The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-02-21
Power and Duties Of the ~.
Railroad Commiasins n
ALBANY Journal1

- 80
For good or for evil New W.
ment at State supervision of = sEs
begins to-day with the first 49,. ",
commission. The political -. q
which were connected with Il.
the bin and which gave ii i. s..n
character, have been 50 eener.ll. -s /,
as to obscure in part the provi,;. s'sae
bill itself. The first three $500 .s q 4
by the terms Of the Law have -
one each respectively from IL. q
and the Republican party, and -.
named BY two organizations, in M, - y
Thurber is the ruling spirit, know.
er, as the National Board a. =. '.''s'
Transportation and the Nation., ',as
nopoly League of New York = 49,
York Chamber of Commerce ~, e
cast a vote in the Tripartite CoupeiI !,
the Hon. A. B. Hepburn. After tb,.s
however, appointments to the Co.,.
are to be made in the Governor,s ~
by and with the consent Of 4. 49,
without regard to political con.;a..
and independent of the anti-mop,,..
ganizat1on after the law is in full os.
The commissioners are to serve e..
one commissioner going cut Of ots..
year. Accordingly Mr.. o,Don,.n
serve but three years, and M ~.
four. Vacancies can be filled bv th.e
ernor in the usual constitutional
and the commissioners are sub;.et
moval by the Governor on the pre.aD,..
of written charges. Such removals ma,
approved by q majority OF the Senate
The commission shall be served II II,
and marshal, to whom the duties o,sl.
rily performed bysuch officers are sss,,.,
These two snbordinates however sh.ll
no official relations with any railroad II
own no railroad stock. and shan III.
pecuniary interestin any firm HAVING II,
ness relations with railroads. The mesti,.
of the commission, which shall take NJ
at least once a month, shall be held II Y
bany, but the commission may eshbis
branch Offices at Buffalo and New y.3
Any two commissioners shall constitub
quorum, and may hold meetings anyvbs
within the State, at any time. The ey,s
nationsand investigations provided fol, NJ
be held before single commissioner
his decisions are not final until review
and confirmed by the board.
The powers and duties Of the commis,u|
ers are large and varied. They ore grs|
general supervision Of all railroads and
railways, so far as is necessary to ensa
them to perform the duties and exercise NJ
powers imposed aud conferred By I'M
They must examine the roads, and kesph
formed as to their condition, tie way III
treat the public, and how we'll they Ea
within the law. 1t is made their duF
investigate all accidents on the roads resu
ing in loss of life or damage to persons I
property, which they think it worth Viii
to examine. The managers Of the Ia
must at once inform the commissioned
such accidents and the latter must repn
to the Legislature annually the results
such investigations. The commission a
the power at all times to examine the bslE
and affairs Of the roads, can compel the pa
duction of books and papers (copiesl, ID
ppna witnesses, administer oaths, COMFY
attendance, etc, ETC., like any court III
cord. Witnesses are to get 81 per dayn
+ cents per mile.
Il The commission must notify the ral
whenever they find them violating the n
or abusing their privileges, and if the wal
: continues, shall present the facts to the
J. torney General for his interference jay
. courts 1t is the commissions duty, tSAi
notify the roads, or any Of them, whence
], repairs to the roads, additions to The rcll
stock or station accommodations tcrnia
: facilities, changes in fare and freight ~
etc, are deemed necessary. and to giysl
+ roads thus notified a full hearing 0al
subject; and ii the roads are refractory,
G Attorney General is to be called IN 70 Oea
action. The commission il not required
g make public any facts about the bushes
& the roads Of the State, which, il pabish
4 might be preiudicial to their Interests
The COMMISSION is to make an aunualll
! port to the Legislature, with suggespe
etc, and is also empowered to prescrpsll
s form in which the railroads shall naSs "
, II e 4 -. - -