Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-30
I.TER-sTATE CoMMERC :,
Reagan sanguine of Putti-g Bis Bill
Through this session.

W,sulNGrox, ID. G.. December 20
In an interview Judge Reag an, chair
man uf the House committee ON com
merce. saws he will b. able to engineer
the interstate commerce bill through
during the present session. lie thinks
there il no question ~ to the rights Ol
Congress in the matter. The power OF
Congress over railroads chartered by tine
states, lie says, is that derived from
clause 3, section s. article |, OF the Con-
stituticn, as interpreted by the supreme
C0urtiAnumerOusde decisions. Mlnyques
tons arise in relation 20 these reads -
n their corporate rights, franchises and
the management of those corporations,
which can only be dealt with by States
creating the corporations. Take, Tor eX-
ample. the watering OF stocks of such
roads, which generally results in lmpos-
ing greater burdens on the shippers.
This would have To be dealt with by the
StIes and is not within the power OF
Congress-. There are many such ques-
questions. There aIc now three bills
pending on this subject. The Reagan
bllI has t0f It's object the abridgment oil
the uoaers of railroads and the protec-
ton Of tn. people from freight discrlml-
nations. Ii does not interfere with the
management Of railroad corporations,
SAWS Mr. Reagan. Its provisions are few,
sinrle and easily understood. u is
proposed by this bill, first, To prohibit
all discrimination between shippers in
freight rates and charges; second. to
p.nhlbit rebates in drawbacks in all
eases the pooling of freights by other
wise competing railroads, So rs to ST.
cure to the pubic the benefits OF COM
petition; fourth, 10 limit the power OF
discrimination as between different
places by providing that no more shall
be- charged Tor a carload
of freight for Il shorter than
ior a longer distance ON the same haul;
fifth. il provides that schedules of freight
rates aud charges shall be conspicuously
posted up and that no more nor less
shall be charged than specified in the
printed statement. The railroads now
profess to post up such schedules, and
ii is proposed by the bill! to limit them
to the published rates OF charges. After
making these provisions the bill pro-
vides ample means Tor their enforce
ment bv giving the remedy in civilda
ACES to the shipper for any wrong done
him in violation of the provisions OF the
bill, who, on recovering judgment, is
allowed triple damages with a
provision that the damages shall in
no ease be for less sum than $500
This is designed Ia prevent the wearing
out OF poor li,iganls by tn delays OF
the ,aw. Next the hilI rov,des tor a
g,G tun action. 10 b. prosecuted by the
putlc officers. in which, upon copvlc-
tor, the penalty ia not To he less than
81 600, one halt of which IL allowed 10 20
10 the iniormcr. Then the officers and
mana. RS Of such corporations are sub
isci Ia iudict neut for doing anything
prohibited 20 be done bv the bill OF for
refusing to DO anything commanded by
the act and on conviction they are sub
iect to p5nIlty oi not less than Sl,GtN.
I'm oder ,n enforce tue civil remedies and
IT We the conceIlment Of ficts or
evasio ot the law II Is provided that the
parties to such suits may he compelled
To testify, with the reservation that GER
tain testimony shall not be used against
them on criminal grounds, and equita-
bl,. az vel as legal powers are given to
the Courts tryiI !, such civil cases, with
the power 10 compel the production OF
books and papers. THESE provisions
are essential To tine enforcement of any
legislation on the subject. The wisest
provision oi the law upon this subject
would be useless unless the law COM
p-ls the opening OF the mouths OF the
officers and managers and authorizes
the examination of books and papers OF
these corporations.