Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-11
INTERSTATE COMMERCE,
Resgan's Bill-Governor Of Wyomfng
The Colin.Campbell Case
Cut Steamboat Rates.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
ReaSsn's l3ill for the Regulation Of RAN.
road Freight Charges.

WASHINGTON. December 9.-The confreres
upon Interstate commerce measures, pop.
nary known as the Reagan and Cullom
hills; reached an agreement to-day upon
the differences between the Senate and
the House. The report of the conference
committee will be presented as soon as it
can be prepared and signed, and it's adop-
ton will be asked at an early date. The
h;lls passed by the Senate and House pro.
nose different plans for the regulation Of
The interstate traffic OF the country, Both
nrobibit unjust discrimina tion between
persons and places, the giving Of special
rates and preferences, etc., as we'll as GER
tain other practices which are declared to
he unlawful. Both bills require railroads
to publish their rates and to adhere to
them when published. They did not differ
materially in the penalties provided for
The violation OF their general provisions.
but they differed widely in the methods
proposed for securing their enforcement.
HOUSE BILLS.
The House bills gives every shipper with
a grievance right of action in the State
and United States courts on his motion
and in his own behalf for recovery of
damages that he may have sustained with
a provision that reasonable attorney fee
should be allowed in every case OF re-
covery.
SENATE BILL.
The Senate bill did not prelude shippers
from nstituting such suits on their own
behalf but it provided Tor the creation OF
a commission which was required to iRves-
tigate all complaints made and to settle
them by arbitration if possible, and if not
to prosecute the case in the courts when it
finds that the shipper is entitled to re-
dress. The compromise which has been
agreed upon by the confreres propose to
put both these plans of regulation into
operation and retain the remedial features
OF both the bills. They will recommend
that the House agree to a commission, a |
system as it stands in Seaate bill, and the |
Senate agree to the provisions |
of allowing such shippers as may
suits for the recovery of damaees
in the United Seates court on their own BE-
half with the provisions that they shall |
not have the right to prosecute the remedy |
in the courts but through the commission.
Same case on the vexed and much debated
question OF the long and short haul,a com
promise has been agreed upon. The House
bill absolutely prohibits greater charge
ior shorter than for longer distances, which
includes shorter haul upon any one rail-
road.
PROVISION IN THE SENATE BILL
prohibited a greater charge for shorter
hauls than for the longer distances under
similar circumstances and
conditions from the same line, in the same
direction and from the original point of de-
parture or to the same point of arrival.
1t is also authorized to the commission to
make EXCEPTIONS to this general rule in any
special case, which it seemed proper to sub
,titute. The section agreed on to-day by
the conferer makes it unlawful for any
'aroad to charge for trans
,ortation OF passengers or of like
sind of property under substantially SIM
lar circumstances and conditions for
shorter than longer distance over the same
inc in the same direction, the shorter be-
ng included within the longer distance.
With proviso that in a special case, upon
he application, and that after an investi-
cribe the extent to which such railroad
ball be relieved from the operation of this
ection. The House bill contained an alb
olute prohibition of pooling, while the
senate bill provided for an immediate in
estigation by a commission of the Ques-
ion of legislation upon the subject. Upon
his point the Senate confreres have yielded :
nd accepted the provision of the House .
ill. The following is the provision in full
That it shall be unlawful for any COM
1on carrier subject to the provisions of )
his act to enter into contract, agree !,
lent or combination with any other COM
ION carrier or carriers for the pooling of /.
'eights OF different and competing rail-
Dads, SO as to divide between them the .
ggregate or net proceeds and earnings of
uch railroads, or any portion thereof, and /,
any case an agreement for the pooling
the freights aforesaid, each
ay OF it's continuance shall be :
eemed a separate offepse. Upon the :
ublicity OF dates there was no difference !
opinion. The House bill required each
abroad to publish and to adhere to it's
ates between points upon it's own line.
he Senate bill made it the duty OF the I
ommisson to alec enfore the publication
such through rates rs it may find poss-
lie to publish.
substitute has been agreed upon by
7hch each railroad is required to print :
Ind keep in every depot for the !!
Inspection of public rates it may estab- Il
ish between points upon it's own line, c
they are also required to file with the COM
Mission copies of all joint tariffs OF through =
ates to which they may be a party to the
is futher required to secure the
ublication of such through rates as far as {
nay be found practicable. The other mod 8
ications are of minor Importance and c
ave been made, but these are the princi-
al ones upon which the differences OF opin- c
On existed when the substitute bill had
een printed the committee will go over it
arefuily and it may find it necessary yet
o make some changes, but they have SUBJ
tantially agreed upon their recommenda' .