New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-23
t hall take enectimmediately.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.

THE RAILROAD NOMMlSSiONEkS.
The new provisions Of the act. which the committee
recommends. TO create board OF Railroad Commission
ors. are os fo ows:
seeIon oao provide that there shall b. board OF
railroad commissioners. consisting Of three COM
peteut persons one OF whom shall he known
Others Hs sociale tnHnla~untran VINO snail Nc APP
pointed bY thc Governor, wti the advice aud consent
-olrr su1i DEE Tor h'e tcaie' one Associate O0mEIN
-uuer or ;hc term ~ four years, aLd one Associate
Couuis,.u .r inc Term OF ree years from the date
of such appoint ment 40 person ID me einpoy Of OF
hodag llY Official relation to- any railroad corporation,
or owning siOca n railroad corporation, Or who -
in my manner interested IN any finn corporation
having business relations with any railroad corporsuon
except tae legitimate busincs oi shipping and forward
luz shall hold either OF sad offices.
SEC 4. said Board OF Commits shall have power
TO administer oaths In all matters rcating to their
duties aud shall have the general supervision OF all
railroads ana railways and snail examine tue same and
manner which they are operated with reference 10
she security and accommodation Of the pubic and
the COMPLIANCE the several corporations with
the provisions Of their charters and the laws Of the
SAT-. n shall Iso be the duty OF said Board Of Ral-
road Commissioner 10 investigate the OF
any accident railroad, resulting in loss "
he or injury TO person or persons which,
And such board OF railroad commissioners shall have
nowrr for the PURPOSES provided m ths act to examine
the books and affairs Of any Ialrord company or corp0-
ration receiver or trustees to compel the production
~ copies OF books ana papers SUBPOENA WITNESSES, al
minister oaths 10 thtm ana compel ther attendance
from p cOnrt OF record Of tbis STATE.
SEC. Whene erin the Judgment OF the Board OF Raf
road Commissioners, shall pear mat any sueh cor
p0ratOn refuses 10 coihpy WIN the PROVISIONS
OF any of the laws OF tne State they shalt give notice
thereofin writing 10 such eoitoraio, anu II the vl0i,
tiou neglect Il co. nurd after uch notice the Beard
may forth present ne fact 10 the AtorneyGenera,
VINO shall take such Proceedings thereon as he may
deem XpcdIent.
sEc. Q. Whenever. in the Judgment Of the Board
Railroad Commissioners, u snail appear that repairs
necessary upon any railroad within this safe, or that
any addition to the rolling stock, OF any addition
TO or change Sat OIL additional i''e eFsna or etts
snail be afforded, or mat any change in the rates
change IN The mode OF operating Ine road ana con
Quoting its business Is reasonable aud expdient IN Or
der 10 promote the security convenience ana aec0mmo-
dalton of the public, the said board shall
give notice and information in writing to
cnanges when they adudge TO be proper: and If the
corporation refuses or nrclects 70 make such repairs,
improvements and changes within u reasonable time
after such notice ana lnt'rmau9n. the saia BOARD ara
ton: aud snail also report the same facts In
50 ca report or in the annual report of said board to
secon seven provides that every railroad corporation
shall at all times on request lurnlsi me board ~ iai
road necessary information required
by with copies Of all contacts and agreements
leases or other engagements 10y such corporation.
SIC o. The Board OF Railroad Commissioners shall
Al thr BoarI shnU be charged with The duly to re-
commend and draft Legislature such hills as viii,
IN their Judgment, protect the pcopcs interest IN ana
man RAILWAYS of the aie And II snail likewise be
tbe dirty of suon Commissioners 10 take tesii-
mony upoD and have hearing for and against any pro-
posed chsnge law relating 10 railway or rail-
Srcron ten provides that the Board of Railroad Com
missoners shall power 10 prescribe the form OF
The annual report required co be made by railroad cor
porattons engineers accountants, and other experts,
giving 10 the corporation six months notice OF any such
changes and additions which would reQuice any atera
uon IN the me mod form OF keeping their accounts.
and tie report required 10 be made TO the
State Engineer and Surveyor, shall hereafter be
made to such Board OF Railroad Commissioners. !
SectiOn twelve provides thar the annual salary OF the
chef shall be $1,000 and OF the associate
commissioners ~ OOO each, ana the chief clerk S2OOO
and OF marshal $1,000 PAYABLE quarterly from the
treasury OF the STATE. Ihe said board shall |
also have power TO employ additional clerical force
whose services they may deem 10 oe OF temporary I'M
pnrtance In the conducting OF any investigation herein
provided
Section thirteen provides that the annual total ex-
pense of the Board OF abroad Commissioners snail not
Tor the first year exceed inc sum OF |
$4,000 aud for all subsequent years nos |
exceed In any year the sum $4,000; ana |
such expenses shall be OOrne by the several corpora
tions owning operating railroads according 10 their
means 10 be appOrtOned by the Controller and State
ossrssors ana such assessment shall be collected III the
manner provided by law Tor the collection OF taxes
upon corporations ,
their clerks agents experts, shall
accent or receive pass, present gift or grauy OF
any Kind. from any railroad corporation, and the |
ptance by them, or either OF them or any such
presents gifts other gratuiy shall be misdemeanOr
and punishable as SUCH
Section sixteen provides that the shall take effect
Immediately upon lts passage.
For the Tat or ne Hepburn Report see First Page