The clarion., 1885-01-14
Passage of the Interstate Commerce
Bill In the House.


The bill to regulate interstate COM
nerce and to prohibit unjust discrimi-
nations and extortion by railroad COM
1anIes, has passed the House. The ma
ority was very large-yeas l6l, nays
70. We note that members who at
tempted to defeat the bill by obstructive
amendments under pretense of improv-
ing it, voted for it on its final passage, |
under pressure of strong public senti- 1
ment Several members who have ad-
vocated a commission waived their pref /
erence on that subject for the present, |
in view of the fact that a change of ad-
ministration is soon to occur, and that
to establish a commission at this session
would give the appointment OF the
Board to the retiring President. The
friends of the commission will doubtless
renew the question hereafter under more
favorable auspices; and that feature
added to the house bill will make it well
nigh perfect.
The important features Of the bill are
that it shall b3 unlawful for a person or
persons, engaged alone or associated
with others in the transportation OF
property by railroad, or by pipe line or
lines, from one State or Territory to or
through one or more other States or Ter
ritories Of the United States, or to or
from any foreign country, directly or
indirectly, to charge to or receive from
any person or persons any greater or less
rate or amount of freight compensation
or reward than is by him or them
charged to or received from any other
person or persons for like and contem-
poraneous service in the carrying, re-
ceiving, delivering, storing or handling
Of the same Charges shall be reason
able, facilities and accommodations foi
passengers shall be equal, color shall not
be Disseminated against, though to pro
vide separate accommodations with equa
facilities shall not be considered dis
elimination. Fares shall not exceed
three cents a mile. Expedition in trans
portation shall be equal.
Section , prohibits rebates ond draw
backs.
Section 3 prohibits combinations t,
prevent continuous carriage from place
of shipment to destination, whethe
carried on one or several railroads, al,
prohibits pooling"
Section prohibits charging more fc
short than long haul.
Section requires that schedules shal
be kept posted, which shall state tn
rates freight aud prices of carriage be
tween all points.
Section gives triple damages, togethe
, with counsel fees, to any person who's
. property is injured through violatio
= of the provisions of the ACT and provide
: methods for obtaining evidence. A
actions for damage must be brongh
p within one year after the party con
planning shall have come te a knowledg
of his right of action. Courts sha
2 have power to compel railroads to tram
J port property where delay would lie il
: furious. Actions brought in State court
: shall not be removed to any Unite
States court.
Section provides a penalty of nc
! more than $4,000 for wilful infractio
2 Of the provisions of the act.
= Section provides that nothing in thi
act shall apply to The carriage, receiving
storage, hauling or forwarding Of proE
: erty within one state and not shippe
, from or destined to some foreign cour
} try or other State or Territory, nor sha
it apply to property carried for th
United States at lower rates Of freigh
and charges than for the general public
or to the transportation of articles FIRE
or al reduced rates Of freight for char
table purposes, or to or from public fair
and expositions for exhibition.
Section 10 provides that the word
'person or persons" AS used in this &C
except where otherwise provided, sha
be construed and held to mean perso
or persons, officer or officers, corporatio
or corporations, company or companies
receiver or receivers, trustee or trustees
lessee or lessees. agent or agents, or othe
person or persons acting or engaged /
any of the matters and things mcntione
= in this act.