The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-08-23

ing His Duties
Passed April 26. 1881
1t is enacted 10y the General Assembly as
follows:
Section /. The governor shall, on the
first day Of May in the year 1889, and
triennially on the first day Of May there
sfterward, appoint scme suitable person
To be railroad commissioner, who shall
hold the office for three years from tie
date of his appointment and thereafter
until his successor shall be duly appoint
ed and qualified.
Sec .. The railroad commissioner
shall, whenever he shall deem il expedi-
ent. personally examine into the proceed
ings of any railroad corporation author
lied and established in this state. aLd
report TO the General Assembly from
time To time whether such facilities and
accommodations as are required 10y chap
ter los Of the Public Statutes are furnish
ed, and into all the other acts and doings
of any such corporation, whereby the
rights and privileges of this state or of
any of it's citizels may be affected. The
railroad commissioner shall have the
right in his official capacity 10 enter and
remain during business hours In the
cars, offices and depots, and upon the rail-
roads Of any railroad company In this
state, i'm the perft rmance Of official duties.
Sec. 3. IL shall be the duty of rail
road commissioner to investigate the
causes Of any accident on railroad re-
sulting in the loss of life or injury To per-
son or persons, which in his judgment
shall require investigation and il is here
10y made the duty of the general supern
tendent or manager of each railroad in
the state to inform said railroad commi,-
sioner in writing ofauy such accident i'm
mt diately after its occurrence, and
every corporation that shall refuse or
willfully neglect TO give the information
aforesaid, shall be fined one hundred dol
lars for every day that such neglect shall
continue. Before proceeding 10 make
any such investigation he shall give reas-
enable notice to the person or persons
managing said railroad corporation, of
the time and place Of entering upon sand
investigation. Said railroad commissioner
shall have power for the purpose pro-
vided for in this act To examine the books
aud affairs Of any railroad corporation
and 10 compel the production Of copies of
administer Caths To them and compel
their attendance, as Though such sub
poena had issued from n court of record
Of this state. The fees of witnesses be.
fore said railroad commissioner shall be
one dollar aud fifty cents 81 50) for each
days attendance and ten (l0) cents per
mile travelled 10y the nearest practical
route IN going To and returning from the
place where the attendance of the witness
Is required. Fees of witnesses shall be
paid by the general treasurer upon the
order of the state auditor, out Of any
moneys in the treasury unappropriatcd,
on the cert iticate of raid railroad CDn-
mission, VIII ch will state the number Of
days each witness attended and the num-
Der Of miles travelled. The officer who
shall serve any subpoena upon witnesses
shall be paid at the same rate as II now
provided by law for subpoenaing wit
nesses for the court of common pleas, and
in the same manner.
Sec. A.. The railroad commissioner
shall without charge, upon request
therefor in writing, furnish any person
injured or the friends Of any person kill
ed any information he shall have obtain
ed in relation 10 the manner by which
said person was killed or injured, with
the names Of the persons from whom the
same WAS obtained.
Sec. 3. The railroad commissioner
shall have power TO prescribe the form Of
return 10 be made TO bim, and he shall
on or before the first day Of October in
each and every year, furnish TO the
superintendent or general manager %
every railroad corporation doing ousi-
ness or operating "A railroad In this state,
blank firm Of report, which shall be
filled out and returned 10 said railroad
commissioner on or before the 18th day Of
January next ensuing.
Sec. d. The railroad commissioner
shall annually report TO the general as
sembly, at it's adjourned session in Prov
idence, the condition and proceedings Of
the several railroad corporations, 80 far
as the public interest may require, with
such suggestions and recommendations
as he may deem necessary or eXpedient.
Sec, 7. Ifthe town council sf any town
wherein e turnpike or highway crossed
by railroad on level Herewith Is sit
uated, are Of the opinion that il IL
necessary for the security Of the public
that the turnpike on highway should be
raised or lowered, so as 90 pass over or
under the railroad, they may in writing
road so as 10 raise or lower such turn
pike or highway. II the corporation
shall neglect or refuse 90 60 do, the town
council may apply 10 the railroad COM
missioner 90 decide upon the reasonable
ness Of the request. II the railroad com
missioner, after due notice and hearing
the parties, shall decide that such lower
ing or raising Of grade is necessary for
the security Of the public, the corpora
tiOn shall comply with the decisionj pro-
vided, that either party shall have
right 90 appeal within thirty days after
such decision ~ the supreme court ~ the
county in which said town is situated,
and said court Ehall have full power 10
finally decide such question ~ ~ the
necessity of changing said grade. The
c0st and expense Of making said change
of grade shall be borne by the railroad
cJfI Grafton aud the town asking for such
change, in such proportion as may be de
cided by said supreme court. III after
the decision of the said supreme court
the corporation ehall unreasOnal b.
neglect or refuse 10 change taid grade,
the town council may proceed 10 make
said change. and may in an action
against the corporation recover all
charger and expenses OccasiOned by max
ing the alterations.
Sec. :. The salary of sad railroad
commissioner shall be ten hundred dol
lars per year. 90 be- paid upon the order
II the state auditor, Out Oi any money IN