Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-12-17
State Railroad Commission.
First biennial Report of the State
Railroad Commissioners. 4
Changes In the Railroad, Grain
and Warehouse Laws Sug-
geSted.

SuAuSsCS III the 1t41lrOaU, Grain
and Warehouse Laws Sug-
gested.
: The first biennial report of the board Of
railroad and warehouse commissioners to
legislature of the State of Minnesota, as to the
amendments and revision Of the railroad and
warehouse laws was issued yesterday Its
most important features arc the following:
We submit to the legislature such amend =
1nents and changes in the laws, with the execu-
ton of which we have been charged as our ex-
perlence and Investigations have led us to be-
lave demand your attention. In making these
suggestions. the commission have carefully
studied the legislation and proposed legislation
OF other states, and of the United States in ref
erence to the subjects embraced in these sug-
gested bills. For important reasons we have
deemed it essential to more definitely define the
duties and powers Of the commission. These
dnties and powers are now included in the act
lation of railroad companies" The blending Of
two or more distinct subjects in the above law is
open to the criticism that it is not in accord
with section 81, article 4, Of the constitution
1t has therefore been considered of great i'm
portance that these duties and powers be en-
braced in bill especially designed for that pur-
pose, and strictly in accordance with the rule Of
the constitution. as set forth in the section
above referred TO, which says mo law shall en-
brace more than ono subject, which shall
s eS IN the tts These duties
posed act, with the title indicating
the purpose and intent of the law
1t is proper also to state that the bill here form
u!ated contains the essential elements Of the
bill introduced into the senate of the United
States by the committee on interstate com
merce, with s1lch changes as were necessary to
proposed regulation Of railroads by state au-
thority. In addition to this. other sui jects than
those ct the powers and duties of the commits
sion, and unprovided for in tho existing stat
utcs. are herewith presented in separate bills, in
not prejudice others which the legislature in it's
wisdom, may deem important Attention is in
T1ted toa proposed change in the tenure Of
Office Under the present law all tie commits
sioners 60 out of Office at the same time II is
proposed to SO change the term Of office that one
commissioner shall be appointed each year, 40
that the board may retain in its membership
work Of the board. The interstate commerce
bill, the state of New York and other states
recognize the wisdom OF this policy. The act
provides TOR more definite system Of procedure
in cases where complaints are made against
common carriers 1t il believed to be colnpre-
henslve, simple and easy to be underst God. 1t
Is also provided that In cases where the commits
sion find complaint to be we'll founded. which
the common carrier will not remedy, suit shall
be brought in the state courts by the at
torney general and carried on at the ex-
pense of the state Ample provisions are mudo
for complete reports from railroad companies.
In reference to tariffs Of rates. fares and charges
provision is made for complete publicity, and
that there shall be no advance in such publ she'd
rates without due notice. Section II contains
substantial increase of power to the commission
with reference to the control OF rates, fares and
charges which are found upon examination to
be IN any respect unequal. uni Just or unrcasop-
able. While 1t does not invest the commission
with power to establish such tariffs In Tie first
instance. 1t vet places the tariffs under their
supervision, with ample power to amend tine
same. when found to he necessary ProvClnp
made that corporation shall not, in any way,
limit it's common law liability in reference to
given to its custody as a common car~
r1er. The bill provides sufficient penalties for
the violation of any Of is provisions, which, in
the old law, were uncertain and Inadequate.
This proposed act. as well the others here
with presented, have been submitted to the at.
torney general for a critical examination and
have been by him approved.
ENHANCING THEIR SCOPE.
The bill changing the powers of the com.
mission, after reciJlng portion of the old
bill in regard to the creation of the commits
sion, provides:
The commissioners first appointed under this
act shall continue in Office for the term OF one,
two and three years respectively, and until their
are appointed and qualified, begin
ming with the first Monday OF January A. D.
1889, the term of each to be designated bv the
governor; but their successors shall be ap:
for the term of three years, and until
their successors are appointed and qualified, cx-
cept that any person chosen to till vacancy
shall be appointed only for the unexpired term
OF the commissioner whom he shall succeed.
Any commissioner may be removed 10y the gov
ernor for inef1iciencv, neglect of duty or NAL
feasance in Office. Vacancies occasioned by re-
moval, resignation, other cause, shall be tiled
by the governor. Not more than two Of the
shall be appointed from the same
political party No person in the emplo, o., or
holding any official relation to, any common
carrier, or grain or .warehouseman, subject to
the provisions Of this act, or any law OF this
state, or owning stocks or bonds or other prop
erty thereof, or who is in any manner Interested
therein, shall enter upon the duties or
hold such office. The decision OF a ma
jority Of the commissioners shall be con.
sidered the decision OF the commission
on all questions arising for it's considera; ion.
Each commissioner so appointed and qualified
shall enter into bonds to the State of Minnesota,
to be approved by the governor, In the sum OF
the part OF common carrier to remedy VIOLA
lions OF the law complained Of allows the COM
through the attorney general, to bring
suit and recover damages tor the party az
grieved, and also to have temporary iujunc-
tions issued. The commission is hereby au-
thorized to require annual reports from all COM
mon carriers, subject to the provisions of this
act. to fix the time and prescribe the manner in
which such reports shall be made, and
to require from such carriers spe-
clic answers to all qustions upon which
Every railroad company and every officer OF any
railroad company who shall willfuily neglect to
make any report required in this act at the time
herein required, or who shall wilifuIly and I'M
lawfully obstruct said commissioners in the
discharge Of the duties hereby imposed upon
them, shall forfeit and pay OF not less
than one hundred lOO) dollars nor more than
five Thousand G, 900 dollars for each offensn to
be recovered in civil Pction and every railroad
company and every officer OF any such railroad
company shall be liable to like penalty for
every period Of ten (lOl days it he shall will
fully refuse to make such report.
Such commissioners shall, on or before the
first (lst) day Of December in each year, and
oftener If required by the governor to do so,
make report to the governor OF their dojngs for
the preceding year, containing such facts. 81 ate
ments and explanations rs will disclose the act
ual workings OF the system Of railroad traus-
portatioR in its bearings upon the business
and prosperity of the people of this
state. and such suggestions in relation
thereto as to them may seem appropriate.
The term Railroad" as used in this act, shall,
include all bridges and ferries used or operated
In connection with any railroad, and the term
Transportation" shall include all Instrumental
tfics Of shipment or carriage. All charges made
for any service rendered in the transportation
Of passengers or property as aforesaid or in con-
nection Herewith, or for receiving, delivering,
storage, or handling of such property shall be
common carrier shall charge or receive froru any
person 8 higher rate per ton per mile for one car
load Of freight than for a greater number Of car
stances. Unjust discrimination is pro-
hibited and declared to be unlawful.
Any common carrier, subject to the
provisions of :his act, shall file with the COM
mission copies Of its tariffs Of rates. fares and
charges relating to all classes Of traffic affected
by the provisions OF this act, including classfi-
cations and terminal charges which in any wise
change. affect or determine any part Of the
aggregate OF such rates, fares, charges and
classlhcations shall be made public by such
common carriers so far as may, in the
Judgment of the commission, be deemed practi-
cable; and when any common carrier shall have
established and published its rates, fares.
charges and classificatlons. or any part Of the
same. in compliance with the provisions of this
section, it shall be unlawful for such common
carrier to charge, demand. collect or receive
compensation than is set forth and specified ia
such published rates, fares, charges and CLASH
f1cations, until the same shall have been changed
as hereinafter provided. No advance in such
be made except after ten days public notice
hut reductinns in The same way nav he snaaa