The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-05
THE AMENDED BILL.
rnE 1NrEn srArE COMMERCE pILl
a. Passed by the ssaa,e-1he commission
Msasuro-The Provisions of the Dlli and
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WASHINGTON, D. O., Feb. 4.-As passed
by the Senate the Interstate Commerce
bill provides for commission to be COM
posed OF nine members, one from each ju.
dicial circuit Of tte United States to hold
office for six years except that OF those
first appointed. Three shallhold office for
two years only and three others four years
only, the vacancies to DO Glled by the
President. No more than five commits
sioners shall belong TO one political party.
The duties Of the Commission are defined
to be to exercise tho powers and
duties granted by the bill "per-
tanning to methods and regulat-
ing the operation OF oil Transports
ton companies engaged in interstate
commerce." and take into consideration
and investigate all the various questions
relative to commerce between States,
especially the matter OF transportation so
far as may be necessary TO establish Just
system ofregulations for the Govefnn ent:
The salary Of the Commissioners is fixed
ut s. 500, and they are authorized to ap:.
point a secretary at salary OF $500, all
necessary travelling expenses to be paid
by the Government, and the witnesses
summoned before the Commission to be
paid the usual fec.
+ rowHR OF THE COMMISSION.
The commission has power to send for
persons and papers, to administer oaths
and to require the production Of oil books,
papers, contracts and documents or prop
erly certified abstracts there~f relative
to ilie matter under consideration. 1t is |
authorized to require that all interstate
transportation companies furnish annual
reports, giving full information as to their
Financial condition, cost OF property, mum
Der and salaries OF employees, &c.
1t shall report annually to the Secre-
tary OF the Interior. The Commission
shall during the first year investigate and
report on the subject OF the maximum
and minimum charges, posting, water
ling" stocks, unjust discrimination, &c.
The most important section Of the bill are |
in substance rs follows:
SECTION 3. II any transportation COM
pany engaged in Interstate commerce
shall collect more than reasonable rate
of compensation for transportation or
handling freight, said company shall be
deemed guilty OF extortion, which is de-
clared ihisdemeanor.
SEC !. II any transportation company
engaged in interstate commerce shall by
greater compensation than another for
| aI,nu rtaalnnt Nr PafttGn t0 i
furnish the same facilities for carriage and
handling freights 10 one person that is at
tho same time furnished any other person
under similar circumstances, such COM
pany shall be deemed guilty OF unjust dis
elimination, which is declared misde'
meanor.
OTHER PENALTIES.
SEc. 8 provides that il complaint is made
to the commission charging any company
with cxtortion or unjust discrimination
the company shall have reasonable time
TO answer tho charge and II 1t make re-
paration for the Injury done and the COM
plant is withdrawn the case shall be dis
missed. II the company shall not satisfy
the complaint within reasonable time,
and 1t shall appear that the charge
is true the commission shall
notify the company TO discontinue
the practice complained OF. and pay the
complainant the damages fixed by the
commission.
Section six provides that II any company
engaged in Interstate commerce shall re-
fuse 10 pay the damages assessed, and to
| desist from further violation Of the act the
commission shall certify the facts to the
United States District Attorney, whose
duty II shall be to commence proceedings
TO recover the DAMAGES or to compel the
company to comply with the act, and the
Circuit Court OF the United States
shall have jurisdiction to try
the cause without regard 10 the
citizenship OF the parties. In case
OF u failure to recover, the complainant
shall pay the costs OF the suit, attorneys
fee excepted. Any transportation com.
pany convicted under the act shall pay for
eaCh oiEense fine not exceeding 81 900,
aud il any such. company shall refuse TO
give information or produce books ETC., 1t
shall, upon conviction, be fined not to OK.
ceed 81 900 for each ofense. ANY such
company, or any person or persons vio-
lating the provisions OF the act or obstruct-
ling tile provisions thereof, shall, upon con-
yiction, be fined not exceeding $1,000.
JURISDICTION OF TIE COMMISSION.
The route Of any transportation COM
pany is, by the bill, made to include all
railroad and water routes OF the country,
and tho term Transportation company" is
defined to mean any corporation or in
dividual owning, operating or using any
railroad or any vessel, in whole or in part,
or having right to use the same, pro-
yiled such company or individual is en-
gagged in the transmission OF freight from
one State toanother, whether by oil rail
or part rail and part water.
! The commission is also made appli.
Cableto all transportation companies not
wholly water companies carrying freight
from one place in the United States
through any foreign territory to any other
place n the United States or to any place
outside OF the United States. All rights,
actions and remedies already secured by
law arc continued in force.
The bill being in its present form sub
stitutc for the House bill, 1t now goes to
the House.
), HoADLY,s NE6LIGENoE
Causes the Whole Trouble Concerning Gen.
i D.. nas