Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-26
An IMPORTANT BILL.


| Which Proposes to Prevent Railroad Dis
elimination in Minnesota.
The railroad investigating committee of the
House will this morning report the following
bill, which We are informed was framed by Mr.
Jones, of that committee:
| A bill relating to Determinations by railroad
companies in this State, and to prohibit sucl
discrimination.
Be 1t enacted By the Legislature Of the State O
| Minnesota:
Section !. No railroad corporation shall
| charge, demand or receive from any person,
| company corporation for the transportation
OF persons Of property, greater sum than il
shall charge, demand or receive from any othe,
| person or corporation for a like service at the
same time; and no railroad corporation shall
| charge or receive larger sum per ear load fol
| transportation of the same class OF freight
from one person than from any other for the
| same service at the same time, or while the
rates In existence are unchanged.
Sec. 2. No railroad corporation shall charge
demand or receive from any person, company,
| or corporation an unreasonable price for the
transportation of persons OF property, for
handling or storing any freight, or for the use
OF cars, or for any service afforded in the trans
| action OF its business such railroad corpora
| ton.
| Sec 8. Every railroad corporation upon rea-
sonable notice when within their power so to
do, shall furnish suitable cars for the trans
portation of persons and freights, and shall re-
ceive and transport all relghts with all reason
able dispatch, (and shall provide and furnish
suitable facilities for handling the same,) but
this provision shall not be construed so as to
or warehouses for the handling of grain.
Sec. 4. Any railroad corporation who shall
violate any of the provisions of this act, or be
guilty Of any unjust discrimination whatever
against ANY any person. person company, corpora;
forfeit for each and every such offense to
| the person. company or corporation aggrieved,
| three times the actual damage sustained, and
pay sufficient sum into the State treasury to
cover the costs of prosecution, together with
| costs to be recovered in civil action to be
prosecuted at the expense of the State as here
| matter provided.
Sec. B. On receiving complaint in writing
| made and signed by any person. company or
| corporation, and verified complaints in civil
actions are required by law to be verified, stat
ing that any railroad corporation. or its agents,
have violated any of the provisions of this act,
specifying the acts complained of, and naming
| the witnesses by whom the same can be proved,
and stating the place of residence of such wit
nesses, the railroad commissioner shall fur
nlsh to the attorney general copy of the same,
such complaint without delay, and shall exam
| inc the witnesses named and any others he may
deem proper, on OATH touching the said com
plant, aud he shall reduce the testimony so
taken to writing, and cause the same to be sub
scribed by the witnesses respectively and he
| shall furnish such testimony to the
railroad commissioner, with his opinion in
writing thereon as to the validity of the charge
stated in the complaint, and the propriety of
commencing action against such railroad
corporation on the charge stated.
Sec. 6. In case such opinion Of the attorney
general shall be that such complaint ought to
be prosecuted, then the railroad commissioner
shall at once transmit to the county attorney
| of the county where the act was committed q
copy of the complaint, testimony and opinion
aforesaid, and said county attorney shall there
upon commence civil action in the name of
| the party aggrieved against such railroad cor
poration for the recovery of the damage speci-
fed in section four of this act and such action
shall be prosecuted to Judgment at the expense
of the State for the benefit of the party ag
grieved..
Sec. Z. In case of Judgment against a rail
road corporation under the provisions of thit
act, the court may allow attorneys fees in
favor Of the prevailing party in such reason
able sum as may be just, which sum shall bt
paid into the State treasury.
Sec. 8. This act shall take effect and be il
force from and after its passage.