New-York tribune., 1886-01-19
INTERSTATE COMMERCE..
NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON TIE SUBJECT.
THE REPORT OF A SENATE COMMITTEE AND A BILL
BY MP. CUfLOM

THE REPORT OF SENATE COMMiiifE AND a DILL
BY MP. CUfLOM.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The following is
lrlef synopsis Of the bill 10 regulate commerce.
renorted from the Senate select Committee
upon Interstate Railroad Transportation o-aay
by Senator Gallon. After specifying he
classes OF carriers, rather the KINDS OF uaIuc
to which the regulations prescribed are to apry ana de
caring that oil charges made by such carriers sa 10
reasonable tho preliminary sections aim TO prohibit
every variety of unjust discrimination to prescribe ade
oupte penalties therefor, and to prescribe for the en-
forcement thereof the courts OF the United states
Those scctons include the requirement that all carriers
shall afford reasonable facilities for the interchange o
traBc with rrnnecting lines, and the rrohihcon OF
greater charge for shorter than FOR longer distance
except when II be airInavely Established Dy tHe
carrier that such charge does not constitute an unjust
discrimination Another section requires all carriers
subject 10 tho provision OF the proposed act to file the
tris sn cla sihcations with the Interstate commerce
Commission. provides that they shai be pos ca or
otherwise published ut leavos to he determined by tue
Commission the manner OF publication md the places NJ
and between which shall be published Provision
is made for enforcing the requirements OF the Comnis
sion In these respects through the courts and for the
maintenance OF the rates that may he thus published
PROVISION is also made for the appointment by the
Presdcns OF five Commissioners to be confirmed by the
Senate The commissioners first appointed To continue
in Office for the OF two. three onr. five ana sX
years respectively be ginning with July next not moro
than three OF whom sh Ill be appointed from the same
political parts The salary OF each connssloner to be
81 500 year It ia osed to give the Commission lu
power to obtain all Information necessary to the per-
fornance OF It's duties to constitute 1t board OF ara
tou Tor the adjudication OF sGeh difference between snip
pers and carriers As can be anicaby settled through Its
intervention its findings OF fact prlna iacie owl
dence in gil legal proceedings and provide for the
prompt enforcement OF its rccomen itlphH through 'he
courts, If resort to them should become necessary
a. IA ltstilh h.s n
TO tho committee and that the committee be continued
The luest was granted and resolution passed. order
ing to printed 5000 copies Of the c0nintees report
aud the testimony taken before H.
The report OF the Committee OF the Senate upon
Interstate Railroad Transportation 70 accompany the
CulIom InteI Commerce bill introduced to day
forms q Trinted volume of ZIG pages. The interest
everywhere manifested the investigation, tho report
SAYS convinced tie committee that no general question
oi governmental policy Occupies at tS time 80 prOhl
coatrn,c hc steady growth and extending uncnce Of
corporate power especially Of transportation corpora
tions and OF regulating It's relations 10 the public u
quotes IRON the testimony OF EDWARD Alks n an 49, y,
that railway property constitutes on" th phr u
the accumulated capital Of the country to-day 1Nhg
employment To 100000 people not ineindng ilosr en-
gagel construction, moving 4VJou9.Voo IONS ~
from which Nj. Atkinson argues that the railroad has
reduced the sruggle for food aud fuel Ia greater measure
than any Other ln-trumentality havint brought me
m"yemen OF Years supply o' food FOR the mechanic In
Massachusetts distance O thot sand miles dO"n to
. Rairo,ds, the committee declares are everywhere
reco 1nzed as CO carrier, ana as sucH ro htlh
liable in the courts the performance Oi such duties
common carriers under the law 10
common carrier has te right under the common law 10
discriminate between persons or places. or TO give
preferences In any Unjust discrimination u
he cief cause OF complaint agains' the management oi
railroads iu the conduct OF business anl gvcs fl$e l"
much OF the pressure upon Congress Tor TeSnlhu'o
lDitatiOn. 4,
These principles the report 70 say. a-e well
settled and since the decisions by the United states S
prenc Colrtin the Granger cases brought inc raroa- 10
realizing sense OF their obligations ney have been sub
stantialy conceded Bat when We consier tho Imperial
influence which these most mighty engines ct clNlhIa
tIon can exercise upon tho development progress ana
commerce OF the country making possible the inn or
rros perty OF ces states even larger areas ni Oher
terroiy IL becomes evident that the State pusseH-es
the rizh 10 supervise AMI regulate the adnlh pI
snrh Imperial po upon the nroad ground OF public
policy u addition Ia the fact tnat railroad corporation
manages a public highway exerc.es public function,
and s in the nature OF a monopoly -.
The reckless manner In which railroads are b'ieh
managed the committee Gays makes II necessary to ds
which may governed by selfish considerations OF inc
Interests and the corr oTatoi l9eI rs
re stockholders and investorA The o=-i-
hity aud existence OF irresponsible railroad manage
ment result the committee In confusion OF leds
and terms thai aid in nystiiylne the railroad problem
and itself evil farreaching Ia It's effects as 10
call for special consideration.
Iht committee dvocates the Hennepin Canal scheme
and saws that IL is the duty OF Congress TO regulate
transportation and national legislation Is needed 10
remedy the plained Of tho essence OF which u
discrimination II devotes several pages OF ls report 10
a consideration OF the principles upon which falcs
should be established and the Limitations within whch
discrimination may be Justlhsbie 1t declares that pub.
lcity remedy for unjust discrimnat non ana
the posting OF rates under the direction OF
Litona commission.