying property for others shi
keep posted up, in at least two conspicuo
places 10 every depot or place for the r
ceiying of freight, schedules of the rate
rates of freight charged for carriage b
tween such places as they conduct businet
with the rates chargeable for handlin
loading and storing the same. Furthermol
that such rates shall not be changed wit
out there having been posted, for at lea
five days previous to such change motto
that such change is about tosbe made. 7
provisions of this section make plain to
the rates that1may be charged land rend
it impossible for any imposition to be prs
tised by the carriers.
Section six providesith no discrimir
ton shall be made whether the service
common carriers be performed by one
more railroads, or for one or more perso
as shippers, or consignees.
Sections seven, eight, nine and ten a
ampl6cations.of the previous sections, d
filming the meaning of certain words Al
phrases used, and creating peDalti
tor any violation of the mai
provisions Of the bill. Any shipper or &C
signee who has valid cause for complai