The morning news., 1888-07-10
COST OF RIDES BY RAIL.
THE SENATE PASSES THE INTER
STATE AMENDMENTS.

Changes in Tariff Schedules Must be
Published for Three Days Before
Made-Owners of Cars to be Pre-
vented in the Next Congress From
Securing Special Advantages.
WASHINGTON, July 9.-The senate to-
day. on motion of Mr.. Cullom, proceeded
ID the consideration of the senate bill to
amend the interstate commerce act The
important changes in the existing law are
the following; Requiring reductions in the
published rates, fares or charges, to be made
only after three days previous public notice,
prohibiting advances III rates, fares and
charges Shown upon joint tariffs, except
after ten days notice to the commission;
adding Imprisonment in the penitentiary to
the penalty provided for violation of
the law as to unlawful discrimina-
tions in rates; making false billing,
false classification, false weighing
or false report Of weight, a misdemeanor.
punishable by fine of not exceeding $50,
goo and Imprisonment in the penitentiary
for not exceeding two years Tor each Of
Tense; making the payment of any consd-
Grafton 10 induce un lust discrimination
misdemeanor subject to like penalty; pro
vlding that the act shall not be construed
so as to prevent free carriage of destitute
and homeless persons transported by chari-
table societies and of the necessary agents
employed i'll such transportation or the
giving of reduced rates to municipal gov
ernments for the transportation of INDECENT
persons or making arrangements with ma
tlOnal or state homes for the transportation
Of soldiers.
JURISDICTION FOR COURTS.
Mr.. Reagan offered an amendment which
was agreed to, giving TO the United States
circuit and district courts jurisdiction of
violations OF any provisions of the act upon
relation Of any person or firm, with power
to issue peremptOry writ of mandamus.
Mr.. Reagan said he had given notice of an
amendment extending the provisions of the
act to express companies, sleeping car com
panies and stock companies, but in order
not to provoke discussion and retard the
passage of the bill he would reserve the
proposition till next session.
Mr.. Teller made a similar statement in
regard to an amendment, which would pre-
vent railroad companies from charging
higher rates from the Pacific coast to Den
yer than to Kansas City, 600 miles east of
Denver. He did not wish to embarrass the
pending bill, but he gave notice to the rail
road companies that he would Join with
others to see that these companies discon-
tinued voluntarily such outrageous proceed
ings or to compel them to do SO.
OWNERSHIP OF CARS.
Mr.. George asked Mr.. Cullom whether
the committee had considered the question
of prohibiting shippers from being owners
of cars used in the transportation of their
| goods. He understood that the provision
of the law which secured an equality of
RIGHTS fnC bat ebi
evaded In this manner, for instance by ship
ers owning oil cars, and thus driving
smaller competitors out of the market
Mr.. Cullom replied that the committee
had done nothing in that matter, and that
in his Judgment it could not afford to do so.
In that connection he referred to the
| dressed beef business, and said that at first
the railroad companies had not provided
the necessary cars for that business, but
we're now beginning to do So He did not
see that congress could undertake to say
that a shipper should not use his own cars
But it was within the purview of the law
and within the Iower of the commission to
see to it that no undue advantage was given
to shipper owning his own cars over
shipper not owning them
THE COMMISSION CRITICISED.
Messrs. Reagan, Wilson Of Iowa, and
George criticised the Interstate commerce
commission lot Wlat they termed Its vaccll-
lating disposition in dealing with powerful
railway companies, and Mr.. George said he
would offer an amendment prohibiting car
riers from transporting goods for any ship
per in a car or vehicle owned by such ship
per, unless they charged exactly the same
rates as were charged to other shippers.
The subject was further discussed by
Messrs. Pugh, Cullom, Dawes, George, Nc
Pherson and Reagan.
H. %ho 4 ~ 4.
on promise by Mr.. Cullum to have the
question thoroughly considered at the next
session of congress.
The bill was then passed.
After passing a few bills of local and
minor interest, and spending some time in
executive session, the senate at o'clock ad-
journed.