, 1880-02-19
TIE HENDERSON RAILROAD BILL,

l0at rather than ITO breall.
TIE HENDERSON RAILROAD BILL.
The bill agreed upon by the Commerce
Committee rs substitute for Hcagan's bill
will DO reported to the House with request
that an curly dny bc assigned for Its consider
ntion; anil, while 1t may possibly be amend
ell, 1t will furnish at nny rate tho blsts for
the action whicl, Congress shall taka In re-
gnrd to the regulation Of tho railroads. As
the Washington dispatches hnye failed 10
describe the measure in detail. It's provisions
the public.
A Commission is provided for, which shall
consist Of three members, to be appointed by
tho President and confirmed by the Senate,
who shnll hold tho olllee for two, four, mid
six years respectively, from july ]; a
vacancy in tho Commission will tllns occur
once every two years, Which is to be filed
by appointment nnd confirmation iii tho same
manner It's ut first TIlu Commissioners nro
to be paid annual salaries Of 5000 each aill
travelling expenses, md arc to have necessary
clerical assistance, including n secrctary and
I'LL accountant ut salaries of $500 each.
The jurisdiction Of this National Commits
sion embraces supervision over that portion,
Of tho railroad business which nny pass be-
tween different States md Territories, nr to
or from any foreign country, or within tho
limits Of any Territory, or Wien crossing
naylgable rivers. 1t IL nsatle the duty Of the
Commission to prescribe n railroad year and
n system Of rcuorts to be required from all
tho railroads coming within tlle terms Of tho
net. Tic Commission Is also required to
make atl annual report 0f It's own tlongs to
tho Secretary Of the Interior, In wl,icl, shall
be Incorporated not merely tho Information
It has gathered relative to tho management
OF the railroads, but " tho DUN necessary to
tho gradual enactment OF MI intelligent sys-
ten OF National Legislation regulating inter
State rnllroad commerce. Tho Donrd of
Commissioners Is also authorized to inyesti-
Ense nll complaints Of discrimination, artl
when such clarges nre approved by all
Incorporated Board Of Trade, or any
State or City Government, the inyes.1ga-
tion may bo delegated to any one Com.
missioner, and made OIL tho spot; "tho
results Of 6itch Investigation and tho
findings OF tho Commissioners thereon s!lnll
be reported III writing to tho parties thorcto,
md Included ln tt!o next annual report Of tllo
Bonrtl." 1t Is also provided that tho COM
missloners sllnEl hayo power to SUMMON wit
nesses, compel tho production of books,
papers, acconI,ts. and reports, a.l1 invoke tho
authority of United Ssntcs Commissioners to
punish for contempt, In tho prosecution Of
any investigation they may undertake.
In the cnse OF derelIct railroads TINT refuse
tn comply with tho tcrl,s nf this or other
United Statcss laws regulating Interstate
commerce., tin CoInmissE Eun is required to
surye nutlcu OH tho offending corporation,
| and. II tito railronl shall persist in II refusal
to ab!tle by the ortler OF thu Commission, tho
facts nre to bo set forth IN tho f3nards allnunl
| report, with n recommendation Ut sucll ac-
tim OF legislation Us tho Commissioners ll.ly
deem proper. Tho Commission is also nu-
thorlzct, II, thu case of persistent violation, to
present tho tacts to tic Attorney-Gencral Of
the United States, who shall ta!o such pro-
ceedings thereon Us he may deem necessary
atl proper.
II Is set forth In the law that no railroa,l
company "8hnll Charge, collect, demand, or
receive more than I, fur find reasonable rato
Ut toll Or compensation "nor directly nor
Indirectly charge to ur rcculye from my per-
son or PERSONS any greatcr 6r less rate or
amount Of freight chArge or compensation
tlan is charged to Or received FROM any other
person for tho sane facilities alld for like
and cuntcinpornncous service under Btlni!nr
circumstances aitl con[It!ons"; nor shnll
"difcctly or Indirectly ailow any person any
rb4e, Or drawback, Or other advantage In
any form upon shipments ,,,atle or Invoices
rendered under llko conditions and fur the
snnle c0ntInporancous bery!ce." These pro-
visions arSappltod 10 MI. Interstate slip
laents, whether carried BY ona or mare rail-.
roads. or partly by water, but aro limited to
tho carrying, storing, alll handling OF car-
!oads; they also exempt Government prop
orty, Or sslcl, property ts IL carriod for char
ltablp, educational. Or seenllllo purposes, or
to and from public fairs for purposes Of oxl.i-
| billion.
Tlle penalties provided for violation OF
these rules Is forfeiture Ut tllrca times tlle
amount Ut daltago sustained, 10 10 recovered
by suit III any district or Circuit Cuurt Of the
United statts, a',d u tine Ut nut less tl,a.l
Sl,o0o, to bo recovered by the United States
III III actIoa brought by tho Commissioners,
ons-l'alf Of which, wien collected, Is to be
paid over to tbs pAtty slalnagetl by the Viola
ti0n which furnishes tim basis OF the action.
As to "lnolng," It Is simply provided that
tho Commission shall inuulra Into the prac-
tiGe, " AM, stats tho result Ut their Inquiry In
their first annual report, aud whether IL their