The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-02-12
Synopsis of the Senate Interstate Com
X merce Bill as Passed.

MERGE Dill as
II WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-As passed by
/ the senate, the interstate commerce
bill provides for a commission, to be
composed of nHne members, one from
each judicial circuit of the United
states, to hold Office for six years,except
that of the first appointed three shall
hold Office for two years only, and three
others four years only, vacancies to
be filled by the president. Not more
than five of the commissioners shall be-
long to one political party. The
tiles of the commission are defined to
be to exercise the powers and duties
granted in the bill pertaining to the
methods and regulating the operation
of all transportation companies engaged
in inter. state commerce, and to take
into consid Grafton and investigate all
the various questions relating to COM
merce between the states, especially the
matter of transportation, so far as may
be necessary to establish a just system
of regulations for their government.
The salary of the commissioners is
fixed at $500, and they are authorized
to appoint secretary at $3,5OO.
All the necessary travelling expenses
are to be paid by the, government, and
mission to be paid the usual foes. The
commission has power to send for per-
sons and papers, to administer oaths
and to REQUIRE the production OF all
books, papers, contracts and documents
or property, or certified abstracts there
of relating to the matter under con-
sideration. 1t is authorized to require
interstate transportation companies
to furnish annual, reports,givin full in
formation as to their financial condition,
the cost of the property, the number and
salaries of employees, etc. 1t shall re-
port annually to the secretary OF the In
terior, and the commission shall during
the first year investigate and report on
the subject of maximum and minimum
charges, pooling, watering OF stocks,
unjust discrimination, etc, The most
important sections OF the bill are IN SUD-
stance as follows:
Sec. 3 If any transportation COM
pany engaged in Interstate commerce
shall collect more than a reasonable
rate of compensation for the transporta-
ton or handling Of freight, said COM
pany will be deemed guilty of extortion,
which is declared a misdemeanor.
pany engaged in Interstate
Commerce, shall by rebate,
or other device, charge any person
greater compensation than another for
like service, or shall neglect or refuse to
furnish the same facilities tor the carri-
age, the handling of freights to one per-
son, that is at the same time furnished
any other person under similar circum.
stances, such company shall be deemed
guilty of unjust discrimination, which
Is declared a misdemeanor.
Sec. 5. Provides that If com plant is
made to the commissioners, charging
any TRANSFORMATION company with ex-
tortion or unjust discrimination, the
company shall have q reasonable time
to answer the charge, and If 1t makes
reparation for the injury done and the
complaint is withdrawn, the case shall
be dismissed. Ifthe company shall not
satisfy the complainant within areason-
able time, and IL shall appear that the
charges made are true, the commission
shall notify the company to discontinue
the practice complained o. and pay
complainant the damages fixed by the
commission.
Sec. 6. Provides that If any transpor-
tation company engaged in interstate
commerce shall refuse TO pay the DAM
ages assessed and to desist from further
Violation Of this act, the commission
shall certify the facts to. the United
States district attorney, whose duty II
shall be to commence proceedings TO re-
cover damages assessed, or TO compel
the ronrra7v 10 comply with the pro
visions OF the act, and the oircnit court
of the United States shall have jurisdic-
ton 10 try the cause without regard TO
the citizenship Of the parties. In
case of failure to recover, COM