Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1884-05-14
TIVE CULLoM BILL.

THE CULLOA BILL.
The Railroad Committee in the
Senate have reported favorably the
Cullom interstate Commerce bill,
regarding which the Times-Review
says:
We do not believe that the
Statute will afford the necessary re-
lief or check the outrages now be-
ing practiced upon the people by
the interstate railroad companies.
The machinery of the measure is
too complicated and subject to too
many ifs & ands, to be practically
effective. Nothing less than an
Act fixing definitely the rates of
freights and fares on interstate
railways will amount to a row Of
pins.
The bill in question provides for
Commission of five members to
be appointed by the President with
advice of the Senate. Not more
than three of them shall be men,
bers of one political party. The
Commission shall have supervision
over all matters pertaining to COM
merce among the several States and
Territories and methods of opera
ton of all transportation COM
panies engaged in interstate COM
merce, and it is made the duty Of
the Commission to enforce the
provisions Of the Act by all lawful
means within its power. If any
transportation company engaged in
interstate commerce shall demand
or receive in the transaction of the
business of interstate commerce
more than reasonable compensa-
ton, it shall be deemed guilty of
extortion, or if any such company
shall directly or indirectly by any
rebate, drawback or other device
collect or receive from any person
greater compensation for any SER
vice it may render in the transac-
ton of interstate commerce than
it collects or receives from any
other person for like service, or if
it neglects or refuses to furnish
equal facilities it shall be deemed
guilty Of unjust discrimination.
Complaints Of extortion or un-
Just discrimination are to be inves-
tigated by the Commission. If, in
case complaints are found to be
well founded, companies refuse
reparation or to desist from the
Objectionable practice, the Com
mission is required to certify the
facts to the District Attorney Of
the United States for the judicial
district in which the act complained
and it shall be the duty of the
District Attorney, at the request
Of the complainant, to forthwith
commence such proceedings in the
name of the complainant as may be
necessary to recover any damages
sustained by him, and in case of
failure to recover, complainant
shall pay the costs of suit, the At
torneys' fees excepted. Any COM
pany convicted under the provis-
ions Of this Act either of extortion
or of unjust discrimination, shall
forfeit and pay for each ofense a
fine not exceeding $1,000.
Any company that shall neglect
or refuse to make such annual re-
ports as the Commission may re-
quire, or that shall neglect or re-
fuse to answer any question or to
produce any books, papers, con-
tracts or documents, or properly
certified abstract thereof, called for
by the Commission in making such
investigation, shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and on con-
viction thereof shall be fined not
exceeding $1,000 for each otfense.
Each Commissioner shall receive
an annual salary of $500, and
shall appoint Secretary, who
shall receive an annual salary of
$500. In making an investiga-
ton the Commission is armed with
power to require the attendance Of
witnesses, to administer oaths and
to require the production of all
books, papers, contracts and docu-
ments, or properly certified alb
stracts thereof, relating to any mat
ter under investigation, and is
authorized to conduct the investi-