The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-02-23
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COMMON cARRIERS..
4 Bin Presented to the House BY the
Committee On Railroads.

-
Committee On Railroads.
The following is summary Of bill pre-
pared by the Committee on Railways and
Commerce Of the House. In the State Legis-
lature. to regulate railway corporations and
other common carriers of the State, to In.
crease the powers of the Railway Com
missoners. and to prevent and punish ex-
tortion and unjust discrimination In pas
senger and freight rates
Section / says the provisions OF this set
shall apply to the transportation OF passengers
and property, and to the receiving delivering,
storage anu handling Of property wholly within
porations and railway companies, express
companies, freight or freight line companies.
in this State in the transportation OF passen-
gers or property by railroad therein, and shall
also be held to apply to shipments OF property
made from any point within the State to any
point within the State, whether the transpor
tation Of the same shall be wholly within this
State or partly within this and adjoining State
Section provides for reasonable and just
charges, and all other charges are prohibited
and declared unlawful.
Section 3says any common carrier who shall
charge more to one person or persons than TO
others for the same service shall be deemed
guilty OF unjust discrimination.
TO the prov isions of this act SHALL according to
their respective powers afford all reasonable,
proper and equal facilities for the interchange
OF traffic between their respective lines, and for
the receiving, forwarding and delivering OF pas
sengcrs and property to and from their several
lines and those connecting therewith, and shall
not discriminate In their rates aud charges be-
tween such connecting lines.
Section declares il unlawful for any COM
mon carrier subject to the provisions OF this
act TO charge or receive any greater cOmpen-
sation in the aggregate for the transportation
OF passengers. or Of like kind OF property, for .
shorter than. for longer distance over the
same line in the same direction.
Dissection makes il unlawful for common car.
riers to pool freight OF competing railroads
Section says every common carrier shall
print and keep for public inspection schedules
showing the rates and fares and charges for
the transportation OF passengers and property
which any such common carrier has estab-
lished and no advance shall be made in rates
and fares until notice OF ten days has been
given in pubic manner; and all schedules Of
rates, fares, contracts, etc. are to be filed with
the Railway Commissioners, and shall be made
public by the carriers when the commissioners
20 direct.
Section makes it unlawful to prevent by
combination the carriage OF freights from being
continuous from the place Of shipment to the
place OF destination in the State.
Section provides that il any common car
rier. subject to the provisions OF this act shall
violate or cause to be violated. any Of It's pro-
visions, said carrier shall be liable TO the per-
son or persons injured thereby for three times
the amount OF the damages sustained with
costs OF suit and reasonable counsel or attor-
ney's fee to be fixed by the court where the
same is heard.
Section 10 says that any person or persons
claiming to be damaged by any common car
rier may either make complaint to the Railroad
Commissioners OF the State or NAV bring SUIT
In his or their own behalf for the recovery Of
damages in any district court Of the State OF
competent jurisdict on; but shall not have The
right 70 pursue both OF said remedies at tho
same time. The court before whom the same
shall be pending may compel any official Of tho
corporation or company, defendant IN such
suit. TO appear and testify in such case, and
tnay cor mel tim nf hrnk nka and
papers OF such corporation or company.
Section II declares that If any common car
rier or corporation, through any OF their Of
fcials, shall willfully Violate any OF the pro-
visions Of this act. or shall cause them TO be
violated, shall be deemed guilty OF misde-
meanor. and upon conviction shall be subject
to fine not to exceed 5000, and not less than
HO,.
Section i2 says the Railway Comm ssioners Of
the State shall have authority TO inquire into
the management OF the business OF all common
carriers subject TO the provisions Of this act,
and shall keep itself informed as to the man.
ner and method in which the same is conducted.
Section Is declares that any person. firm.
corporation. association or society complaining
Of any thing done or undone by any common
carrier may apply to the Railway Commits
sioners for redress, and they shall require
reparation from the carrier If the complaint 10
established.
Section "a requires that reports OF all investi-
| cations made by the Railway Commissioners
shall be in writing, and furnished to the COM
| plainaats. and sections Is and 16 describes tho
i
against the carriers.
/ Section II empowers the Railway Commits
siOners TO make for each of the railway
| corporations a schedule Of reasonable rates Of
l charges for the transportation of freight
Sections Is 10 and 10 provides for the settle
ment OF complaints OF unjust freight charges.
Section II allows the commissioners to pro-
ceed in all cases IN such manner as they deem
best.
Section % authorizes the commissioners to
require annual reports from all common car
| riers.
Section % declares o common carrier guilty
I OF extortion IL more than reasonable rates are
| charged for fare on freight.
| Section "a SAYS thatif any railway corpora
| ton shall charge, collect or receive for the
| transportation OF any passenger or freight OF
/ any description upon its railroad for any dis
tance within the State the same or greater
| amount Of toll or compensation than Is at the
| same time charged, collected or received for
| the transportation in The same direction OF
any passenger or like quantity OF freight Of the
| same class over q greater distance OF the same
railroad. II shall be pri,nd Jdcit evidence OF un-
| just discrimination. and section 70 fixes the
penalty at from 1000 M to 1900 for the tirst Of
| e10 90 to e25OOu for the third offense; either
| party having the right OF trial by jury.
| Section 26 says the fines may be rec Eered in
| civil action by ordinary proceea \ the
name of the State, and section "a ms 4 tho
duty Of the Railway Commissioners . bring
| suit at once.
Section 2s says nothing in this act shall apply
| to the carriage, storage or handling OF prop
| erty tree or at reduced rates for the United
States or this State, or for charitable purposes,
i or the issuance of mileage, excursion or COM
| mutation passenger tickets, or prohibit giving
reduced rates to ministers OF religion, or pre-
vent railroads from giving free Carriage to their
i own officers and employees, or prevent any prfn-
cipal officer OF any railroad company from ex-
| changing passes or tickets with other COM
| panies.
expenses OF the Railway commissioners, and
all laws In conflict with this act are repealed.