Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-14
yBErsTER.sTArE COMMERCE. BILL
Pa, sed By the Senate and Sent 10 the
House.
WAcuINcToN Nav 10 -The Hblll

WASHINGTON, May l2.-The "bill
TO regulate commerce known as the chi
lon bin as amended and passed 10y the
senate provides fora commission OF I'e per
sors 10 be appointed by the President. by
and with the advice aud consent OF tne
senate to carry out the purpose OF the bill
zach commissioner Is 10 nave q salary OF
81 500 per year. The secretary appointed
by the commission gets $500 per year.
The principal Office OF the commission VIII
lie al Washington where the general SIS
siohs are TO be held; bat special sessions
may be bed elsewhere TO suit the puolic
convenience, in which case tue necessary
expense Incurred IS 10 be paid IRON tne
Treasury. Tie first com mlssloners appoint
I'd shall hold flee tor the term oftW0, inree,
four five. and six years respectively, the
term OF each TO be designated by the Presl-
dent. heir SUCCESSORS however, To hOld Tor
xix years each.
Not more than three OF the five shall be APP.
pointed from the same political party. All
persons holding stock or bonds OF any COM
mon carrier, or holding official relations TO
such corporations, are declared ineligible
for appointment as cOmmiSsloDers' VINO
must not engage in any other business
The commission Is given authority 10 IN.
auire into the business and management
OF all common carriers subject 10 the PROV,
s!oDs OF the bill. and be able TO Obtain Iuh
and complete information as 10 sucn nlsl-
ness may REQUIRE the attendance ana tes-
timony Of witnesses and the product ion OF
all books, papers, agreements tariffs,
and documents relating 10 any matter
under nyestigation, ana may 10 tnst
end invoke the aid OF the United States
courts. Persons having complaints TO make
against any common carrier shall make
complaint in writing 10 the commission.
The ommission shall send the cohplalht
TO the common carrier ana require eltner
satisfaction Of the complaint or an answer
in writing within reasonable time 70 De
specified. IL reparation be net made Within
the time stated the commission shall lnVes'
tigate the complaint. The commission
stall also investigate all complaints Tor
varded To IL by any state commissions. ana
may institute Inquiries on It's own motion.
Complaints shall not be dismissed because
OF the absence OF direct damage 10 the
complainant.
writing and shall include the findings OF the
fact on which IL 10 based and recon men:
dalton as TO what reparation, II any, shouiu
be made by the common carrier 10 Inc ln-
iured party. and such findings shall De
deemed primd-J Gcie evidence In all Judi
ciai proceedings. Whenever any com
mon carrier shall refuse TO obey any
lawful order OF the commission IL snall
I've the duty OF the commissioners 10 apply
10 the United states Circuit Court sit
ting in equity alleging such violation;
and the court shall hear and determine the
matter on short notice, and without tue
formal proceedings OF ordinary suits but
as 10 90 lustlCt, tic Ohh@ iA"S 50
proper cases issue writs Of injunction, or
other process mandatory or otherwise, 10
restrain further violation OF the orders
of the com M ission on the part OF the com
mon carrier offending. For sucn purposes
the circuit courts shall be deemed always
in session. The bill requires that ell charges
for any service In Transporting passengers
or freighis or storing goods by common
carriers shall be reasonable. IL prohibit
all rebates and drawbacks. and all unjust
discrimination, requiring that all persons
shall be charged and treated alike for servf-
cea rendered under substantially similar
circumstan ces and conditions. Every com
mon carrier subject TO the bill shall. within
sky DAYS after II becomes y law. die with
the ommissioner copies OF oil It's tariffs
OF fares and freight, including Its
clsssifications and terminal charges,
and shall make them public 10 far
as the commission may deem prac
ticable. No advance on such published
rates shall be made without ten days pub
lie notice. Tho long and shor t-hauls clase.
being section OF the bill. reads a. follows:
THAT Il shall be unlawful for any common
carrier to charge or receive any greater
compensation In the aggregate for the
transportation Of passengers, or OF VI Ike
class and quantity OF property. subject
10 The provlsions OF the oct for shorter
line, In the same direction aud nom the
Same original point of departure or ~
the aeme poipt OF arrival; but this
shall not BE- construed a. authorizing any
common carrier. within tho ter ms OF this
act. TO charge and receive - 9rsAt .
com penaation for shorter - for > longer
diatsrcos I1ovide4, however, that upon