Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-12-15
M MORE POOLS

The conference committee OF the two
houses Of congress have agreed on an
Interstate commerce bill. Tie bills
which were passed by the senate and 10y
the house proposed different plans for
the regulation of the interstate traffic
of the country. Both prohibited I'M
Just discrimination between persons
and places, the giving Of special rates,
preferences, etc, as well as certain
other practices which were declared to
be unlawful. Both required railroads
10 publish their rates, and 10 adhere 10
them when published. They did not
ditter materially in the penalties pro-
vided for the violation of their general
provisions, but they differed widely in
the methods proposed for securing their
enforcement.
The house bill gave every shipper
with grievance the right of action in
the state and United States courts, on
his motion and in 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 recovery. The
senate bill did not preclude shippers
from instituling suits in their o%n be-
half, but it provided for the creation Of
commission required to investigate
all complaints made, and To settle them
by arbitration, If possible; and not TO
prosecute the case in the courts when
it should find the shipper was not en-
titled To redress.
by the compromise which has been
agreed upon the conferrees propose TO
put both of these plans Of regulation
into operation, and TO retain the RENE
dial features OF both bills. They will
recommend that the house agree To the
commission system as il stands in the
senate bill, and that the senate agree
10 n provision allowing such shippers
rs may elect to do so, tO prosecute suits
for the recovery of damages in the
courts on their own behalf, with the
provision that they shall not have the
right to pursue their remedy in the
courts and through the commission in
the same case.
On the yexed and much-debated ques-
ton of long and short haul, a com
promise has been agreed apOn.
The substitute section agreed To 10y
the conference makes it unlawful fnI
my railroad to charge more for the
rams p)rta:ion OF passengers or of prop
erty under substantially similar circum
stances and conditions for a shorter
than for "a longer distance over the same
line and in the same direction, the
shorter being included within the long
er distance, with the proviso that il
special cases, after investigation, thC
commission may prescribe the extent
To which said railroad shall be relieved
from the operation of this section.
The house bill contained an absolute
prohibition Of pooling, while the sen
ate bill provided for an immediate ia
vestigation by the commission of TIL
question of legislation upon the sub
ject. Upon this point the senate con
ferrees haveyielded, and accepted tl'
provision of the house bill. The fol
lowing is the provision of the hous,
bill: That it shall he unlawful for an.
common carrier, subject 10 the provis
ions of this act, to enter into any con
tract, agreement or combination will
any other common carrier or carrier
for the pooling of freights of diiTeren
and competing reads, or to divide be
tween them the aggregate or net pro
ceeds of the earnings of such railroads
or any portion thereof; and in any cas-
of any agreement for the pooling o
freights as aforesaid, each day of il
continuance shall be deemed separat
Offense"
On the question of publicity of rates
substitute has been agreed On b.
which each railroad is required to prin
and keep in every depot for the inspec
ton of the public, the rates it may es
tablish between points upon its owl
line. They are required to file with tn
commission copies Of all joint tariff
of through rates to which they may b
party, and the commission is requi
red to secure the publication of sucl
through rates as far as may be foun,
practicable.
If the bill ever becomes law, an,
the United States supreme court viii
let it remain as passed, the people viii
get the much-neCded relief for whicl
they have long sought and prayed il