Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-27
THE RAILROAD BILL.
THE COMMISSIONERS PROPOSED
Main Provisions Of she House H'' W"
gefsre she senate Cesnrn'ssee On neses
and sssrpaI Nay!ssuen.

Of Railroad Commisssoners 'or tbe pre-
ept Railroad COMMISSIONER OF The State.
and defining the duties and powers 81
such boa-d, and repeating the act Of March
~, 1871, in reference TO 'hc said Commits
,ioner.v now before the Senate COMMITTEE
en- Reads and Internal Navigation, Mr.
Uestop. chairman. provides that there siia'l
te for this State Board OF Railroad Com
missiouers, consisting OF three competent
psrsons. one Of whom shall De a man OF
.xper,nec in railroad matters. who shall
be elected by the joint vote Of the two
houses Of the General Assembly, and
whose term Of Office shall commence on
the ist day Of March. 1855. Their regular
term Of Office shalt be six years but OF
those frs. elected under this act one shall
bold office two years. one four years, and
one six years, so as 70 have an election OF
one Of said commissioners every two years.
One Of the members OF the said board. to
be designated by the General Assembly,
shall be the president thereof. and shall at
tend regularly at the Office OF the said
board during business hours, when not
elsewhere engaged upon bis Official bust
ness, and shall be specially charged with
the business and duties OF the board, in
Guiding the collection OF statistics and in
formation, attention TO correspondence,
investigation, and other like matters.
The board shall have general supervision
Of all railroads in this State operated by
steam, and shall examine the same and
keep themselves informed rs 10 the condi-
ton Of all such railroads, and especially rs
n. fs.t A.
section of this act, ne follows:
10. The said board shall, by an eXanlDa-
ton made by one or more OF its members,
or by snch other information as IL may be
in their power 10 obtain. ascertain and keep
themselves informed rs 10 the following
matters:
First. The physical condition OF every
such railroad Gncluding ITS road-bed. track,
bridges, and other structures), with refer.
cncc 10 the safety and convenience Of the
public using the same.
Second. The condition and amount OF its
rolhng-stock and equipments. and whether
ibe same is sufficient and OF such ch9rac-
ter az 10 afford reasonable and safe accom-.
modaiions 10 the public and people along
It's line in the matter OF freight aud passen.
ger traffic.
character OF IFS stItiOns and depOls. their
distance from each other, and whether they
are so located, constructed, and managed
az 10 afford reasonable and convenient ac-
cOmmodations TO the public and people
along It's line.
Fourth. Whether or not any Of the rates
charged by such corporation, in any Of its
freight or passenger business. upon its line,
af q
discriminating, unreasonable, or eXtorIioD-
ate.
Fifth. Whether or not two railroads,
which from their location might conye-
niently connect with each other. do so
connect, and whether connecting lines of
railroads are so arranged and mlnaged a.
to properly promote the interest aud con-
yenience OF the public. either q TO time
tables or otherwise.
Sixth. Whether any such corporation
does OF docs not transport with reasonable
pTomptness freight entrusted TO IT.
Seventh. Whether it acts unreasonlbly
or unjusily towards the public, or towards
pcOple residing along the line. in any oi is
transactions or operations.
Eighth. Whether it does Of does not
take proper precautions in :he running OF
its trains for the safety and convenience Of
tle public or Of the people along its line,
or for the protection Of their property.
Ninth. Whether or not every snch cor
poratiOn complies or has complied with the
provisions OF its charter, and with the gen
eral laws Of the commonwealth applicable
10 such corporations.
II the board shall be of opinion that there
il any cause OF complaint against such cor
poralion or corporations which should be
investigated, or that any change, atcra-
ton, or improvement should be had in
reference 10 any Of the matters above spe-
Gifted. they shall axe a special eXamina-
lion Of the same. after having first given
notice, in writing. 10 such corporation or
corporations.
II. The Mayor or Council or trustees OF
any town or city, or the Judge or board OF
SUPERVISORS OF any county, or twenty
voters and ireeholderS OF any county or
city, certified TO be such by the clerk or
Judge OF the county or corporation court
thereof, may make complaint and applica-
ton in writing TO said board in reference TO
any OF the matters specified in the preccd-
ing section. and thereupon the said board
shall make a special examination a. aiore'
said OF the matters complained OF, after CIV
inc notice as aforesaid.
II. II upon any special examination men
toned in the two preceding sections, tut
board Is Of opin vi that any cause OF com
plaint exists against any such corporation
or corporatIOns. they shall 80 adiudgc
and shall give notice thereof to sucl
corporation or corporations. together
with any changes, alterations. notifications
improvements. or precautions recon-
mended 10y them. n such corporation oi
CORPORATIONS shall fail or neglect TO comply
with any such adjudication or recon-
mendation Of the board within sixty day
after notice thereof shall have been given
the board shall report such adjudication
and recommendations. with their rcison
therefor, to the next meeting Oi the Gene
raj Assembly. and with such report ats
recommend such legislation, If any may b'
needed. TO correct The cause OF complaint
OF if the cause of complaint bc such matter
%, NAV he passed upon and corrected bl
the court. Of the Commonwealth, unde
existing laws. they shall report the facts o
the case TO the AuOrney-Gcnerdl. or othel
officer of the state whose duty IT may be L
institute proceedings in the matter. ana h'
shall take such steps ~ may he Necessary
To protect the interest Of the Common
wealth, Or remove or correct the cause o
complaint. or punish or correct any viola
ton Of any statute or law Of the state.
10. But il any such adjudication >hal
| decide that The rates charged by any sucl
CORPORATION for the transportation ot IN.
! freight or passengers between two point
upon It's line in the state are uniustly di,
| eliminating aS compared with it, rates 10
| 4 like class OF ireights or passengers be
| tween other points in the state, then th
| said board snail further ascertain and n
| what would Dc Just and reasonable rates I
| be charged for the transportation OF sue
| freight or passengers between the point
| as 10 which the discrimination j. decide'
| to exist; and, II after the lapse Of ten day
| from the date OF such ADJUDICATION. sue
| corporation shall charge 4 greater rate bt
! tween such points than that 80 hXed an
ascertained for such passengers an
| ireghis. then ii shall be guilty OF misdc
meanOr and fined not les. than one hundre
dollars, nor more than five hundred dot
| lars for each charge IN excess OF The rate :
| liked: and such offence shall be cOgniI1Dl
| and presentmcnt or indictment thereto
found either in the county CT corporate
| from which. or TO which, such passenger
or freight may have been transported
And the president OF said board shall. o
application OF any justice, commonwealth
attorney. or cOnrt OF the Commonwealth
furnish certificate OF any rates 20 hNe
and asccrtaiued by the board. and hi> cci
tlticate OF The same signed by him shall b
evidence OF the facts therein stated wlthou
| proof Of his handwriting.