Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-16
FREIaHTs AND FARES.
Resolution Adopted by the Railroad Com
missioners.

| At meeting Of the Railroad Commits
sioners, held in San Francisco Thursday
afternoon, President Cone offered the follow
ing resolution, which, after considerable dis
| cussion, was laid over until 10 O'Clock yester-
day morning, when it was adopted:
| WHEREAS, The Constitution has vested in this
Board powers of o legislative, judicial and eXecu-
tive character, in reference to transportation within
this State, viz the power TO establish rates Of
charges for transportation OF passengers and freight
| by railroad and other transportation companies,
the power to examine the books records and papers
OF all railroads and other transportation copanea
and to that end the power OF issuing subpeRas and
all other necessary processes the power Of hearing
and determining complaints against the railroads
and other transportation companies, and TO that
end TO send for persons and papers, to administer
oaths, 10 take testimony, aud to punish for
tempt of orders and processes in the manner
and TO the same extent as Courts OF record and to
enforce decisions and correct abuses through the
medium OF Courts, and to order a pre-
scribed and uniform system OF accounts to be
kept by all such corporations and companies
and whereas, the Constitution declares that any
railroad or other transportation company which
shall fail refuse 70 conform to such rates shall
be established by this Board shalt charge rates in
excess thereof or shall fail to keep their accounts
in accordance with such system as his Board shall
prescribe, shall be fined not exceeding $50 600 for
such offense; that any officer, agent employee of
any such corporation or company, who shall de-
mand receive rates in excess OF the rates estab
lished by this Board, shall be fined not exeees ing
s., 600, or be imprisoned not exceeding one year.
and Whereas the Constitution further declares that
the rates OF fares and freights established by this
Board shall be deemed conclusively just aud reason
able in all controversies, civil and criminal to which
corporations and companies may become parties
and whereas, the course of procedure established in
the creation of this Board differs from methods here
to:ore in for the adjustment Of individual and
property rights viz: Intervention OF uries and
view by other tribunals; e-efore be it
ReSolUed That in determining rates of charges for
transportation OF freights and fares the various
lines portions of lines OF transportation within
this st. tie, the Board will have regard 10 the equi
ties existing between shippers and carriers and the
protection OF private property invested in trans
pOrtation enterprises and in determining what is
just and reasonable rate viii consider the value Of
the services performed distance OF carriage, volume
and direction OF traffic. the general character there
OF to be fixed by Classification TO volume, weight,
value the liability to accident climatic influence,
competition, grades, curyatures, costs OF mainten-
ance, and that in fixing, establishing adopting
fares and freghts all parties to all arising
of the adjustment Of rates. before any such rates
shall become and be established the rates OF this
Board shall have full and ample opportunity to ap-
pear before this Board to be heard in the premises
by counsel or otherwise, to summon witnesses, and
to this end shall be entitled to processes of this
Board to the end that its judgment may be eQuita-
bic and its conclusions be Just and reasonable.