The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-03-03
The New Congressional Railroad BIZ.

| In the discussion of the Humphries
Railroad bill in the Senate the other
day, we heard it stated that the inter
state Railroad bill, which was pending
in Congress to prevent discrimination
and extortion in the transportation OF
freights, had failed This is wide OF
the mark. The bill has not failed; and
we do not believe that it will fail. On
the contrary bill has been agreed upon
by the House Committee, the provisions
| of which are about rs follows: 1T pro-
vides fora bureau of interstate commerce
composed of three commissioners, with
salaries of s.. 900 each, and travelling
expenses, and Secretary with salary
of 81 800. These commissioners are TO
have supervision over that portion OF
the business of all railroads that pass
from one State or Territory into another,
and into a foreign country. They are
to prescribe a railroad year TO which
business and reports are to be adjusted,
and the form Of report. They are to ex-
anime the books Of all railroads with
reference to their Interstate commerce,
and see that the United States laws req
ulating railroads are observed, and
make annual reports to the Secretary of
the interior. They are empowered also
to examine into all complaints of dis
-;D,;na ton n eraiD-+ roaJ- ca a. +bay y n
ply to interstate commerce; and if they
find that any road is violating or failing
to comply with the provisions of the
act, they are to report the fact to the
interior department in their next annu-
al report, together with such recon-
mendations of legislative remedy as
they may deem proper. When a rail
road corporation persists in a violation
of the law, after its attention has been
called to the fact by the commissioners,
the latter shall report 10 the attorney
general for such action as he may deem
expedient to take. In making their in
vestigations, the commissioners are to
have authority to examine books, pa
pers and contracts and to summon
witnesses. They are to inquire
into the 'spooling" arrangement be
tween roads, and report their opinion
of them in their first annual report
The bill forbids railroads doing bust
ness between States to charge more than
fair compensation for carriage; forbids
them to charge or receive from one per-
son a greater or less amount than is
charged any other person for like or
contemporaneOus service under similar
circumstances and conditions; requires
them to furnish equal facilities to all
persons for carrying, handling and stor-
ing property. No break of bulk or in
terruption is allowed, unless it shall be
necessary. 1t prohibits rebates and
drawbacks to one person that are not
allowed to others for similar service. 1t
prohibits them to make any combina-
ton or agreement, by changes of sched-
ules, CARRYING in different cars, breaking
different carloads, or by any other
means, to prevent the carriage of freight
from being continuous. The penalty
for violation of any of the provisions
of the bill is forfeiture to the wronged
person of three times the amount of the
injury and fine of 81 900
But the passage of this bill which
does not apply TO freight moved wholly
within State or territory does not re-
lieve the Legislature of its obligation
to pass law which will protect the |
public from the abuse to which they
are subject from transportation compan-
les. There are abuses which State laws
cannot reach, and this is the object of
the proposed Congressional Legislation.
WE learn that motion viii be made I
to reconsider the vote by which the
House refused to amend the Senate bill |
making an increase in the salaries Of
the clerks in the Auditors office, and /
from our best advices we think the mo-
ton ought to prevail. The clerical
force of the office is but little over half
what it was under Radical rule; and
the compensation is but little more than
half as much. Economy is the order of
the day with the Democratic party, and
has been, and ought so to continue I'M
til the end of the chapter. Neverthe-
less, the rule is as tEue, as its source is
high, that the laborer is worthy of his
hire; and a party which claims to be
guided by great principles cannot af-
ford to violate it. The present com
pensation Of the clerks in the Auditors
office, we learn is not sufficient for the
of their families.