Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-09
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.

By the provisions of the bill it is made
unlawful for persons engaged 10 the trans
portation of property by railroad or pipe
line across State lines, or to or from any
foreign country, to charge more or less to
one person than is charged to any other for
like and contemporaneous service in the
carrying, receiving, delivering, storing or
handling of freight. All charges shall be
reasonable. A maximum passenger rate Of
three cents per mile Is prescribed, and Ike
treatneu and accommodation is to be ac-
corded 10 all persons holding tickets of the
sarte GLASS, and provided no discrimination
is made III regard to the facilities ard ac-
mmodations furnished, it shall be per-
| Missile to provide separate quarters for
persons of different races. Discrimina-
ton in the carriage, receiving, storage
or handling of freight is forbidden, and
| like expedition Is to be accorded to
all shippers; nor is it to be per-
mitted to prevent the carriage of freight
from being continuous from point of ship
ment TO destination by Intentional breaks or
stoppage, with the purpose of evading the
provisions of the act. Rebates, drawbacks
and other like provisions of published rates
are declared unlawful, as also the pooling Of
freights or the division Of the aggregate or
net proceeds of competing roads. 1t is also
forbidden to charge or receive more for the
TRANSFORMATION of freight for shorter than
q longer distance. Schedules are required
to bs posted by persons engaged in the car
rage Of property by rail or pipe line, stating
plainly the classes OF freight carried, the
places between which it is carried, the rates
of freight between such places and the
charges for all services connected with tine
RECEIPT, storage, delivery and handling OF
such freight These schedules are TO be
kept before the public at all places where
freight be received, and five days notice
must be given of contemplated changes OF
schedule nor will it be lawful to charge a
rate for the carriage Of freight other than
that specified in the posted schedule
The act is to apply ouly to interstate aud
not to State commerce, and is not
to apply to transportation by rivers,
canals or ordinary road wagons The
person suffering loss or damage from a
violation Of the act will have recourse to any
State or United States Court Of competent
jurisdiction, and if on account of any for
b dden act or omission to act on the part OF
tho railroad or pipe limo ho ins his suit, he
will receive as damages sum equal to three
times the amount OF the damage sustained.
IF the violation of the act can be shown to
have been willful tho court may allow TO
the party injured additional costs sufficient
to cover all his counsel and attorney fees
Any person engaged in the management OF
defendant railroad OF pipe line may be
required to produce books and papers and
to testify, esea if such evidence should tend
to criminate himself rs a participant in a
proceeding forbidden by the act. Circuit
and district courts of the United States are
empowered to issue writs Of mandamus
against violators Of the act at the request Of
any person alleging undue and unjust dis
elimination, and thus compel the carrier to
move and transport freight or furnish facl
ties for transportation. In the case Of
perishahle freight peremptory mandamus
may be issued. the complainant, however,
being required to give proper security for
the payment of freight charges The viola,
ton of the act is to be accounted INSIDE
NEAR :, and the person violating it shall, on
conviction, be ined not over $50 900. The
act does not apply to property carried for
the United States.