The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-12
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Main Points of the Interstate Commercs
Bib rs Passed by the Senate.

Main Points of the Interstate Commerce
Bib rs Passed by the Senate.
WASHINGTON, February 5.-The Inter-
State Commerce bill. having been amended
somewhat in Committee of the Whole, was
reported to the Senate and passed Yeas,
43; nays. II. As passed by the Senate, the
Interstate Commerce bill provides for q
Commission to be composed of members.
one from each judicial circuit of the United
States, to hold Office for six years except
that of those first appointed three shall
hold Office 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-
lating the operation of all transportation
companies engaged in inter state 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 as
it may be necessary to establish just SyS-
TEN of regulations for government The
salary of the Commissioners is fixed at
81, 500 and they are authorized to appoint
Secretary at 50, 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, TO administer 0aths and to re-
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 infor-
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. 3. If any transportation company en-.
gagged in Interstate commerce shall collect
more than a reasonable rate of compen-
sation for transportation or handling freight,
said company shall be deemed guilty of ex-
tOrtion which is declared a misdemeanor.
Sec. 4. If any transportation company en-
gagged in Interstate commerce shall by
rebate or other device charge any person a
greater compensation than another for like
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 SINH
lar circumstances, such company shall be
deemed guilty of unjust discrimination,
which is declared a misdemeanor.
Section 5 provides that if complaint is
made to the commission, charging any trans
portation company with extortion or unjust
discrimination, the company shall have
reasonable time to answer the charge, and il
It make PREPARATION of the injury done and
dismissed. If the company shall not satisfy
complainant within reasonable time and il
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.
Section provides that if any Transports
ton company engaged in interstate COM
merce shall refuse to pay damages assessed
and do not desst from further violation of
the act, the commission shall certify
the facts to the United States District
Attorney. whose duty il shall be to CON-
mence proceedings to recover the damages
assessed and 10 compel the company 10 COM
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
failure to recover the complainant shall pay
the costs of the suit, attorney g fees excepted.
ANY transportation company convicted I'M
der the act shall paw for each offence a 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 81, 900 for each ofense;
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 tho
term transportation company is defined
to mean any individual or corporation OWL
ing, operating or using any railroad or any
vessel, in whole or in part or having a right
to use the same, providing such cOmpan. or
individual is engaged in the transportation
of freight from one State to another, whether
by all rail or part rail and part water COM
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
Il substitute for the House BILL it now goes
to the House.