St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-31

to amend chapter ten QU) General Law 5
of 1887, entitled: ''An act TO regulale
common carriers, and creating the rail-
TO ad and warehouse commission OF tile
ST ate of Minnesota, and defining the
duties of such commission IN relation
to comm on carriers"
The bill follows in full:
Section 1. That section eight (9) of chap
ter ten (10) of the General Laws OF 1881 1T. ne
amended by striking out subdivision tel, "
and (g) and substituting therefor the tollo"-
ing, to wit:
fe) That upon complaint, duly verified,
of any person, firm or corporation or assocl-
alton, or any mercantile, agricultural or
manufacturing society, or any body polite
or municipal organization, that any part OF
the tariff of rates, fares, charges or ciassllca-
tions so filed and published, as herelnbetore
provided. are in any respect unequal or un-
reasonable. the commission shall forward Il
copy of such complaint to the common car
rier complained OF, who shall be called upon
to satisfy the complaint, or to answer the
same in writing within reasonable time, to
be specified by the commission. and to serve
a copy of such answer on the complainant.
If the common carrier shall change the
tariff of rates. fares, charges or classified
tions as demanded by the complainant.
within the time specified by the commission,
proceedings shall be dropped.
If the common carrier shall refuse or neg
lect to make such changes, the commission
snail q
the matter, OF which at least ten days notice
shall be given to the complainant and the
common carrier complained OF; such nouce
shall be served either by mailing a copy
thereof TO some general officer OF such com
mon carrier, or personally by some person
directed to do so by the commission.
For the purpose of such investigation the
commission shall have the power TO require
the attendance of witnesses and the pro-
duction of all books, papers, contracts, agree
ments and documents that relate to the mat
ter under investigation, and to that end may
invoke the aid OF any court in this state re-
curing the attendance OF witnesses ana the
production of books, papers and documents
under the provision of this section. Wit
nesses may be introduced and evidence given
by either party at all hearings before the
commission.
Where Found Unequal.
After due consideration by the commission
of all the evidence produced at such hearing
or hearings the commission shall make its
report in writing to the complainant and to
the common carrier complained of. II the
tariff of rates, fares, charges and cIasslfica-
tiOns complained of shall be found by the
evidence to be unequal or unreasonable, the
commission shall state wherein they are un-
equal Or unreasonable, and shall make q
tariff of rates, fares, charges and classitica-
tions, which shall be substituted for the tariff
complained of.
Such tariff of rates, fares charges or classi
fcations, SO made by the commission, shall
be deemed and taken in all courts of this
state as prima facie evidence that the tariff
of rates. fares, charges or classifcations sc
made is equal and reasonable, and such
tariff SO made shall be in full force and eff
feet during the pendency of any appeal that
may be taken in the matter to the courts.
(f) In case such common carrier shall
neglect or refuse after the time for appea
as hereinafter provided has expired, to adop
such tariff of rates, fares, charges and classi
fications, SO made by the commission, il
shall be the duty of the commission to pub
1ish such tariff of rates, fares, charges and
classifcations as they have declared to be
equal and reasonable, in such manner as the
commission shall deem expedient, and tina
thereafter it shall be unlawful for such com
mon carrier TO charge or maintain a higher
or lower rate fare. charge or classification
than that so fixed by said commission, unless
and until court Of competent jurisdiction
shall have otherwise ordered and decreed.
Sec. 9. That section thirteen Q3) of sale
chapter ten (10) of General Laws OF 1887 bt
amended by striking out subdivision (b) anC
substituting therefor the following, to wit:
(bJ Whereupon statement of the charge!
so made shall be forwarded by the commits
sion to such common carrier, who shall bt
called upon to satisfy the complaint or tc
answer the same in writing within reason
able time TO be specified by the commission,
and to serve copy of such answer upon the
complainant II such common carrier, with
in the time specified, shall make reparation