The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-19

require: Provided That the clerk of said
| commission shall remain at the Office at the
| Capital and receive all official communica-
! tions. unless he shall be, by order of the
commission in attendance at other. ses-
sions not held at the Capital. as herein
provided for.
SEQ. IL. Be it further enacted. That all
money paid out under this act shall be paid
on warrant of the Auditor to the Treasurer,
as by law provided, including such sum as
may be necessary to procure office furni-
| ture, stationary and other office expenses,
including rent of Office of said commlssioni
provided, such Office expenses and rent
shall not exceed five hundred dollars per
annum; and also all actual transportation
| expenses of the commissioners and clerk
| SEC. =. Be IT further enacted, That every
person or corporation operating a railroad
| in this State shall furnish the said commits
sion with all the information required rela-
| tive to the management of their respective
! lines, and particularly with copies of all
| leeases contracts and agreements for trans :
portation with express, sleeping car, or
other companies to which they are parties.
Sec ID. Be it further enacted. That
every railroad company shall, within TWEEN
/ ty-foar hours after the occurrence of any
accident to train, attended with serious
| personal injury, on any portion of its line
within the limits of this State, give notice
of the same to the Railroad Commissioners
who, upon information of such accident
may repair or dispatch one or more of
| their number to the scene OF said accident
and inquire into the facts and cireumstan-
ces thereof, which shall be recorded in the
minutes of their proceedings, and enabrac-
ed in their annual report.
| SEC. IA. Be it further enacted. That the
commission shall make annual reports to
! the Governor on or before the first day OF
January IN each year, for transmition to
| the Legislature, of their doings for the
year ending on the 50th day of September
next preceding, containing such facts as
will disclose the actual working of the
railway system in this State, and such sug-
gestions as to the general railroad policy of
tie State as may seem to them appropriate.
| SEC. Is. Be it further enacted, That it
shall he theduty of every railroad compa-
ny or person operating a railroad in this
State, to make quarterly returns of the
business of said railroad to the Railroad
| Commission of Mississippi. which returns
shall embrace all the receipts aud expendi-
lures of said railroad, and to be made ac-
| cording to forms furnished by the said Rail
road Commissioners for that purpose.
SEC. I6. Be it further enacted, That the
quarterly returns herein provided shall be
ma lie as aforesaid within thirty days after
the end of each quarter to which they relate,
! and any railroad company, or persons op-
Grating any railroad in this State, which
| shall fail or refuse to make the quarterly
returns, as provided for in this act, shall
forfeit to the State of Mississippi fifty
dollars for every day of such refusal or
neglect.
Sec. II. Belt further enacted, That the
said quarterly returns shall be sworn to by
one or more officers of said company, or of
the persons operating said railroad, who
| has knowledge of their truth, and any per
son knowingly swearing falsely to any
statement in any of said quarterly reports
shall be guilty of perjury.
Sc. is. Be it further enacted That it
shall be the duty of the commissioners to
inspect the depots of the railroads operat-
ed i'll this State, and see that at least one
comfortable and suitable reception room
is provided at each depot for the use and
accommodation of persons desiring and
| awaiting transportation over their line:
and any railroad company failing or refus-
ing to provide such room, after sixty days
notice from the commissioners to provide
not less than fifty dollars for each day they
so fail or refuse to provide such room; and
said railroad company shall keep at al
times in such reception rooms bulletin
| board, which shall show the time of the
arrival and departure of trains and when
any passenger train, or other train for
transporting passengers is delayed, notice
! of same shall be made on said bulletin
! board for the information of passengers.
| stating as nearly as can be ascertained the
extent of the delay and probeble time of
| arrival.
! SEC. 10. Be it farther enacted, That the
! determination of every matter by said com
| mission shall be i'll writing, and proof
thereof shall be made by copy of the
same, duly certified to by the clerk of said
commission; and whenever any matter has
| been determined by said commission, in
the course Of any preceding before it re-
Iating to the regulation or supervision of
any railroad in this State, and coming
within the jurisdiction of such commission,
proof of the fact of such determination,
| duly certified as aforesaid. shall he received
in all the courts of this State, or before
any officers thereof, in all civil cases, as
prinld tdcie evidence that such determine
ton was right and proper; and the record
of the proceedings of said commission
shall be deemed public record, and shall,
at all reasonable times, be subject to the
inspection of the public.
Sec. 20. Be it further enacted, That said
commission or any one of said commission
ers may, in the discharge of any of the
duties imposed upon them by this act, ad-
minister oaths, take affdavits, and summon
and examine witnesses under oath, in all
matters coming before them; and if any
person shall testify falsely, or make any
false affidavit or oath, before said COM
mission, or before any of said commits
sioners, or before any officer, to any m tier
coming before said commission, he shall
be deemed guilty of perjury, and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished ac-
cording to law.
Sac. 81. Be it further enacted, That all
summons for witnesses to appear before
said commission, or before any one or
more of said commissioners, and notices to
persons or corporations shall be issued by
one of said commissioners, and be directed |
to any sheriff, constable or marshal of any |
city or town, who shall execute the same in |
his bailiwick. and make due return thereof |
as directed therein, under the penalties
prescribed by law for a failure to execute
and return the process of any court; and il
any person, duly summoned to appear
and testify before said commission, or be-
fore any one or more of said commission
ers. shall fail or refuse to appear and testi-
~ without lawful excuse, or shall refuse
to answer any proper question PROFOUND
ed to him by said commission or any of
said commissioners, or if any person shall
obstruct said commission, or one or more
Of said commissioners, in the discharge of
duty, or shall conduct himself in a rude,
tlsrespectful or disorderly manner before
Sald commission or any one of them de-
iberating in the discharge of duty. such
person shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
neaneF. and, upon conviction thereof,
'hall be fined not less than fifty nor more {
han one thousand dollars.
SEC. %. Be it further enacted. That wit
lesses summoned to appear before said
commission shall be entitled To the same
Der diem and mileage as witnesses attend
ng circuit court; and witnesses summoned
~ said commission on its behalf shall be
1aid out of the State Treasury, on war
ants to be drawn by the Auditor upon
he certificate of the commission showing
he amount and items thereof, to which 4
UGH witness may be entitled; and witness Q
$ summoned for any railroad shall be
'ald by such railroad.
SEC 70. Be it further enacted, That if 2
ny railroad company, or person. or cor
'oration operating any railroad in this Q
tate, shall violate any of the proyis- I
ons of this Act, or the tariff of charges as
xed by such commission, such company, Z
erson or corporation shall be liable to q
enalty of five hundred dollars for each
lolation not otherwise provided for; and =
lch penalty may be recovered By an ac- =
on to be brought in the name Of the State
Mississippi, IN any county where such e
lolatign may occur, or injury or wrong be ~
One. Tbs commission shall institute such
stion through the District Attorney Of the OF
roper district, and no such suit shall be an
smissed without the consent of the court VI
Id Of fsaid commission; and if any Dis
let Attorney shall neglect for thirty days,
ter notice. to bring any such suit. the Oo
lmmission may direct some attorney at g
v Is hsilc the same and his fee therefor &c
All he fIred IN. f5aa rssurf and shall not ex-