Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-10
BITS FOR IRON HORSES.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
CONFEREES AGREE.


The Senate's Scheme for Enforcing the
act and the House Provision Giving
Railroads the RIG ht of Appeal Mutual
ly Accepted-PooiingA = bsotutely Pro-
htbited - Rates Must be Published -
Equal Charges for All Hauls.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-The conferees
on the Interstate commerce bill finished
their labors this morning and will report
their bill as soon as it can be printed. On
the question of the enforcing act the COM
mission feature of the Senate bill is ac-
cepted BY the House conferees, while the
Senate conferees accept the system pro-
posed In the Reagan bill, under which a
shipper is entitled to sue for damages in
United States Courts in his own behalf.
This gives shippers the option of making
complaint to the commission or institu-
roads are prohibited from charg-
ing more for short than
for longer distance upon
their own lines in the same direction, the
| shorter being included within the longer
distance, and the circumstances and con-
dilions being the same, but the commits
sion is authorized, upon the application
OF railroad and after investigation OF the
facts, to relieve the roads from the opera
ton of the general rule in special cases.
The Senate conterees agree to the absolute
prohibition of pooling contained in the
House bill. These were the main features
of difference. On the question of publicity
OF rates the provisions OF the two bills
have been merged so as to require each
railroad to make public the rates between
points upon lts own road as proposed in
the House bill, and in addition the COM
mission is required to secure publicity OF
through rates In so far as it may be found
necessary.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES.
The following is synopsis of the prin-
cipal features OF the substitute bill as
agreed upon: The act is made to apply
TO the transportation OF passengers or
property by railroad, or partly by rail-
road and partly by water, when both are
used under common control, management
or arrangement for continuous carriage
or shipment between any of the States or
Territories, or from the United States to
any foreign country, or from the United
States through foreign country into the
United States, as well as to property
shipped to or from any place in the
United States from or to a foreign coun-
try. The term railroad is defined to mean
all roads and all bridges and ferries used
or operated by any corporation, and the
| term transportation is declared to include
all tnstrumentalities for carriage, which
Is intended TO bring fast freight lines,
express companies, sleeping car compa-
MES, etc., within the application OF the
act.
UNJUST DIsCRIMINATIONS.
Section prohibits unjust discrimina-
tion in charge between individuals by
means of special rates, rebates or other
device for like and contempOraneous SER
vice under substantially similar clrcum-
stances and conditions.
Section prohibits the making or giving
of any undue or unreasonable preference
or advantage to any particular person,
company, nrm, corporation or locality or
any particular description OF traffic in
any respect whatsoever. Railroads are
required to afford all reasonable, proper
and equal facilities for interchange OF
traffic between their respective lines, and
are prohibited from discriminating In
their rates and charges between connect
ing lines.
Section relates to long and short
hauls, and section 5 to pooling. Their
provisions have already been stated.
PRINTED SCHEDULES.
Section requires railroads to print and
keep at every depot for public inspection
copies of their schedules of rates and
fares and charges between all
points on their lines, and pro-
hihits them from charging more or
less than the rates they may thus estab-
lish or make public. An advance in such
rates and fares and charges must not be
made except after ten days public
notice. Reductions may be made With
out previous public notice, but notice oil
the same must be given Immediately.
Whenever any chan es are made they
must either be Immediately indicated on
schedules then in force and kept for pub
lie inspection, or new schedules must be
printed. When joint tariffs upon cOntin-
uous lines are agreed upon, copies must
be filed with the commission and be made
public in like manner when directed by
the commission, ana so far as may be
ound practicable. If railroad refuses
to make its rates public as required, the
commission must institute proceedings in
the United States Courts, which are au-
thorIzed to enforce obedience by any
method that may become necessary, even
to stopping the road from transactiDg
business.
SHIPMENTS CONTINUOUS.
Section provides tn at Interstate ship
ments shall be considered as continuous
from the place OF shipment to the place
OF destination, despite any breaking OF
pulk, stoppage or Interruption made to
evade the act.
Section makes any common carrier
subject to the act liable to the person
injured for damages sustained by any
violation of the provisions OF the act,
together with reasonable attorneys fees
in case Of recovery.
Section provides that any person
claiming to be damaged may either make
complaint 10 the commission or may bring
suit in the United States Court for the re-
oovery OF damages to which u common
carrier may be liable under this act, but
such persons must elect which course
they Will pursue. and cannot adopt both.
Section 10 declares that common car
rier or any officer or employe OF one VINO
shall willlully violate any ftbe provisions
OF the act guilty of mlsdemeanor and
makes the penalty fine not exceeding
$1,000.
FIVE COMMISSIONERS.
Section IL provides for the appointment
of five commissioners by the President.
No person in tho employ OF, or no ding
any official relation 10 any common car
rler subject 10 the act or owning stock or
bonds thereof, or who Is in any man.
ner pecuniarily interested therein,
can hold such Office, and not more than
three of the commissioners can be ap-
pointed from the same political party.
Section l. gives the commission au-
thoritv to inquire into the management OF
the business OF railroads and obtain from