St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-20

practicable a schedule of rates for passeus
gers and cars, and they may change and rex
wise such schedules as often as circumt
stances may require. Ten days notice must
be given before deciding such rates.
Section - provides that railroad commits.
sioners shall investigate all complaints of un,
reasonably high or discriminating rates az
fixed by the commissioners in section u.
Section % provides for the manner of hear.
ing and conducting such investigations, and
places the burden of proof regarding the al,
legged high and discriminating rate upon the
railroad rather than the complainant.
Section "a provides for the fixing OF rates
by The commissioners after holding such in-
vestigation.
Section 25 provides that the board OF rail.
road commissioners may conduct their pro-
ceedlngs in such manner as will best con,
duce to the ends of justice.
Sec. 26. Annual reports are required from
all common carriers in the state, which shall
show the amount of capital stock issued. the
amounts paid therefor, the manner Of pay
ment Tor the same, the dividends paid, the
number OF free passes issued and to whom.
the surplus fund if any, the number of stock.
holders, the funded and floating debts and
the interest paid thereon, the costs and
value of the carriers property. franchises
ana equipments, the number OF officers and
employees, and the salaries paid each class;
the amounts expended for improvements,
earnings and receipts, operating and other
expenses, balance of profit and loss, and
complete exhibit of the financial operations
of the carrier each year, including an annual
balance sheet; also in regard 10 rates and
regulations in force.
Section q provides that any railroad COM
pany collecting or receiving more than fair
and reasonable rate for passengers or freight
shall be deemed guilty of extortion
Sec %. For discrimination in regard to
passenger or freight rates. or for any service
whatsoever, all evidence submitted regarding
the same shall be taken as prima facie evi-
dence of the unjust Determinations prohib-
tied by the provisions of this act
Section ~ provides that it shall be unlaw
ful for any railroad company to charge more
per car than it charges for several cars or
more per ton or per 100 pounds than it
charges for several hundred pounds for alike
class Of freight, over the same railroad, for
the same distance. and III the same direction
Sec. 80. Any railroad corporation guilty OF
extortion or discrimination as TO passengers
or freight shall be liable, upon conviction, to
be fined IN any sum not less than ST or more
than 5000, and for every subsequent otfenso
not less than 5000, nor more than $4,000.
Section 81 provides for inflcting the same
penalty by civil action. by ordinary pro-
ceedIngs in the name of the state
Section ~ provides that the railroad COM
missioners shall Immediately cause suits TO
be commenced and prosecuted against such
railroads or common carriers that they have
good reason to believe has been guilty Of ex-
tortion or discrimination. Such suits may
Section 80 provides that this act does not
apply 10 United States, state, municipal gov
ernment freights, or the handling OF freights
for charitable purposes nor the giving of re-
duced rates to school children, ministers OF
OF free carriage to their own officers and en-
ployes and families, and 10 persons in charge
OF live stock in transit and return, or TO the
interchange OF passes between principal
officers or employees from exchanging passes
or tickets for their officers ana employees: but
the issue OF free Tasses TO any other person or
persons is prohibited and declared 10 be I'M
lawful.
Sec. "a. The railroad commissioners and
their secretaries, with any experts or other
agents whose services they may require, are
to be transported free of charge.
Section 35 provides for the expenses Of the
commission and that an appropriation OF
$4,000 by made by the state
The enacting clause provides that the
bill take effect sixty days after its pass