Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1883-01-27
TIE PROPOSED RAILROAD LAW

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tive officer of every such railroad
company, and OF every railroad com.
pany doing business in this state, tC
transmit, on or before the 18th day OF
April of eacn year, to the railroad
commissioners of this state, a full and
true statement, under oath, OF the
affairs of the said railroad company
as the same existed on the last day ol
December next preceding. The said
statements shall be made out on forms
furnished by the said railroad commits
sioners,- which forms shal, be such as, in
the judgment of the said commission
ers, are necessary to show fully and
truly the condition of the several
railroads, and the affairs of the several
railroad companies within this state,
and to furnish any aud all information
regarding the said railroads that may
| be OF public benefit and interest. The
| said manager, superintendent, or other
executive officer, shall also transmit to
the Office of the said commissioners. at
the same time and together with the
statement Aforesaid, copies OF each
published rate Of fare for passengers
| and tariffs of freights issued Tor the
government of their agents, during
the year ending with tho 3lst day OF
December next preceding the making
up of the Aforesaid statement; and
they shall also promptly furnish all
such information concerning the affairs
of the said railroad companies as may
be at any time required by the said
commissioners. !s
Section 1888. The railroad commits
sioners shall inquire into any neglect
or violations of the laws of this state
by any railroad corporation doing bus
mess therein, or by the officers,
agents or employees thereof, or by any
person operating railroad, and when
ever they shall receive any complaint,
in writing, made by any citizen OF
this state, Of any such neglect or vio-
lation, and specifying the acts COM
planned of, the said commissioners
shall investigate the same; and they
are hereby empowed to have access to
all books and papers used iii any Office
of amy company or person operating q
railroad Ill this state and necessary in
any investigation; and if they shall
find any complaint we'll founded, it
shall be their dnty, in all cases, to
report the facts to the prosecuting
attorney for the county in which the
alleged offenso was committed, who
shall thereupon proceed in the proper
legal manner 10 enforce the penalty
provided bv law. .
Section Sal. The SAIL railroad COM
mssioners shall, on OR before the first
day of July OF each year, make and
submit to the governor a report Of
their official acts tor the year ending the
3l-r day of December next preceding !;
said report to contain tabulatcd statis-
tics from the returns of the several
railroad companies. and all such in
formation regarding the affairs aud
condition of the railroads of this
state, and such suggestions concerning
them, their affairs aud management,
and the proper legislation for the reg
ulatfon thereof, as the said commits
sioners may decta to be of public
interest, benefit or Importance. Three
thousand copies of the said report
shall be printed, as is provided by law
for the printing of other public docu-
ments, and shall be properly distrib-
uied throughout the state by the said
commissioners.
Section S42. The railroad com.
mlssioners shall have power to classify
all aticles of freight transported on
any railroad or part of any railroad,
owned, leased or occupied in this
state. placing said articles in either of
the general or special classes provided
for in section S33 of this article; and
they are further authorized and EN-.
powered to Fix such maximum rates
on any article of freight. or on either
of the general or special classes of
| freighs, transported on any railroad
or Oh any part of any railroad III this
state, as, in their judgment, after
through investigation, may be deem.
ed just aud equitable.
Section 843. The railroad commits
slOners shall, twice in each wear. ard
| at such other times as they may deem
it necessary, carefully inspect the
railroads of this state, aud shall keep
themselves Informed as to the condi-
| ton of the same, and the manner in
which they are operated with especial
reference to the safety and proper
accommodation of the public, and also
as to the compliance of the several
railroad companies or corporations
with the laws of the state and it shall
be the duty of the said commissioners,
whenever they have reasonable e
grounds to believe that any of the
tracks, bridges or other structures of
any railroad in this state are In condi-
tloh which render any of them dam
gerous or unfit for the transportation
OF passengers or freigh: with reason.
aole safety, to give to the manager.
superintendent or other executi We
officer OF the company, working or
operating the line of railroad upon
which said dangerous or defective
track, bridge or other structure NAV
be found, notice, in writing, of the
condition thereof, and of the repairs
necessary to place the same in a safe
condition; aud the said commission
ers are also authorized and empow-
cred to order aud direct the speed of
trains over such dangerous or defec
i!ve track. bridge OR other structure
until the said repairs are made: and II
any manager, superintendent, or
"thrr executive officer aforesaid
receiving such written notice shall
wi!ituiiy neglect To take the necessary
steps toward having said repair,
! Ahauts VI III lne luStrlc.
tions OF the said commissioners. in
relation t" the speed of trains over
such dangerous or defective Track
bridge or other structure, or i'm rela
i'oi to the repairs thereof, shall be
"i!l'ul!y dieregardcd by any MN.
ager, Superintendent or other cx-
ecntivc officer, or by any employe
OF any railroad in this state, then
every such manager, superintendent
or other executive officer or employe
shall be deemed guilty OF misde
uieanor, aud, on conviction thereof.
shall be fined in any sum not less thar
two hundred dollars nor more than
ave hundred dollars, or be impr;sou.
eu III the county jail of the proper
county Tor period of not less than
| ihree months nor more than one
year, or by both such fiue and imnris
'nment, Z; the discretion OF the court
and III case the willful disregard 81
the instruction Of the commissioner.
snail Cause any accident whereby
huInan life shall be lost or persons
manned or wounded, the said mana
or, superintendent or other execu
ave "iHcer or empioye 80 disregard
ng the sail instructions shall sever
ally be deemed guilty of felony, and
III conviction thereof, shall lie imprls
'hed Ill the state penltentiary for $
per!od not less than two or more tina,
ten years. The said commissioners
shall also have power aud authorit,