The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-04-23

l
him, and which he would be required to
answer if in court, the commission shall
have the power to fine and imprison
such witness for contempt in the same
manner that judge of the district court
might do under similar circumstances.
The claim that any such testimony may
tend to criminate tie person giving it
shall not excuse such witness from tes-
tifying, but such evidence or testimony
shall not be used against such person on
the trial of any criminal proceeding
provided the commission shall in all
cases have the right in its discretion to
issue proper process and take deposit
lions instead of compelling personal at
tendance of witnesses. The sheriff or
constable executing any process issued
under any other provisions of this bill
shall receive such compensation as may
be allowed by the commission, not to
exceed fees as now prescribed by law for
similar services.
Sec. IA. If any railroad company sub
ject to this act, or its agent or officer,
shall hereafter charge, collect, demand
or receive from any person, company,
firm or corporation, a greater rate,
charge or compensation than that fixed
and established by the railroad commits
sion for the transportation of freight,
passengers or cars, or for the use of any
car on the line of its railroad, or any
line operated by it, or for receiving, for
warding, handling or storing any such
freight or cars, or for any other service
performed or to be performed by it, such
railroad company and its said agent and
officer shall be deemed guilty of eXtor-
ton, and shall forfeit and pay to the
state of Texas a sum of not less than
500 nor more than $4,000.
Sec. 10. If any railroad subject here
to, directly or indirectly, or by any
special rate, rebate, drawback or other
device, shall charge, demand, collect or
receive from any person, firm or corpor-
alton greater or less compensation for
any service rendered or to be rendered
by it than charges, demands, collects or
receives from any other person, firm or
corporation for doing like and contem-
poraneous service, such railroad shall
be deemed guilty of unjust discrimina-
ton, which is hereby prohibited.
(@ 1t shall also be an unjust dis
elimination for any such railroad to
make or give any undue or unreason-
able preference or advantage to any par
ticular person, company, firm, corpora
ton or locality, or to subject any par
ticular description Of traffic to any I'M
due or unreasonable prejudice, delay, or
disadvantage in any respect whatever.
(b) Every railroad company which
shall fail OF refuse under such regula-
tions as may be prescribed by law or by
the commission to receive and trans
port, without delay or indiscrimination
the passengers, tonnage and cars, loaded
or empty, of any connecting line of rail
road, and every railroad which shall,
under such regulations as may be pre-
scribed' by the commission. fail and re-
fuse to transport and deliver without
delay or discrimination any passengers,
tonnage or cars, loaded or empty, des-
tined to any point on or over the line of
any connecting line of railroad, shall be
deemed guilty of unjust discrimination,
provided perishable freights of all kinds
and live stock shall have precedent of
shipment.
(c) 1t shall also be unjust discrimina-
ton for any railroad subject hereto to
charge or receive any greater compensa-
ton in the aggregate for the transporta-
ton of like kind of property or passen-
gers for shorter than for longer dis
lance over the same line. Provided,
that upon application to the commits
sion any railroad may in special case, to
prevent manifest injury, to be author
lied by the commission to charge less
for longer than for shorter distances for
transporting persons and property, and
the commission shall from time to time
prescribe the extent to which such des-
ignated railroad may be relieved from
the operations of this provision. Pro-
vided, that no manifest injustice shall
be imposed upon any citizen at inter-
mediate points. Provided, further, that
nothing herein shall be so construed as
to prevent the commission from making
what are known as GROUP rates" on
any line or lines of railroad in this state.
(6 Any railroad company violating
any provision of this section shall be
deemed guilty of unjust discrimination,
and shall for each offense pay to the
state of Texas a penalty of not less than
$500 nor more than $4,000.
(M Nothing herein shall prevent the
carriage, storage or handling of freight
free or at reduced rates for the state or
for any city, county or town govern
ment, or for charitable purposes, or to
and from fairs and expositions for exhi-
bition thereof, or the free carriage of
destitute and INDECENT persons, or the
issuance of mileage or excursion pas
senger tickets; nor to prevent railroads
from giving free transportation to min
listers of religion, or the free transporta-
ton of the inmates of hospitals, ele-
mosynary and charitable institutions,
and to the employees Of the agricultural
and geological departments of this state,
or tO Dancn officers of this state. and