The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-01-22
srNArE-1t was agreed that all bills relating


ii aldermen in Minneapolis; by Senator Ser
geant, appointing board Of railroad com.
missioners and dividing roads into three
classes according to gross earnings per
mile; by Senator Waite, for an addition
al judge in the Seventh judicial district;
Senator Crosbys bill on chattel mortgages
provides for fling 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 Judgment, pending foreclosure upon
the deposit Of . suitable sum of money
Senator Sergeants bill prohibits the loan as
well as the exposure to view or sale of obscene
literature, and specifies the Police Gazette, Po-
lice News and Weeks no'ngs as such literature.
The penalty is imprisonment in the county Jail
for not more than three months or fine Of not
more than 500
By Senator Comstock, memorial to congress
for an adequate approvriation for the improve
nlent of the Red River of the North; BY Sena-
tor Crosby appropriating $2S, 100 for expenses
of state exhibit at New Orleans. A large petit
tionwas received praying the passage of Sena-
tor Morrlson's bill, providing fund for sick
and disabled firemen
The Crosby bill for maintenance of the
states exhibit at New 1rleans, to reimburse
those who have advanced money and to pay
for the return of the exhibits to the state, ap-
propriates $2S, 600 in all ft.
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 go, with the advice and
consent of the senate, shall, before March q,
1885, appoint two competent persons-one II
practicable to be civil engineer-to hold n e
for two and four years, respectively, from A Ill
], 1885. These persons, with the railroad COM
missioner, shall constitute board of railroad
commissioners The governor shall I'LL vacan-
cies No one owning railroad stocks or bonds or
In the employment of any railroad company
shall be eligible
Sec 9 These comma ssioners shall have gen.
eral supervision of all railroads in the state, in
vestigate complaints, examine roads, report on
bridges semi-anpualiy, shall inform railroad
companies of needed improvements, and report
upon the same yearly. The railroad companies
are not relieved of responsibility or liability.
Sec. 3. The commissioners shall make annual
reports to the governor on or before July 81,
each year. containing all information procurable
and of interest. Instructions as TO the report
are such as now obtain.1
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 800.
Sec s. Commissioners shall have their Offices
in the capitol. and receive salary of $1,000
each.
Sec. 6. Provides for oaths Of Office by commits
sioners and secretary
Sec T. Commissioners shall have power to ex-
interfering to be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Sec 8. Makes it the duty of any railroad, when
within its 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 reasona BILE dis
patch, and provide suitable facilities for receiv-
ing and handling the same; also to receive and
transfer the empty or loaded cars of any connect
ing rad, not to demand any greater compensa-
tion than that asked by such connecting road.
Sec. 8. Provides against discrimination in
oh aGro- oil pY,ic In al q ND
specials open to all the same rate per ton per
mile, unless by reason of extra cost of transport
tation to do so would be inequitable; and shall
charge no more for freightage from any point on
its line than fair and just proportion of the
price it charges for the same kind OF freight from
any other point.
shall charge an unreasonable price for the trans
portatiop of persons or property or for the
handling storing Of e" i.rNi f,r use OF cars.
To determine the just and equitable Oh argos, all
railroad companies, prior to May LIST. an there
after ~ the board of railroad commiss toner's
shall demand, must make thorough clas 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 q
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 he open to
view Of all shippers or others interested
V. l.
pooling their freight business.
Sec. IL. Provides that railroad companies
&c hs sses hs
lines; also, prohibits the grading Of wheat and
other grain In transit unless the shipper so de-
sires and notifies the railroad company. The
freight on any shipment. when shipped through
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 for
purchase or lease OF ground upon which to erect
ETC., must be acceptable to the board OF railroad
commissioners.
Sec. Is. All railroads shall be classified ac-
cording to the gross amount Of annual earnings
within the state. per mile. for the preceding
year, rs follows: Glass A, includes all roads
with gross earnings Of 81 600 or more per mile;
1000.
Sec IA The limit Of compensation for passen-
ger traffic tbaggage fixed at 100 pounds for each
cents per mile: Glass B, Gig cents: Class c, 4
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
sioners during the month OF June, each year;
penalty. 800 per day each day after expiration
of time for such report. The board shall notify
roads of any changes Of classification. The re-
port made last year 1854 to Railroad Commits
sioner Baker shall determine the first passenger
rate classification.
Sec. 16. Forbids the exposure or offer for sale
on trains OF obscene literature; penalty not less
than $50 nor more than 800.
Sec. IL. Provides for the removal, reapp0int-
ment, ETC., Of commissioners.
Sec. 49, Fixes the penalty of violation by the
railroad company at three times the amount Of
actual damage sustained. or Overcharges paid,
by the party aggrieved, together with costs Of
suit and reasonable attorneys fees. II unrea-
sonable charge Is made, the board OF commits
ball Ia md tn rns~
next report shall publish an account Of the over
charge extortiou.
Sec 10. Requires railroad companies to give
immediate notice to the commissioners Of any
accident on respective lines which causes per-
sonal injury loss of life, the commissioners to
investigate such accident and report in full to
and responsibility therefor. this investigation
not to serve as evidence or to be referred to in
any case in court.
Sec. 20. In case of failure to comply with law
on the part of any railroad company, twenty
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. 81. Gives the district courts Of the state
jurisdiction in all cases arising under this law,
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 occurringin the act.
Sec. 23. Nothing III 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 smitted by the
governor from the Mississippi river improve
ment commission to congress, was passed A
petition of citizens of Minneapolis for consti-
tutional amendment giving suffrage to women
was presented, and joint resolution for COM
mittee on joint action with Dakota on the grad
ing of grain laid over one day. Mr. Lineau pre-
sented resolutions endorsing Reagen bill, which
went over Bills we're introduced; Restoring the
railroad law Of 1884: permitting st. Paul Fire
and Marine to insure against hail and cyclone:
changing time of holding court in Seventh dis
trict; legallzing the incorpor alton of villages;
authorizing st Paul to bond herself in sum Of
$780, O0 for q bridge between Randolph and
Sherman streets, aud another increasing the
limit Of the cost of the Robert street bridge
from 420C, coo to $4O0, GOO; amending law re-
latng to the duties Of SHERIFF.; recommending
the election Of members to convention to re-
wise the constitution of the state.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Buriingsme, pro-
posing legislation for the governments Of rail-
roads, simply proposes to restore the law
oh fl,o cfa< r1&o fnj1rxuriS,n the