Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-01-31
The New Railroad Bill.
tTrOm the Wheeling Registe-.l

tTrOm the Wheeling Registe-.1
The celebrated fight Of last session over
the Wilson railroad bill and its SUBSEQUENT
defeat in the House, are still fresh in the
public mind, and require no further mention
at this time. On Friday last, Speaker Will
son introduced another railroad bill. known
as House bill TO. 361, the synopsis of which
is as follows:
The bill is entitled "a bill to establish
reasonable maximum rates of charge. to pro>
vide for the correction of abuses, to prevent
unjust discrimination and ex,ortion in the
rates OF charges by all railroad companies
and corporations heretofore or hereafter GRE
ated by this or any other State and organized
within or without this State, and OPERATING
any railroad or railway, wholeIy within, or
partly within and partly without, this State,
Tor the transportation of passengers and
freIghts, to protect the just rights of the
pubic concerning tho same. and to enforce
tho same by adequate penalties"
1t is first made unlawful for any company
or corporation, whether operating itself or
operated or leased by any other COMPANY. to
charge Tor passengers freight more for a
shorter than for longer distance in the same
direction. 1t shall be the duty of every rails
way company to keep constantly posted, in
conspicuous place, 10 all its ticket Offices and
freight and passenger depots, printed copies
OF the second and third sections of this act
which arc embraced in tho foregoing sens
sence, together with table of distances be-
tween each and every station of its road, the
same to be printed in legibIe type
All persons shall have equal rights in shin,
ping freight and the same facilities for car
rage, storage and handling freight and trans>
porting it with reasonable dispatch to the
point required, shall be given to all and no
company shall directly OF indirectly allow any
rebate or drawback to one person that is not
allowed to all alike. No company shall ip>
crease its charge after January of each year
a station shall DO established at every
town of 500 or moro inhabitants, where the
road passes through or within half mile:
and such stations shall be established within
three months after this act goes into effect.
and every thirty days delay. or failure there.
after, shall be separate offense
The remainder of the bill is devoted to
penalties For any offense against the pros
visions OF this act, the offender shall be
deemed guilty of misdemcauor and for the
hr@t oieDse, upon conviction shall be fined
not less than $1,000 nor more than slO, 900:
tor the second, not less than $4,000 nor
more than $4,000; for the third. not less
than Slo,UOG nor more than $50 600: and
NHSIeaIkeE, 90 UUU, each
tne to be at the discretion of the iury. But
II any company shall wILFULLY violate any
section OF this ordinance, it shall be taken
as an abuse and forfeiture of its charter, and
1t may be proceeded against as to judgement
OF custer and final execution
The Circuit Court of each county thro'
winch road pssses, shall have Jurisdiction
and shall especially give this set in charge of
the grand jury. The Judge. if he deem II
necessary, shall employ special council to
assist the Prosecution Attorney in such cases.
The above is the substance of the new
railroad bill. Tho difference between i. and
the last one is that it carries no riders and
has but its one object.
Attorney General G. G. Watts leaves to-
day for Parkersburg, where he will argue
before Judge Bond the tax suit between JEFF.
terson county and the B. & o. Railroad com>
pany On Saturday he will be with Col.
White at Charleston
Wheeling Reg, Jan. 25