Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-25
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY %, 1882
mIssIssIPPI RAILROAD LEGISLA-
TION.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1889
mIssIssIPPI RAILROAD LEGIsLA.
TON.
Every citizen in Tennessee should bear in
mind that ii this State is without the benefit
Of a railroad law, such as protects the people
of Georgia and other States from extortion
and oppression from railroad monopoly, it is
owing to the want of the peoples support on
behalf of the bill for that purpose, which
passed the House at Nashville at its last
regular session. By the time the Tennessee
legislature meets again, the citizens OF the
State should be ready to give hearty and eff
n Gent support to legislation which-while
just and forbearing toward the roads and not
interfering with their legitimate freedom in
transacting their bus iness-shall give the
people the aid of the law to prevent extor-
ton or discrimination. Our sister State Of
Mississippi is giving attention to this i'm
portant subject, and by the kindness of Mr.
William G.. Walker we have received
copy of bill now before the House there
-"to create a railroad commission, and to pro.
vide for the regulation of railroad companies
and persons operating railroads in the State
! of Mississippi Section l declares each
railroad track throughout the State public
over which All persons have equal
rights OF transportation for passengers and
freights" on payment Of just compensation.
Second-This act is to apply to all who do
business on railroads of the State, other than
street railroads. Third-If any railroad
doing business under any law Of the State
shall charge, collect, demand or receive |
more than fair and reasonable rate of toll |
for any use of the cars the same shall be |
adjudged guilty Of extortion. Fourth--Any !
railroad making unjust discrimination in Its |
charges shall be deemed guilty of having
violated the provisions of this act. Fifth
A railroad commission shall be created, the
commissioners to be appointed by the gov
ernor, with the consent of the Senate; to be |
three in number, one of them to be expert
enced in the law and one in railway business;
after the first the appointments to be for six
years, at q salary of $500, to be paid
by the State. The commissioners are not, in
any way, to be holders or owners of railway
stock or bonds, or to be agent, attorney, or
employe of any railroad company, or in any
way have any interest in any railroad during
their term OF Office. Should any commits
sioner in any way become disqualified, he
must remove the disqualification or resign,
or be suspended from Office by the governor
and be proceeded against according to law;
the vacancy to be temporarily filled by APP
pointment from the governor. Six-Eaeh
railroad to make returns to the State au-
ditor, annually, of its gross earnings during
the preceding year; in case of failure TO do
this the auditor to make such returns from
information, and to assess them. The au-
ditor shall also ascertain what per centage of |
the gross earnings will pay the expenses of
the commission Of every kind and assess
license tax accordingly, which each railroad
must pay, when license will be issued ac-
cordingly. The penalty for operating
railroad without license shall be 500 a
day, the State Encouragement to take
proceedings for enforcing collection of the :
penalty. Seventh-Commissio expenses
for furniture, stationary, and office expenses
and rent, not to exceed $500 year. Com
missioners may employ clerk at a salary :
Of not over $1,000 a year. -Eighth-Pro-
yides for the payment of salaries and ex.
penses. Ninth-It shall be the duty of the
to make reasonable and Just :
rates of charges, which the railroads must
observe. Also to make regulations for pre-
venting unjust determinations, and to es- y
taelish charges for the use of cars; also to =
make rules for preventing the giving or pay =, =
ing OF any bonus or rebate, directly or in
directly, and to prevent the misleading or ::
ieceiving of the public in any way as to the =
real rates charged. The act not to be taken =
rs abridging or controlling rates beyond the :
boundaries of the State, or ON freight for :
which less than local rates are charged. The
are empowered to fix the =
differences in rates for freight or pas :,
engers for longer or shorter distances '
m the same or different railroads, "
md to ascertain what shall be the :
limits Of longer and shorter distances. Z |,
renih-The commissioners are authorize ed :.
md required to make for each road a seized =
lie of charges, the schedule to be evidence "
u cases of unjust discrimination, and it "
hall be accepted in the courts as sufficient "
The schedule is to be changed and revised as :
'lten as circumstances may require. Publ -
alton OF all changes in the schedule shall be =
|
ie newspaper in Vicksburg, Jackson, Me- -
idian, Scranton, Corinth and Grenada. E
After publication the railroad companies
must post copy of the schedule at their :
tations for the peoples protection, the sched- -
lies not to be taken as evidence until they =
lave been prepared and published for all y
he railroad companies organized by the ii
,fofo Cd he Scba It,la ]
re to be certified by the commissioners. Elev- -
the commissioners to inform -
he railroad companies when, in their judg- II
nent, any repairs or additions are wanting n
0 the roads, ROLLING stock or stations, or adj g
ition to or change OF stationhouses, or other :,
matters required for the convenience o,
md accommodation of the pub n
ic. Twelfth-The commissioners and =,
heir officials, when duty, to have
rec passage on the railroads. Thirteen
The commissioners are required to investi- Y
rate railroad books and accounts, and to b
Iist railroad offices and stations for the pur 81
,ose of making examinations for discovering C
whether their regulations have been COM m
,lied with; also to examine agents, employees bt
md others on oath. Fourteenth-Contracts "
md agreements between railroads are to be h.
admitted to the commissioners for inspec- | er
ion, correction, amp approval, in as far as III
hey affect their regulations. The commits II
toner's to make such rules, respecting such al
contracts and agreements, as may be deemed n
changes by railroad agreements sa
# the rates and changes imposed by the
to be void. Fifteenth-Com-
nissioners are empowered to issue processes C
or the attendance and payment of witnesses; ~
Witnesses to be enforced by penalty to testify. T
DECENTRALIZATION officials or employees ! az