Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-26
LAWS SUPREMACY ASSERTED
PROVISIONS AGAINST ACCIDENTS

Senator Clarke, from the railroad com
nittee. Yesterday introduced bill in the
state senate the provisions of which are as
follows:
To provide for the better regulation Of
rallroads and to establish board of rail
way commissioners, to prescribe their
duties and powers and to further pre-
scribe the duties and powers Of the rail
road commissioner and for the regulation
OF telegraph and sleeping car companies
and other ike companies doing business
In this state.
Section 1 provides for the creation of a
commission 70 be styled the Board Of
Railway Commissioners" which shall con-
sist OF the governor, auditor and railroad
commissioner.
Section > requires the board to convene
at least once month, and the railway
commissioner may convene the
board oftener when business of
importance requires; majority
of the board may decide
ali questions, and majority shall consti-
cute q quorum. a record is to be kept of
proceedings, and q report is to be made to
the legislature as q part of the railroad
commissioners report.
Section forbids the railroad COM
missioner or any member of the board and
the secretary of the railroad commissioner
from performing any service for any rail
road company chartered or doing business
II this state, or receiving any discount, re-
Ga
Section authorizes the board to en-
pIoy secretary, defines his duties and
fixes his compensation at $500 per an
mum.
Section forbids railroads to DO bust
ness until the railroad commissioner pro-
noUnces il properly constructed and safe.
Section requires to be filed in the
Office of the railroad commissioner within
one year after the completion of such
road d profile with tables If grades, curves
and other characteristics, certified by the
president and engineer.
Section requires railway companies
within one year Of the passage of this act
to file map and profile of their line and
branches, the same to be certified by the
president and engineer, and requires any
changes to be reported in like manner.
Section s makes it the duty OF the
railroad commissioner to have the general
supervision of all railroads in the state;
ne shall examine such roads and keep him
self informed of their condition and the
manner Of operating the same with refer
ence to the security and accommodation
of the public; see that they comply with
the laws Of the state and the conditions Of
their charters; shall have access to all their
books and papers; shall investigate the
cause Of accidents resulting in loss of life
or personal injury and report the same to
the governor; shall receive and consider
all complaints made as to violations of the
law by any railroad corporation,
and if the facts warrant he
shall use his influence to adjust the same
between the parties, and if he fails to do
this report the facts to the governor.
Makes it the duty of the commissioner to
prepare an official railway map of the
state which shall accompany his annual
report.
Section gives the railroad COM
missioner clerk with a salary of $1,000
and defines his duties.
Section 10 requires every railroad cor
poration doing business in the state, at all
times upon request to furnish the COM
missioner any information concerning the
condition, management and operation Of
such road, copies of all timetables and
rates for transporting freight and passen-
gers, and requires all charges to be filed in
his Office.
Section II Furnishes president or other
officer by fine of not less than $500 for
neglect or refusal to furnish a report at
he 4i,,,a roO11iroI NV lovu m rac Inv fbo
railroad commissioner and $500 for every
thirty days thereafter that he so refuses.
Section II requires corporations,
when their reports are unsatisfactory, to
amend the same or give a satisfactory rea-
son.
Section 10 makes it the duty of
elevator and warehouse men TO make re-
T7rt under oath to the railroad comission-
err of the amount and grade of grain re-
ceived or shipped. Also requires owners
of cattle yards to report under oath, and
prescribes penalty of $50 for neglect or
refusal so to do.
Section "A authorizes railroad cor
porations to fix fares, tolls and charges, but
they shall at all times be subject to revis-
ion by the legislatures or officers which it
may designate.
section 10 authorizes railroads to
make contracts for transportation of pas
sengers,and legalizes limited tickets where
the terms of Limitation are plainly printed
Section 16 requires railroads to give
passengers checks for baggage.
Section II requires railroad cor
porations to give shipping receipt and
Furnishes refusal with a fine of $50.
Section IS requires companies to
promptly forward merchandise.
Section 10 requires railroad cor
porations to give all persons reasonable
and equal terms and facilities
Section 20 forbids company charg-
ing greater rate for less distance
hauled.
Section provides that when ever
the board of railway commissioners
are satisfied that any railway corporation
is failing to comply with the terms of its
charter or the laws of the state in respect
to rates for freight and passengers, the
railroad commissioner shall point out the
excess, and in case of refusal or neglect, to
remedy the evil. The board of commits
sioners shall make arbitrary rates for such
com pany, and said schedule shall
be accepted in all courts as the maximum
rates such road is allowed to charge. The
board shall, when circumstances demand.
revise such schedules, notice of same being
~,ivor1 bv mn hIioo hon. 7>rov;5a1 +bn rotor