St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-10
HALvoRsEN's BILL
TO Prevent Interstate Railway
From CentraliZing Business.

congressman EalV0rSen, OF this state.
whose election in the old Fifth district
over Congressman COmStock in the fall
of 1890 was such surprise, has intro
duced a railroad bill in the house of
representatives that seems to have
already received the Endorsement of the
members of the Farmers Alliance. 1t
has one virtue that is worthy of consid-
GRAFTON, ard it gives the long lines a
chance at the business. All freight rates
are TO be regulated according to the air.
line distance between the point of ship
ment and the place of destination. The
railroads of the country are divided into
three grades, and the rates charged vary
according to cost and business done
The interstate railway commissioners
are charged with the duty of carrying
out the provisions of the act. The bill
follows in full:
bill for an act to prevent the interstate
railways from being used to unjustly central
iZe business and wealth. To provide for a
uniform classification of freight rates on all
interstate railways in the United States
be 1t enacted by the senate and house of
representatives i'll congress assembled:
Section /. All railways extending from
one state into or through another state. con
structed uncer the law of eminent domain,
or TO which grants of land right of WAY or
other public aid has been made are hereby
declared to be public highways and open to
the use of the public Oh equal and reasonable
terms.
See > The interstate railroads shall be di
vlded by the board of interstate railway com
mlssIoners Into three grades, TO be known as
nrst grade, second grade and third grade
railroads. The first grade shall embrace ali
railroad trunk lines east of the Missouri and
the Mississippi river, below the mouth CT the
ONO river. The second grade shall embrace
ali railroads east of the Missouri river not
trunk lines and all railroads between the
Missouri river and The 105th degree of lon
gltude west from Greenwich and all railroads
south of the Ohio river. The third grade
shall embrace all railroads between the lO5th
degree OF west longitude and the Pacific
ocean.
commissioners is empowered and hereby DIT
rected to classify all interstate freight into
TOUR separate and distinct classes, and to es-
tablish Il schedule of rates for each class Of
freight The classes of freight shall be num-
bered from one 10 ten consecutively. The
highest rate shall be for freight of the first
class, the next highest rate for freight of
OF the second-class, and SO on to the tenth
class, which shall be the lowest rate.
Sec. i. The board of interstate railway
commissioners shall levy uniform rates. The
rates so levied shall be made up of terminal
charges aud mileage charges. The terminal
charge for each class shall be the same
whether the haul be long or short The
mileage charge for each class shall be based
upon the air line distance between the point
OF SHIPMENT and The point Of destination
sec. D. For the purpose of simplifying the
schedules of rates, and to enable ali persons
to readily determine the rates between any
two points. the air line distance shall be de-
termlned by applying scale of equal parts
TO q map, approved as correct by the board
OF interstate railway commissioners The
distance SO obtained shall determine the
number OF miles upon which the rate is to
be levied
Sec. 6. In determining what are reaso.-
aole freight rates per ton per mile in car
LOAD lots over railroads OF the first grade the
board of interstate railway commissioners
shall take the through rate for carload lots.
between Boston and Chicago in force on the
first day of July, 1891. Deduct from that
reasonable amount for terminal charges on
the different classes of freight and di-
vide the remainder by nine hundred
(90J that being the estimated miles of
air line distance between . the two
points. The qaotients so obtained shall
be deemed reasonable mileage rates Der ton
per'iate for.each kind of freight in carload
lots over al railroads of the first ID grade.
FOR railroads OF the second % grade the
board of interstate railway commissioners
may fix a rate not to exceed TWENTY-FIVE (25)
per cent higher than that on railroads of the
first CD grade and for third (3) grade rail
roads rate not to exceed fifty 600 per cent
higher than the rate on railroads of the first
% grade.
Sec T. For the purposes of this act %, 600
pounds shall be deemed a maximum car
load, except light, bulky freight. of which
IO,O00 pounds may be considered full car
load On Quantities less than a carload the
board OF interstate railway commissioners
may nix the rate per mile at not to exceed
forty CID per cent IN excess of carload rate
for the same class; but shipments in carload
lots o. more than one class of freight may be
made at the shippers option i'll one and the
same car at carl Dad rates for the number of
pounds of each class 50 shipped
Sec g. The shipper may direct over what
line or lines Of railroad his shipment shall be
made. When the shipper directs transfer
OF his shipment from the railroad of one
railway company to the railroad of another
railway company he shall pay reasonable
transfer charges not to exceed one dollar and
fifty cents for carload. When less than a
carload of freight is transferred from one
railroad to another railroad ut the shipper s
order, the board of interstate railway COM
mlSSlonerS shall fix the charges for such
transfer; provided. however, that no transfer
charges shall be paid from any railroad to r.
terminal company of which the railroad de-
hVerlng the freight to such terminal COM
pany Is a member.
Sec. 9. The freight rates established by the
board of interstate railway commissioners
under the provisions of this act shall be
prlma facie evidence of being reasonable
rates and shall take effect upon publication
and remain il foe until set aside by the
court of last resort
Sec 10. The board of interstate railway
commissioners shall make all needful rules
and regulations for the enforcement of
the provisions of this act 1t shall be their
duty to publish, for the information of the
public, full statement showing the classifi-
calion OF freight. aud the rate per
ton per mile of the several classes
on the three grades of railways.
They shall, within six co. months
after the passage of this act, cause to be pub
llshed correct railroad map of the United
States showing the three grades of interstate
railways in lines of different color. and all
the stations on the said railway lines. which
map shall be authority for estimating the dis
tances for levying freight rates between the
several stations. A certified copy of said
map, classification and schedules of freight
rates per ton per mile shall be kept for pub
lie inspection in conspicuous place in all
railway stations on interstate railroads in the
United States
Sec. II. Any railroad company charging a
higher freight rate than the rate established
by the board of interstate railway commits
sloners under the provisions of this act
Tor the transportation of freight from one
point on an interstate railway to another
point on The same interstate railway in an
otner state or 10 any point on another inter-
state railway in another state shall, upon
conviction thereof, be liable to fine of five
thousand (S5,000) dollars for each and every
ofense- The official map shall be the au-
thorIty for the distance of which the court
shall take cogniZance
Sec. II. All acts and parts of acts incon-
slstent with this act are hereby repealed
Sec. ID. This act shall take effect from and
after It's passage.
Lively Kalispell.
c. f. Conrad of KaliSDnll Mont ,,ac