Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-15
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

MCoRD's BILL REGULATING RAILROADS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The bill introduced
by Representative McCord to-day and referred
to the committee on commerce, entitled to es-
tablish 9 board of commissioners of inter-
State commerce. provides for the appointment
of three commissioners by the President with
the advice and consent of the Senate, to con-
stitute bureau of the interior department.,
and to hold Office for two, four and six years
respectively, from the LIST of July next; one of
these commissioners to be appointed every two
years, and continue in Office for six years, and
in case of vacancy from death or resignation
commissioner shall be appointed by
the President for the remain
der of the term. The action of
the majority of the board shall constitute the
legal action of the board. clerk and ac-
countant, at salary of 81, 500 per annum each,
shall be appointed by the secretary of the in
terror, who shall also afford any additional
clerical force required by the proposed bu-
reau.
The salaries of the commission are not fixed
by the bill as introduced. The board shall e1-
ercise supervision over all railroads passing
from one State or Territory through one or
more States or Territories, or to and from
foreign count y, but such supervision shall be
limited to questions of commerce be-
tween States. and the method of
operating their railroads by railroad
corporations as affecting said commerce, and
shall not, except within the limits of Terrific
ries, or in case of crossing navigable waters,
extend to matters relat ng to the material con-
dition of said railroad. The board shall pre-
scribe q railroad year and system of reports,
covering said year to be rendered by all rail-
road companies in any manner affecting COLI
merce between the States at such times as may
be deemed necessary by the board.
1t shall be the duty of the commissioners to
see that all United State, loans affecting rail-
roads are duly enforced to collect all possible
infor nation relative to Interstate commerce,
and to furnish any information in their pos
session to any department of the government
that may require it, to make annually a re-
port to tho secretary of the interior, and en-
deavOr to secure data necessary for the gradual
enactment of intelligent legislation affecting
interstate railroad commerce, to investigate
all complaints made against railroads of dis
elimination, and recommend whatever legisla-
ton may at any time be necessary.
Whenever railroad fails to make its re-
quired reports or violates any law of the
United States, it shall be the duty of the COM
missioner to present the matter to the attorney
general for such action as he may deem fitting.
The bill forbids rebate or drawback to one
party that is not allowed to all. 1t forbids
by the breaking of carloads, carriage in differ
cut cars, OF otherwise the preventing of con-
tinuous carriage of freight. This does not ap-
ply to any quantity less than a carload. 1t
makes a railroad corporation liable to three
times the amount of damage that may be
sustained by an accident, and provides for &C.
lions iii >sne United States circuit courts.