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

and depot buildings ar It's seven 7'"-
lions for the accommodation OF passen-
gers. aud said depot buildings snail De
kept well lighted and warmed Tor the
comfort and accommodation Of the fraV.'
cling public. and all such railroads snail
keep and maintain adequate and suitable
freight depots and buildings for the re-
ceiving, handling. storing and delivering
of all freight handled by such roads.
Provided, that this shall not be con-
strued as repeating any existing laws on
this subject"
(a) The said commission shall have
power, and it shall be its duty to fairly
and Justly classify and subdivide all
freight and property of whatsoever char-
acter that may be transported over the
railroads of this state into such general
and special classes or subdivisions as
may be found necessary and eXpedlent'
Cb) The commission shall have power
and it shall be its duty to fix each class
OF subdivision of freight a reasonable
rate for each railroad subject to this act
ior the transportation of oach OF SAID
classes and subdivisions.
(c) The classification herein provided
for shall apply to and be the same for all
railroads subject to the provisions of this
act.
(d) The said commission may fix diff
ferent rates for different railroads and
for different lines under the same man
agement, or for different parts of the
same line, if found necessary to do JUS
tice, and may make rates for express
companies different from the rates liked
for railroads
(e) The said commission shall have
power, and it shall be its duty to fix and
establish for all or any connecting lines
of railroad in this state reasonable and
Just rates of freight charges for the va
rious classes of freight and cars that may
pass over two or more lines of such rail-
roads.
(f) If any two or more connecting
railroads shall fail to agree upon TAR
and just division of the charges arising
from the transportation of freight, pas
sengers OF cars over their lines, the COM
mission shall fix the pro rata OF such
charges to be received by each OF said
connecting lines.
(g) Until the commission shall make
the classifcations and schedules of rates
as herein provided for, and afterwards if
they deem it advisable, they may make
partial or special classifications for all
or any of the railroads subject hereto,
and fix the rates to be charged by such
roads therefor; and such classitications
and rates shall be put into effect in the
manner provided for general classified
lions and schedules of rates.
CHI The commission shall have power
and it shall be it's duty, from time to
time to alter, change, amend or abolish
any classification or rate established by
it, when deemed necessary; and such
amended, altered or new classitications
of rates shall be put into effect in the
same manner as the originals.
D The commission may adopt and
enforce such rules, regulations and
modes of procedure as it may deem prop
er, to hear and determine complaints
that may be made against the classified
tons or the rates, the rules. regulations
and determinations of the commission.
ID The commission shall make reas-
enable and just rates of charges for each
railroad subject hereto for the use of
transportation of loaded OF empty cars
on its road; and may establish for each
railroad, or for all railroads alike, reas-
enable rates for the storing and hand
ling of freight and for the use of cars not
unloaded after forty-eight hours notice
to the consignee, not toinclude Sundays.
Ok The commission shall make and
establish reasonable rates for the trans
portation of passengers over each and
all of the railroads subject hereto, which
rates shall not exceed the rates fixed by
law. The commission shall have power
to prescribe reasonable rates, tolls or
charges for all other services performed
by any railroad subject hereto.
Sec. 4. Before any rates shall be es-
tablished under this act, the commission
shall give the railroad company to be
affected thereby ten days notice of the
time and place when and where the rates
shall be fixed; and said railroad company
shall be entitled to be heard at such time
and place. to the end that justice may
be done; and it shall have process to en-
force the attendance of its witnesses.
All process herein provided for shall be
served as in civil cases.
(a) The commission shall have power
to adopt rules to govern its proceedings,
and to regulate the mode and manner of
all Investigations and hearings of rail
road companies and other parties before
it, in the establishment of rates, orders,
charges and other acts required of it un-
der this law; provided, no person desir-
irg to be present at any such investiga-
ton by said commission, shall be denied
admission.
Cb) The chairman and each of the
commissioners, for the purposes men,
toned in this act, shall have power to
administer all oaths, certify to all official
acts, and to compel the attendance of
witnesses and the production of papers,
way-bills, books, accounts, documents