The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-13
REGULATING RAILROADS.
TIE CULL0M BILL AS 1T
PASSED THE SENATE.
The Main Points Of the Measure
Secretary Manning still
Improving.


of five persons TO be appointed by the
Pres dent, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, II carry out the
purpose OF the bill. The principal
Office OF the commission is 10 he at
Washington, where general sessions
are 10 be held. but special sessions
may be held elsewhere to suit the
public convenience, jim which case the
necessary expenses incurred are TO be
a part paid from the TT asury. Not
more than three OF the five of the
commiss oners shall be appointed
from the same political party.
All persons holding stocks or
bonds of any common carrier
of holding official relations to such
corporations, a'e declared inelig BILE
for appointm' mt. The comm ssion is
given authority to inquire into the
bu mess and management OF all COM
mon carriers subject to TIE provisions
of the bill, and to obtain full and
complete informant n as to such bust
ness may require the attendan and
testimony of witne ses, and the pro-
duction OF all books, papers, agree
ments, tariffs and documen relating
10 any matter under investigation ana
may to that end invoke the aid of the
United States Courts.
Persons having mplaints TO m IKE
against any common carrier of inter-
state commerce hall make complaint
in writing to the commission. The
commission shall send the complaint
to the common carrier, and require
either satisfaction of The complaint or
an answer in writing w,thin'a reason
able time specified. II reparation be
not made within the time stated, the
commission shall investigate the COM
plaiLt The commission shall also in
yes igate all complains forwarded to
it by S ate commissions, and may in
stitute inquiries on its own mo ion.
Complaints shall not be dismissed be-
cause of the absence OF direct damage
TO the complainant.
The reports of the commission shall
be in writing, and its findings shall be
deemed prima facie evidence in all
judicial proceedings.
Whenever any commonc rrier shall
refuse to obey any lawful order OF the
commission, 1t is made the duty Of
the commission to apply TO the United
States Circuit Court sitting in equi Y,
alleging the violations and the court
shall hear and determine the matter
on short notice and wi hout the formal
proceedings of ordinary suits, but so
as to adjust it, and the court may in
proper cases issue writs of injunction,
or other process, mandatory or other
wise, to restrain further violation OF
the order OF the commission on the
part of the common carr er offending.
For such purposes the Circuit Cour s
shall be deemed always in session.
The bill requires that all chsrges
for any service in transporting pas
sengers or freights. or storing goods,
by common carriers, shall be reason
able; it prohibits all rebates and
draw acks and all unjust discr,mina-
tions, requiring that all persons shall
be charged and treated alike ser
vices rendered under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions.
Every common carrier subject to
the bi |, shall within ,ixty days after it
becomes law, file with the commits
sion copies of al its tariffs of fares and
freight, including its classification and
terminal charges, and shall make them
public so far as the commission deem
p actical No advance on such pub
lie rates shall be made with out ten
days publ C notice.
The long and short haul" clause,
being sections of the bill, reads as
follows: That it shall be unlawful for
any common carrier to charge or re-
ceivs greater Compensation in the az
gregate for the ira sportat on OF pass
engers or of the like classes and
quantity of property subje to the
provisions of tn act, for shorter than
for longer distance over the same line
in the direction and from the same
original point OF departure or to the
same point of arrival. But this shall
n I be construed as authorizing any
common carrier within the terms of
this act to charge and receive as g eat
compensation for a shorter as for a
longer distance; provided, however,
that upon application the commits
sion appoin ed under the provisions
of this act such common carrier may,
in special cases, be authorized 10
charge less for longer than fr shorter
dista ces for the transportation OF
passengers and property; and the
commission may, from time to time,
make general rules exempting such
designated common carrier in such
special cases from the operation of this
act, and when such exceptions shall
have been made and published they
sNa !, until changed by the commits.
sion or by law. have like force and eff
feet as though the same had been
specified in this section. ANY COM
mon carrier who shall vie ate the pro.
visions OF this section of this ACT
sha be deemed guilty of extortion
and shall be liable to the person OIL
persons against whom any such ex.
cessiVe charge was made lorNall dam
ages ocoasioned by such cation,
The bill now goes TO the House o.
Representatives for concurrence.