The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-13


Msaa Potnss 81 the Interstate Connsrssl
Dip - Passed ~ the Ssnats.
WASHINGTON, February k-The Intsz.
State Commerce bill having bsen amended
somewhat IN Committee Of the Whole. was
reported 10 the Senate and passed Yeas,
4S; nays, IL. As passed by the Senate. The
Interstate Commerce bill provides for .
Commission to Be composed Of members
one from each judicial circuit Of the United
States to hold ONCE for six yeags except
that Of those first appointed three shall
hold Once two years only, and three others
four years only, vacancies to. be filed BY
the President. Not more than FIVE Commits
sioners shall belong to one political party.
The duties of the Commission are defined
to exercise powers and duties granted BY
the bill pertaining to methods and regu-
latiny the operation of all transportation
companies engaged in interests COM
merce," and to take into consideration and
investigate all the various questions relat-
ing to commerce between the States, espe-
cially the matter OF transportation so far a.
1t may be necessary to establish just sys-
TEN of regulations for government The
salary of the Commissioners is fixed at
$500 and they are authorized to appoint .
Secretary at $500. All necessary travel
ing expenses are to be paid by the Govern
ment and witnesses summoned before the
commission to be paid the usual fees. The
commission has power to send for persons
and papers, 70 administer oaths and to TO
quire the production of all books, papers,
contracts and documents, or properly certi
fed abstracts thereof, relating to the matter
under consideration. 1t is authorized to re-
quire interstate transportation companies
to furnish annual reports giving full inf0r-
nation as to their financial condition, cost
of property, number and salaries of en-
ployes, ETC., etc. 1t shall report annually
to the Secretary Of the Interior. The COM
mission shall during the first year investigate
and report on the subject of maximum and
minimum charges pooling, watering stocks,
unjust discrimination, etc. The most i'm
portant sections of the bill are in substance
as follows:
Sec. 8. II any transportation company en-.
gagged in interstate commerce shall collect
more than q reasonable rate of compen-
sation for transportation or handling freight,
said company shall be deemed guilty of ex-
Sec. 4. II any transportation company en-
gagged in Interstate commerce shall by
rebate or other device charge any person q
greater compensation than another for Ike
service, or shall neglect or refuse to furnish
the same facilities for carriage and handling
of freights to one person that is at the Same
time furnished any other person under simi-
lar circumstances. such company shall be
deemed guilty of unjust discrimination,
which Is declared q misdemeanor.
Section 8 provides that If complaint is
portation company with extortion or unjust
discrimination, the company shall have
reasonable time to answer the charge, and IL
make rePafasion OF the in mn zone ana "a
dismissed. II the company shall not satisfy
complainant within reasonable time and It
shall appear the charges made are true. the
commission shall notify the company to dis
continue the practice complained of and pay
complainant damages fixed by the commits
sion
ton company engaged in Interstate COM
merce shall refuse to pay damages assessed
and do not desist from further violation of
the act, the commission shall certify
the facts TO the United States District
Attorney, whose duty it shall be to COM
mence proceedings to recover the damages
assessed. and to compel the company TO corr
ply with the provisions OF the act and the
Circuit Court of the United States shall nave
jurisdiction to try the cause without regard
to the citizenship of the parties. In case OF
the costs of the suit, attorney s fees excepted.
Any transportation company convicted I'M
der the act shall paw for each offence fine
not exceeding $1,000, and If any such COM
pany shall refuse to give information. or
produce books, etc., shall upon conviction
be fined not to exceed 1900 for each offense;
and such company, or any person or persons
violating the provisions Of the act. or at.
tempting to obstruct the provisions thereof
shall upon conviction be fined not to exceed
$1,000. The route of any transportation
company is by the bill made to in
clude all railroad and water. and the
routes of the company and the
term Transportation company" Is defined
to mean any Individual or corporation own
ing, operating or using any railroad or any
vessel. in whole or in part or having right
to use the same. providing Guch company OF
individual is engaged in the transportation
of freight from one State to another.whether
by all rail or part rail and part water COM
munication. 1t Is also made applicable to
all transportation companies not wholly
water route companies, carrying freights
from one place in the United states through
any foreign country to another place in the
United States, or from any place In the
United States to any place outside the
United States. All rights of action and rem
edies already secured by law are continued
in force. The bill being in its present form
q substitute for tine House bill, it now goes
to the House.