Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-22
INTERSTATE COMMEROE.
Synopsis OF tho Cullom Bill to Regulate
Interstate

Synopsis of the CullOm Bill to Regulate
Interstate Commerce.
The bill to regulate commerce known IA the
Cullom bill, a. amended and passed By the
! senate, provides for o commission CT Ave per.
sons, to be appointed by the president by and
With the advise and consent OF the senate, to
carry out the purpose of the bill. THIS princi-
pal flee of the commission is TO be at Wash
| ,pgton, where general sessions are to be held,
but special sessions may be held elsewhere to
suit public convenience, in which case the
necessary expenses ir CURED are to be paid
from the treasury. Not more than thre, Of
the five commissioners shall be appointed
from the the cams political party. All
persons holding stocks or bonds OF any
common carrier, or holding official relations
to such corporations, a.e declared in
eligible for appointment. rhe commissioners
must not engage In any o her business. The
commissioners are given authority to look in
to the business and mann OF all commo(
carriers, subject to the provisions OF the bill,
and to obtain full and complete information
as to such business. May require the attend
Gnce and testimony OF witnesses and the pro-
duction OF all books, papers, agreements,
tariffs and document relating 10 any matter
under investigation, snd may, TO that end, In
woke the aid OF the United States courts. Per.
sons having complaints TO make against any
common carrier (of interstate commerce)
shall make complaint In writing to the CON-
mission. The commission shall send the COM
plant to the common carrier and re-
quire either satisfaction OF the complaint or
nv onsyar Ia usritt,n ,r,+Itr o-o..o.tI H.
specified. Ii reparation is not made within
the time stated the commission shall investi-
gate the complaint. The commission shall
also investigate all complaints forwarded TO It
by state commissions, and may institute in
quiries on It's motion. Complaints shall not
be dismissed because Of absence OF direct
damage TO complainant. The reports Of the
commission shall be in writing, ard It's deci
sion shall be made prims facie evidence In A.
judicial proceedings. Whenever any com-
mon carrier ehall refuse 10 obey any lawful
order Of the commission 1t is made the duty
OF the commission to apply to the United
States circuit court, %sittirg In equity, alleging
the violation, and the court shsll hear and de-
termine the matter on short notice and with
out the formal proceedings Of ordinary suits,
but SO as to do justice, and the court nsy in
proper cases issue wri.s Of Injunction or
other process, mandatory or otherwise,
TO restrain further acts OF commission on the
part OF the common carrier offending. For
such purposes the circuit courts shall be
deemed always IA session.
The bill requires that all charges for any SER
vice In transporting passengers or fre!gh,s, or
sfpripU nn0Aa nv crtupaDp parr,aro phall Ia
reasonable. IL prohibits all rebates and draw
backs and all unjust discrimination, requiring
that all persons shall be charged and treated
alike for ~seryices rendered under substan-
TALLY similar circumstances and conditions.
Every con mon carrier subject to the bill shall
within sixty days after IL becomes a law file
with the commission copies OF all its tariffs or
fares and freights, including lis classiications
and terminal charges, and shall make them
pubic so far as the commission may deem
practicable. No advance on such published
rates shall be made without ten days public
notce.
The long and short haul clause, being Sec
ton 4 OF the bill, reads as follows. That it
shall be unlawful Tor any common carrier to
charge or receive any greater compensation In
the aggregate for the transportation OF pass
eagers, or OF the like class and quantity Of
property, subject TO tie provisions Of this act,
for q shorter than for q lorg distance over the
same line In the sauna dire ion, and from the
same original point OF de arturo, OF TO the
same point Of arrival; but Ills shal! not be
construed as authorizing any common carrier
within the terms OF this act TO charge and re-
ceive as great compensation foI a shorter as
for q longer distance; provided, however, hat
upon application to the commission appointed
under the PROVISIONS Of this act, such common
carrier may In special cases be authorized
to charge less for q lon er than for
a shorter distance for the transportation Of
passengers or property; the commission my
from time to time make general rules exempt
Ing such designated common carriers In such
special cases from the operation OF this section
Of this act; and when such exception shall
have been made and published they shall, un-
I'll changed by the commission or by law, hsve
like force and effect as though the same had
been specified In this section. Any CONNER
carrier who shall violate the provisions of this
act shall be deemed guilty OF extort!on, and
shall be liable to the person or pcrsous against
whom any such excessive charge was made,
for all damages occasloned by such violations.
The bill now now goes TO the house Of rep
rcsentatives Tor concurrence.