The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-04
A BILL.


To be entitled An Act to provide for the ap
pontplent of u board OF commissioners o
railroads and telegraphs," TO prescribe thel
powers and duties. and to FIX their salarle
ona tne manner OF paying the same; to pro
vide Tor the regulation OF freight aud pas
eenger tariffs In this state; To prevent unjus
determinations and ext Irtions In the rate
charged for transportation of pass Singers an,
freights. and TO prohibit railroad companies
corporations or iessees from charging oths
than just and reasonable rates, and 10 per
nit the same and to make an appropriation
TO carry the same into Effect.
Section /. That the governor be author
izsi and required to appoint, by and witt
the advice and consent Of tho senate, thfe
commissioners, who shall be styled "th
commissioners Of railroads and telegrsphs.
aud who shall hol their offices for tive
years, and until their SUCCESSORS have beet
duly appointed and qualified. One expert
enced IN the law, and one as q civil engineer
but no person owning bonds, stocks or othel
property in any railroad, transportation Of
telegraph company, or who may DO in en-
ployment of any railroad, transportation OF
telegraph company, or who shall in any way
or manner, be personally interested therein
shall b. eligible for the Office of commission
or herein created. The salary of said commits.
sioners shall be three thousand
dollars annually. The governor
shall fill any vacancy among the com.
mlssioners which may occur by death, resig-
nation or removal from Office which power
OF removal, for good cause shown, is hereby
expressly given to the governor.
Section 2. That the commissioners herein
provided for, shall DO furnished with an
office, furniture and stationery, and may en-.
pioy clerk at an annual salary not TO ex-
coed fifteen hundred dollars, nj the expense
OF the state, said salary to be paid monthly.
Inc Office of said commissioners shall DO
kept IN the city of Austin, and the amounts
Tor tho office rent, furniture, stationery,
printing and postage, shall in no case exceed
the sum of two thousand dollars per snnum,
or so much Iheriof as may be necessary.
Section 8. That said commissioners, before
entering upon the duties of their office, shall,
each, make, subscribe and file with the sec.
rotary OF state, the following oath, in add
uon TO the cath prescribed by the constiu.
uon: VI 40 solemnly swear Tor AFFIRM that
Will faithfully discharge the duties of COM
missioner OF railroads and telegraphs to the
Dest OF my ability; that nm not a stockhold.
or In any railroad, freight or transportation
company, or telegraph company or line, nor
in any way, directly or indirectly, in the
employment of any railroad, freight or trans
portation company, or telegraph Company
or llne." Each of said commissioners shall
enter into bond, payable to tho governor
and MS successors in office, with at least two
sureties, to be approved by the governor, in
the sum OF twenty thousand dollars, condi,
toned upon the faithful performances of the
duties of his office.
Section 4. That the commissioners beren
provided for, when appointed and qualified,
shall proceed to organize by selecting one of
tnolr number as president, and appointing a
clerk, and when 80 organized, shall have
me right in tho performance of
the duties Of their office, any one
or all OF them, or the said clerk, when acting
LOT Said commissioners, TO travel upon the
Trains, and upon any place on or any part of
such Train, OF any railroad or any part of a
railroad in this state, free of charge for such
travel; said commissioners shall also have
tne right, In the performance of their duties.
TO send free messages relating to said duties
over any telegraph line in this state.
section b; That said commissioners shall
nave general supervision and control over
Oil railroads, freight or transportation com.
pAnles and all telegraph companies or lines
IN TINS State, and shall carefully examine and
inspect the same as often as may be neces-
sary, and keep themselves fully Informed as
70 the Condition of the companies, their
railways, bridges, culverts, embankments,
tracks or other structures; and the manner
IN winch such railroad, freight or trauspor.
sa'icn companies and telegraph companies
OF lines are operated with reference TO
the security, convenience and rights
OF the pubic; and shall also inform them.
selves as to the compliance on the part of
su;h railroad, or transportation companies
and such telegraph companies, with all the
provisions OF the several charters of tho said
companies and the laws of this state. And
sne said commissioners shall prescribe uni.
form system by which shall be kent tho
DOCKS and accounts Of all railroad, freight
anu transportation companies and all teie-
graph companies or lines in this state, and
when SAID Commissioners shall have so pre.
scrioed and authortatively pu. forth such a
uniform system of bookkeeping. for tho
said railroad and transportation companies
and telegraph companies or lines such avs
tenn shall BIO the guide for all SUCH railroad.
freight or transportation companies and tels'
graph companies or lines, and said companie,
snail 90 required to conform TO such pre-
sciloed system Of keeping their said books
and accounts.
Section g. Tho president or other officer in
charge OF any railroad, freight or transport
tatlon company situated in whole or In part
within this state, shall, on or before the
lst day OF November of each wear.
make and file In the office of said commits
sioners, q report, verified by tho oath of such
oiicer, for the year ending the 3lst day Of
August preceding, which report shall state
the general and particular orgsnizs alton, con.
di!ion and opeNtions of tho corporation.
section 7. That tho commissioners shall
prepare and furnish TO each railroad. freigbt
or transportation company, or to each or
gsnlzation having ono or more railroads or
parts OF railroads, and TO each telegram
company having lines or parts thereof IN this
1ate blank forms for making tho r,ports as
requiret IN this act, which blanks may be 40
PrepSreu pythe comm ssioners as TO obtain the
intormanon required more In detail. by
omitung such Of historical or pormsnent
character as may have boen given in other
Section 9. Tha! tho president or o,hor
oiiicer in charge Of q railroad whether doing
business or In the process Of construction.
who refuses or neglects 10 make and fnr,
nlsn me report at the time and In tho form
ana mann.r required by this or npy report
required BY tho said commissioners such
railroad company or corporation 80 falling or
refusing, shall forfeit aud DAY nny sum moi
70 exceed two thousand dollars for snch
iAiIase q refusal TO make such report, and