Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-04-25
THE CULLOM BILL
To be Reported to the Senate-PrOvis-
ions of the Bill.

The Senate railroad committee today, un-
animouslv decided to report the Cullom inter-
state commerce bill. 1t creates an interstate
commerce commission of five members to be
appointed by the President with the advice
and consent of the Senate; not more than
three of them shall be members of one polit-
ical party. The commission shall have the
supervision of all matters pertaining to the
regulation of commerce among the States
and territories, and the methods of operation
of all transportation companies engaged in
interstate commerce, and it is made the duty
of the commission to enforce the provisions
of the act by all lawful NJ within their
power. If any transportation company en-
gagged in inter state commerce shall demand
or receive in the transaction of business of
interstate more than reasonable compen-
sation. shall be deemed guilty of extortion :;
or if anv such company shall directly or in
directly by any rebate, drawback or other
device. collect or receive from any person a
greater compensation for any service it may
render in the transaction than it collects or
receives from any other person for like
service or if it neglects or refuses to furnish
equal facility, shall be declared guilty of un-
lust discrimination. Complaints of extor-
ton or unjust discrimination are to be invest
igated by the commission. If in case COM
plants are found to be founded. and the
companies refuse reparation or desist from
practice, the commission is required to GER
tify the facts to the district attorney of the
United States for the judicial district in
which the act complained of occurs, and it
shall be the duty of the district attorney at
the request of the complainant to forthwith
commence proceedings in the name of the
complaint as may be necessary to recover
any damages sustained by him; and in case
of failure to recover. the complainant shall
paw the costs of the suit. the attorneys fees
excepted.
ANY company convicted under the provis-
ions of the act either of extortion or unjust
discrimination, shall forfeit and pay for each
offence fine not exceeding $1,000. Any
companv that shall refuse or neglect to ms axe
such annual reports as the commission
require or that shall neglect or refuse to
answer any question or to produce any book,
papers. contract or document on property
certified or abstract thereof called for by the
commission in making Investigations, shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and on
conviction shall be fined not exceeding $1,000
for each offence.
Each commissioner shall receive an ann ual
salary of $500. and shall appoint a secretary
who shall receive an annual salary of $500.
In making an Investigation the commission
is armed with power to require the attendance
of witnesses, administer oaths. and require
the product of all books, papers, contracts
and documents on property certified or alb
stracts thereof relating to any matter under
investigation, and is authorized TO conduct
Investigations in any portion of the United
States. The sum Of s60. 900 is appropriated
for the use and purposes of the act for the
present and next fiscal years.