The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1891-01-28

Y
Section l6 provides for a PEN
atty of from $500 to $4,000 for
refusal or wilful neglect to
furnish information to the COM
missioners or to hinder them in
the discharge Of their official
duties.
Section Ia permits the COM
missioners to ride free while in
the discharge of their duties.
Section is repeals all laws
authorizing railroad companies
to charge higher rates than tho
commission may allow.
Section 10 requires the COM
missioners to notify corpora
tions Of violations of the rules,
and if such violations continue
to report the facts TO the attor-
ney general.
Section 20authorizes the COM
missioners whenever they deem
that repairs are necessary upon
any railroad, or that additions
to its rolling stock, or an addi-
tion to or change of its stations
is reasonable and expedient in
order to promote the security,
convenience and accommodation
of the public, to notify the cor
poration Of the improvement OF
charges which it considers prop
er; and upon failure to comply,
subjects the corporation to a
penalty Of from 5000 to $4,000.
Section 81 prohibits railroad
companies from disseminating
stations without the consent Of
the commissioners.
Section % provides that sta
tions and depots may be changed
with the consent of the com
missioners and the local author
tiles.
Section % empowers the COM
missioners to require railroads
to provide separate accommoda-
tons for white and colored pas
sengers.
Section "a provides that rail-
roads may be required to use
safeguards in the construction
of frogs, switches, etc, to pre-
vent accidents to employees.
Section IS requires all COM
mon carriers to afford reason
able facilities for the inter-
change Of passenger and freight
traffic between their respective
lines.
The last three sections con-
tain formal provisions; the last
clause providing that the act
shall 60 into effect on the first
Of April, 1891.
These in brief, are the pro-
visions Of the bill. That the
act, when passed, will differ but
little if any from its present
form scarcely admits of a doubt,
as the bill was perfected in a
caucus of its supporters, who
are strong enough TO put il
through without amendment or
alteration. #~~
The provisions of the bill are
quite liberal as to the powers
conferred upon the commission
ers, but the right Of the rail-
roads TO appeal TO the courts Is
expressly conceded, and proyi.
sion is made for expeditions
hearing Of such appeals. Il will
be observed, as q prominent
feature Of the bill, that Il does
notrequire uniformity Of rates IN
the state, but provides that the
circumstances Of each road may
be considered in making rates.
The right to make different rates
for long and short hauls Is con-
ceded, but hedged in with pro-
visions that prevent discrimina-
ton. The wisdom Of giving the
commissioners authority 70 die
tate 70 the railroads In regard
70 what rolling stock, equip
ments and stations they shall
provide, seems 70 be question.
able. Il is understood that these
are regulated by the law Of de-
mand and supply; and II Is sup
posed that the corporations, as
a matter Of business, provide
such accommodations as the
traffic Of their roads require and
their incomes Justify. Il Is not
probable, however, that the