Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-01
FREE TRANSPORTATION.
Tho Interstate Commerce Commission
Partially Construes the Law.
w teIegraph % the DIspaloh


WAsHrNoIoa. December 81. In its answer
TO the complaint lali before tbe Interstate
Commerce Commission the Boston aud
Maine Railroad Company stated that 10
was IN the habit of giving passes as % bust
ness feature OF its administration 20 nu-
merous classes OF persons, which It specl-
fed in the answer. This concession im-
posed upon the commission the duty OF
giving cons ns.ruction 80 the aci 90 regulate
commerce III respect 70 the right of rail-
road company 90 give intersiate passes TO
such classes OF persons. The commission
met the question squarely and concluded
a long review OF the statute and authori-
ties IN these words
without further citation Of authority
the construction w give 70 section OF the
act 70 regulate commerce - that whore tho
service OF the carrier subject 10 tho act Is
like and contempOrancoas tor dinerent
Passengers, the charge 20 one at q greater
OF less compensation than 20 another con-
stituted unjust discrimination and ~ un-
lawful, unless the charge OF sucn greater
or less compensation Is allowed under tha
exceptions provided ~ section l2. and that
where ths traffic is under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions ia
other respects il 10 not rendered dissImilar
within the meaning OF the statute by tho
fact chat such passengers hold rnlho. or as
~ sometimes termed. unequal. oinciai, So
cial or business persons or those who belong
% different CLASSES as they ere ordinarily
termed IN q community, or ale arbitrarily
created by the carrier"
This would exclude the right % give
interstate passes 10 certain classes s9eci-
fed In the answer, which included gen.
tlemen eminent II. the sivio service,
higher o.icorsn ~ 8 afes. " prominent
officers OF tho Ul.tod States" members oe
railroad legislative committees, and
persons whose good Will IS important to
the corporation
FREE ONLY IN NAME.
There were other classes Of pass-holders
named ia tho answer whose passes, though
In form fiee, wes FREQ only IN name be.
cause in reality there was sOmo considora-
tion for them, such as those issued to
newspaper-men ia exchange tor adyer-
tising, TO hotel prOprietors. los dealers.
aud milk dealers. aud 10 some other per.
sons who are claimed TO stand on special
ground Of right. As To these chsses OF
persons the commission said that the IN.
vestigatiom would have to be extended 10
enable it 10 pass a satisfactory judgments
thereon AID that 10 avoid the delsy
which proper and full lnyestiga-
tion OF these classes would. Occasion, aud
in Wow OF their minor Importance aud
vet perhaps greater difficulty of decision
and OF the urgency that the detendano
should be informed 40 this time OF the do
cislon upon the leading question invoiycd-
mainly the general construction OF tho
statufe upon the subject OF free Transports
tion-tLe commission conc luded TO hold the
case az 10 such special classes OF persons
for such further investi cation "a mIghs DO
necessary % put II IN tuil possession OF al
the facts before finally passing upon thss',
and in the mean time TO issue an order ap-
plicablo to tho classes first named IN sc-
cordance with the construction OF the law
as set forth, this being pursuant to prac-
tlce In other cases.