Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-01-23

ceding-but there was no quorum in either
house, and consequently no business was
transacted
SENATE-It WAS agreed that all bills relating
to transportation or grain inspection should be
printed as soon as possible. Bills were intro
duced: BY Senator Pillsbury, for addition,
ii aldermen in Minneapolis; by Senator Ser.
geant, appointing . board of railroad com.
m , and dividing roads into three
mile; by Senator Waite, for an addition
nj judge in the Seventh judicial district
Senator Crosby's bill on chattel mortgages
provides for filing the same with the register
Of deeds instead Of with the town clerk as
heretofore His bill for the redemption Of
real property is to provide for the protection
OF holders OF mortgages against any who may
secure a Judgment, pending foreclosure, upon
the deposit Of a suitable sum of money.
Senator sergeant's bill prohibits the loan as
well as tho exposure to view or sale OF obscene
literature, and specifies the Police Gazette, Po-
lice News and Weeks Doings as such literature.
Tho penalty is Imprisonment in the county jail
for not more than three months or a fine Of not
more than $780,
BY Senator Comstock, memorial to congress
ment of the Red River of the North; by Sena-
ter Crosby, appropriating $2S, GOO Tor expenses
of state exhibit at New Orleans. A. large petit
ton WAS received praying tho passage Of Sena.
tor Morrson's bill, providing fund for sick
and disabled firemen.
The Crosby bill for the maintenance of tho
states exhibit At New Orleans, to reimburse
those who have advanced money and to pay
for the return Of the exhibits to tho state, ap-
propriates $2s, coo in all.
Following is an abstract of the railroad
bill introduced by Senator Sergeant, and
taken, as he says, Some from Illinois, some
from New York, some from Massachusetts,
and some original"
Section l. The governor, with the advice and
consent Of the senate, shall. before March E,
1885, appoint two competent persons-one, If
practicable, to be civil engineer-t to hold office
!, 1885. These persons, with the railroad COM
missioner, shall constitute board of railroad
commissioners. The governor shall fill vacan-
cies.. No one owning railroad stocks or bonds or
in the employment Ut any railroad company
shall he eligible.
Sec 2 These commissioners shall have gen
eral supervision Of all railroads in the state, in
vestigate complaints, examine roads, report on
bridges semi-annually, shall inform railroad
companies Of needed improvements, and report
upon the same yearly. The railroad companies
Sec g. The commissioners shall make annual
reports to the governor on or before July 81,
each year, containing all information procurabIe
aud Of interest. instructions as to the report
are such as now obtain.
Sec 4. Provides that railway officers shall
give the commissioners, in such form as the lat
ter may prescribe, all information required,
under penalty of 500.
Sec 5. Commissioners shall have their Offices
in the capitol, and receive salary OF $4,000
each.
Sec g. Provides for oaths Of office by commits
sioners and secretary.
Sec T. Commissioners shall have power to ex-
anime books, papers and documents. any one
interfering to be guilty of misdemeanor.
Sec g. Makes 1t the duty Of any railroad, when
within it's power or on reasonable notice to fur
nish suitable cars to any person applying for
transportation for freight. and to receive and
transport such freight with all reasonable dis
patch, and provide suitable facilities Cor receiy-
ing and handling the same; also to receive and
transfer the empty or loaded cars OF any Connect
ing road not to demand any greater compensa-
ton than that asked by such connecting road.
Sec 3. Provides against discrimination IN
specials open to all the same rate per ton per
mile. unless by reason OF extra cost OF transpor-
tation to do 80 would be 1nequitabe; and shall
charge no more for freightage from any point on
its line than a fair and just proportion of the
price it charges for the same kind OF freight from
any other point.
Sec. 10. Provides that no railroad company
shall charge an unreasonable price for the trans
portation OF persons or property or for the
handling or storing Of freight. or for OF
TO determine the just and equitable CHI arges all
railroad companies, prior to May LIST, an there
after ~ the board of railroad commiss ioners
shall dema nd, must make thorough elias silica
ton Of freight and schedule Of freight charges,
the same to be approved by the board within
thirty days: or, If not so approved, the railroad
company to be notified and within ten days
new classification and schedule to be made by
the commissioners themselves. the latter to be
adopted by the railroad company In ten days.
Such schedule must be kept at all stations on
the line Of the road adopting it, and be open to
view Of all shippers or Others interested.
Sec. IL. Prohibits railroad companies from
pooling their freight business.
Sec H. Provides that railroad companies
shall make rates to the state line or the nearest
point thereto at which they connect with other
lines: also, prohibits the grading OF wheat and
other grain in transit unless the shipper 80 de-
sires and notifies the railroad company. The
to its destination, shall be fixed as low rs 1t
would be if ground in transit: provided, no
railroad company shall deny the right to build
and storing grain. The railroad company shall
not charge more to one person than another fot
purchase or lease OF ground upon which to erect
ETC., must be acceptable to the board OF railroad
commissioners.
Sec - All railroads shall be classified ac-
cording to the gross amount Of annual earnings
within the state, per mile, for the preceding
year, as follows: Glass A, includes all roads
with gross earnings of 81, 600 or more per mile;
Class B, $4,000 to $4,000: Glass c, less than
So, 900.
Sec. a. The limit of compensation for passen-
ger traffic (5aggage fixed at 100 pounds for each
person., according to class. shall be: Glass A.
cents; children under twelve years, half price,
and 10 cents additional when tickets are not
purchased and could have been.
Sec Is. Railroad companies must make sworn
reports of gross receipts to the board Of commits
sionsT drng ne the a W e5e Of asr
ef tims for such repcrt The Board shah notity
roads Of any changes OF classification. The re-
port made last year l18S4 to Railroad Commits
sioner Baker shall determine the first passenger
Sec IG, Forbids the exposure or offer for sale
on trains of obscene literature; penalty not less
than $50 nor more than 500.
Sec. II. Provides for the removal. reappolnt-
ment, etc. of commissioners.
Sec. 10. Fixes the penalty OF violation by the
railroad company at three times the amount OF
actual damage sustained or overcharges paid:
suit and reasonable attorneys fees. II unrea-
sonable charge Is made. the board OF commits
sioners shall fix a reasonable one. and in their
next report shall publish an account OF the over
charge extortion.
Sec. 10. Requires railroad companies to give
immediate notice to the commissioners OF any
accident on respective lines which causes per-
sonal injury or loss Of life, the mmissoners TO
investigate such accident and report in full to
the governor especially - to cause OF accident
and responsibility therefor, this investigation
not to serve as evidence or to be referred to in
5ny case In court
Sec 60 In case Of failure to comply with law
five citizens Of any city, town or village may
petition to the mayor or trustees, and they shall
lay the complaint before the board OF commits
sioners, who shall examine into the complaint
and redress grievances
Sec. 2l. Gives the district courts OF the state
jurisdiction in all cases arising under this law,
the attorney general to conduct the cases In be-
half Of the prosecution, he to engage reasonable
assistance.
Sec. o. Defines the meaning Of the word rail
road" and the meaning OF the phrase railroad
corporations" as occurrine,in the act.
Sec. "a. Nothing in the act shall be construed
to stop persons or corporations from bringing
suit against any railroad company for violating
any OF the existing laws governing such COM
panies.
HousE-A joint memorial, tran snlitted by the