The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

| The Congressional Conference Committee
| Finally Agree Upon a Bill-Some of the
| Main Features.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-The conferees
upon the Interstate Commerce measures,
| popularity known as the Reagan and Gull
ION bills, reached an agreement yesterday
upon the differences between the Senate
and House and their report will be pre-
scented as soon as it can be prepared and
signed, and its adoption will be asked at an
early day.
The bills passed by the Senate and House
proposed different plans for the regulation
of the interstate traffic of the country.
Both prohibited unjust discrimina ton be-
tween points and places, the giving Of
special rates, preferences, ETC., as well as
certain other practices which were de-
! clared to be unlawful. Both required rail-
roads to publish their rates and to adhere
to them when published. They did not
differ materially in the penalties provided
for the violation of their general provisions,
but they differed widely i'll the methods pro-
posed for securing their enforcement
The House bill gave every shipper with
a grievance the right of action in the State
and United States courts on his motion and
i'll his own behalf for the recovery of the
damages he might have sustained, with the
provision that reasonable attorneys fee
should be allowed in every case of re.
cOvery. The Senate bill did not preclude
shippers from instituting suits in their OWN
behalf. but it provided for the creation of
a commission required to investigate all
complaints made and to settle them by arbi-
tratiOn if possible, and not TO prosecute the
case in the courts when it should find that
the shipper was not entitled to redress.
BY the compromise which has been agreed
upon the cOnferees propose to put both of
these plans of regulation into operation and
to retain the remedial features of both
bills. They will recommend that the House
agree to the commission system as il stands
in the Senate bill, and the Senate agree to
provision allowing such shippers as may
elect TO do so to prosecute suits for the
recovery of damages in the courts on their
own behalf, with the provisions that they
shall not have the right to pursue their
remedy in the courts and through the CON-
mission in the same case.
On the veXed and much-debated question
of the long and short haul compromise has
been agreed upon. The House bill abso-
shorter than for longer distance, which
included tie shorter upon any one railroad.
The provision i'll the Senate bill prohibited
a greater charge for a shorter than for a
longer distance under substantially similar
circumstances and conditions over the same
line, in the same direction and from the
same original point Of departure or to the
same point of arrival. 1t also authorized
the commission to make exceptions TO this
general rule in special cases in which it was
held proper.
The substitute section agreed to by the
confereeS makes it unlawful for any rail.
road TO charge more for the transportation
of passengers or of property under substan-
TALLY similar circumstances and conditions
for shorter than for longer distance over
the same line and in the same direction, the
shorter being included within the longer
distance, with the proviso that in special
cases upon application after investigation
the commission may prescribe the extent TO
which such railroad shall be relieved from
the operation of this section.
The House bill contained an absolute
prohibition of pooling, while the Senate bill
provided for an Immediate investigation by
the commission of the question of legisla.
ton upon the subject Upon this point
the Senate conferees have yielded and &C.
cepted the provision of the House bill. The
following is the provision of the House bill
That it shall be unlawful for any common
carrier subject to the provisions of
this act To enter into any contract
agreement OF combination with any
other common carrier or carriers for the |
pooling OF freights of different and Compel |
ing roads, or TO divide between them the |
aggregate or net proceeds Of the earnings |
of such railroads or any portion thereof; |
and in any case of any agreement for the |
pooling of freights as aforesaid, each day |
of its continuance shall be deemed a sepa- |
rate offense"