St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-03
MORE LEGISLATION
Recommended by the State Rail-
road Commission.

From all sides suggestions to legiS-
fators are pouring, and the latest to
enter the field is the state railroad and
warehouse commission. The commits
sion, according to law, is required to
submit report with reference to such
amendments OF revision of the railroad
laws of the state as the best interests of
the state seem to us TO demand" In
the investigation and consideration of
this subject, and in view of the expert
eDceS which the commission has had
with former reports relating to legiSla-
ton, it has been decided not to draft
any amendments or laws for the con-
sideratlon of the legislature. The COM
mission confines itself rather to calling
The attention Of the law-making power
10 such changes in the law as Observa-
ton and experience in administering it
show to be necessary and proper. The
famous milk cases were reviewed at
length, and the decision of the state
and the United States supreme court
quoted verbatim. Following these is
this recommendation:
That the act of March z, 1887, be amended
go as to conform to the views expressed by
court; that in all cases of complaint under
section of said act, or of any investigation
made by the commission upon Its own mo-
ton, provision be made for hearing upon
proper service of a summons or notice to the
company concerned; that opportunity be
given by the act for the introduction of wit
nesses before the commission, and that au-
thorty be given for an appeal from the order
or requirement of the commission TO the Su-
preme court of the state. The commission
is of opinion that the law as amended should
make the rates recommended by it as prima
fncil canal and reasonable and that the
same should become lawful and remain in
force until set aside by court of competent
jurisdiction.
The commission prints copy of the
report of the conference of railroad COM
missloners at Washington in 1889, the
conclusions of which are strongly rec
commended to the Legislature.
1t is expedieut that the laws of the several
states should be i'll exact harmony with the
provisions of the interstate commerce act on
the following topics:
The definition and prohibition Of unjust
discrimination.
The prohibition of undue and unreason-
able preferences and advantages.
The requirement of equal facilities for the
Interchange of traffic.
The regulation of the relations between
rates of compensation to be allowed for long
and short hauls.
The regulation as to printing and posting
rates, fares, and charges.
The regulations as TO notice to be given of
advances and reductions in rates.
The penalties for false billing, false CLASH
fcation. false weighing, etc.
The respective states either directly by
law or indirectly through the instrumentality
of their railroad commissions should require
each railroad corporation subject to their
jurisdictions TO place upon every freight car
hereafter constructed or purchased by it, and
upon every freight car owned by it. the
coupler OF drawbar of which is repaired by
it, an automatic coupler of the master car
builders tyre at each end of the car.
A uniform requirement of train brakes on
freight cars and of driving-wheel brakes on
locomotives is desirable.