Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-11-03
THE REGULATION or RAILROADS..


Aberdeen (Dak.) special: Probabl,
no question of territorial law has beef
more discussed during the past few
years, and certainly no law has heel
more abused, than that for the regula
ton of the railroads. Particularly i
this true in regard to the shipment o
grain and produce wherein the farme
and small dealer has been shameful,
Disseminated against in favor of til,
wealthy warehOusemen and the elevator
owned and indirectly controlled by thu
railroads themselves. 1t is to remedy
this and kindred evi.5 that the Terrific
rial Farmers alliance has labored Will
view of further correcting the abuse.
that are known to exist the executive
committee of the alliance has prepared
bin for introduction into the next leg
islature having for its object the better
regulation of ilroads and a practically
free market for the farming classes. The
whole strength at the command of the
alliance will he exerted toward the pas
sage OF the bill. SO it is expected that il
viii play no little part in the remaining
days of the legislative campaign.
The bill primarily is an act to amend
an act entitled ''An act to provide for
the establishment OF board of railroad
commissioners, defining their duties and
to regulate the receiving and transpor-
tation of freight on railroads in this ter
ritory," The first sections provide for
the election of three persons who shall
constitute the board of railroad com.
missioners," defining their duties and
qualifications and marking out the dis
trlcts over which each shall have au-
tharity.
Section directs that any r.ilroad
company doing business in the territory,
when requested by any person wishing
to ship grain on its road, shall receive
and transport such grain in bulk and
permit the same to be loaded either on
Its track adjacent to its depot or at any
warehouse on its sidetrack, at any sta
ton, without discrimination or distinc-
ton as to the manner or condition in
which such grain is offered for trans
portation.
Section 8 compels railroad company
to extend its sidetracks to any ware
houses or elevators which are denied
position on the company's right of way
and which are erected adjacent thereto,
the track to be laid and kept III repair
Section 9 provides for tile equal dis
trlbution of cars among shippers in pro-
portion to their daily receipts of grain
or freight.
Section 10 makes it unlawful for any
company to receive any greater com
penSatIon for the transportation of pas-
sen@ers or freight for shorter than
longer distance over the same line; also
Tor any railroad company by any special
rate, rebate or other device to receive
from any person n greater or less COM
nensatlon for any service rendered than
1T receives from any other person for
doing like service; also for any com
pany to enter into any contract with any
other company for the division and
pooling of business.
Section Ii provides for the construc-
ton and maintenance of 'tYs' ut all in |
tersecting points, and sections IA and Is |
call for the maintenance by the railroad |
companies OF true and correct scales for |
weighing grain and coal.
Section II makes it obligatory upon |
every company ''to print and keep for |
public inspection schedules showing the |
classification rates, fares and charges for |
the transportation of passengers and |
of all kinds and classes. which
such company has established, aud which /
are III force at the time upon It's railroad /
me schedule shall plainly state the
Places upon its railroads between which
and property will be carried,
iiud contain ciassitications of freight in
force upon the lines of such railroads"
Section Is says: mo change of CLASH
iications shall be made in the rates. fares
and charges which have been estab-
lIshed and published rs aforesaid by any
railroad company in compliance with the
requirements of section II, except after
ten days publication, which notice shall
plainly state the changes proposed to be
made III the schedules then in force and
The time when the changed schedules
shall 90 into effect, and the proposed
changes shall he shown by printing new
schedules or shall be plainly indicated
upon the schedules in force at the time
md kept for public inspection"
Section 10 authorizes the commission
ers to establish and maintain schedule
II reasonable rates, and gives them
oower to compel all railroad companies
% adopt the same.
Section 90 makes it the duty of the
to personally investigate
md ascertain whether the provisions of
his act are violated, and when prosecu-
ION Is warranted they shall cause suits
o he commenced. The attorney gem
raj OF the territory and the several dis
riot attorneys will institute anil prose.
nte all action1 which tile commissioners
hall deem proper.
Section %. Any railroad company .
ound guilty of violating any of the pro-
lslons OF this act shall I've fined in the :
um Of not less than $1,000 nor more
han 10000, to which shall be added
ne costs Of action, and each days refu-
al or neglect Of any railroad company
? do or to perform any act required by
his act or thing prohibited by this act
hall be taken to be separate offense' {
nd such railroad company may be pros. n
cuted and convicted for each DAYS Of 7
snse separately, and the conviction J,
hereof shall not be bar to the prose-
utlon and conviction Of the same offense b
ommltted on any other day. v
The remainder of the bill, which ia q
cry long, states in what manner the n
shall make their animal q
'port, and the different items that are s.
be particularized relating to the stock n
I'd, general satisfaction of the several \
'ads. n