Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-10
WASHINGTON.
The House and Senate
Railroad Bills.
ELECTORAL COUNT BILL.
Chance for Coast Appropriations
Star Routes ChaDged-Sweet
Wine Bill.

| SCaf Routes CnaDyeu-SWeeC
Wine Bill.
| Especial TO the Herald bu the associated Press
WASHINGTON, December 9.-The con.
ference upon the interstate commerce
measures, popularity known as the Rea-
gan and Cullom bills, reached an agree.
ment to-day upon the differences be-
tween the Senate and House. The re-
port of the Conference committee will
be presented as soon as it can be pre-.
pared and signed, and its adoption will
be asked at an early date. Bills passed
by the Senate and House propose differ
ent plans for the regulation of interstate
traffic of the country. Both prohibit
unjust discrimination between per sons
and places, the giving of special rates,
preference, etc., as we'll as certain prac-
tices which are declared to be unlawful
Both bills require railroads to publish
their rates, and to adhere to them when
published. They did not differ materi.
ally in the penalty provided for viola
ton of their general provision, but they
differed widely in the methods prescrib.
ed for securing their enforcement. The
House bills gives every shipper with a
grievance the right of action in State
and United States courts, on his motion
and in his own behalf, and the recovery
of damages he may have sustained,
with the provision that reasonable at
torney fee should be allowed in every
case of recovery. The Senate
bill did not preclude shippers
from instituting suits in their
own behalf, but it provided for the
creation of commission witch will be
required to investigate all complaints
made and to settle them by al bitration,
if possible, if not, to prosecute the case
in the courts, when they find that the
shippers are entitled to redress. By a
compromise which has been agreed
upon, Congress proposed to put both
these plans of regulation into operation,
an to retain the remedial features of
both bills. They will recommend
that the House agree to
the commission system, as it
stands in the Senate bill, and that the
Senate agree to the provision allowance
to such shippers as may elect to do SO,
to prosecute suits for the recovery of
damages in the United States Court on
their own behalf with provisions they
shall not have the right to pursue their
remedy in courts and through the COM
mission in the same case. Upon one
vexed and much debated question. long
and short haul, compromise has been
agreed upon. The House bill
absolutely prohibited greater charge
for a shorter than for q
long distance which includes shor ter
Upon any one railroad provision in the
Senate bill prohibited greater charge for
shorter than for longer distances under
substantially similar circumstances and
conditions over the same line on the
same direction and from the same origi-
nal point of departure, or to the same
point of arrival. 1t also authorized the
Commission to make exception to this
general rule in special cases in
which it seemed proper. A
substitute section, agreed to by
conferees makes it unlawful for any rail
road to charge more for transportation
of passengers of like kind, or of property
under substantially similar circum.
stances and conditions for shorter than
for longer distance over the same line
and in the same direction, the shorter
being included within the longer,
IL A. hot in cpa.tul
cases upon application and after
investigation the commission may pre-
scribe to the extent which such rail-
road shall be relieved from the opera.
tions of this section. The House bill
contained an absolute prob bition of
pooling, while the Senate bill provided
for an Immediate investigation by a CON-
mission of the question and legislation
upon the subject. AS upon this point
the Senate conferees have yielded and
accepted the provision of the House bill.
Following is the provision in full:
That it shall be unlawful for any com
mon carrier subject to the provisions of
this act to enter into any contract, agree
ment or combination with any other
common carrier, or carriers, fer pooling
freights of different and competing rail-
roads so as. to divide between
them the aggregate or net pro-
ceeds and earnings of such railroads,
or any portion thereof, and in
any case in agreement for pooling
freights aforesaid each day of It's con-
tinuance shall be deemed separate Of
fense. Upon the question of the pub
Ecitv of rates there was no difference of
opinion. The House bill required each
railroad to publish and to adhere to its
| rates between points upon its own line.
The Senate bill made it the duty of
the commission to also enforce the publi-
cation ef such through rates as it might
be found possible to publish. A substi-
tute has been agreed upon by which
each railroad is required to print and
keep in every depot for inspection the
public rates it may establish between
points upon its own line. They are also
required to file with the commission
copies of all joint tariffs of through
rates to which they may be
party, and the commission will
be required to secure publication
of such through rates as far as may be
found practicable under notifications OF
m nor Importance, have been made, bui
these are the principal cnes upon which
the difference of opinion existed. When
the substitute bill has been printed the
Commission will so over it carefully and
may find it necessary to make som'
changes, but they have substantially
agreed upon their recommendations.
chance for ApprOpriati0ns.