The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1897-05-26

important SeCtlOnS or the recently en-
acted railroad commission law:
Duties of the Board.-That said COM
missioners shall make reasonable and
just rates of freight and passenger traf-
fic to be observed by all railroad COM
panies and all others engaged as COM
mon carriers doing business in this state
over their respective lines or connecting
lines and shall make reasonable and just
regulations for the observance of the
same, as to charges at any and all points
for the necessary handling and delivery
of all kinds of freight and transportation
of passengers, and for the prevention of
any unjust discrimination in connection
Herewith; shall make reasonable and
just rates of charges for the use and
transportation of all kinds of railroad
cars, conveying all kinds of freight to
and from any and all points in this state;
shall have the power to make reasonable
and just joint rates on all connecting rail-
roads doing business in this state, as to
all traffic or business passing from one
of said railroads to another, and to re-
quire the establishing of such freight and
passenger depots as the conditions of the
gers and prompt delivery of freight and
most convenient transfer of passengers
and freight may justify, and for the es
tabliShing of such schedules for the arri-
val and departure of all trains at such
depots as public comfort and convenience
may require and shall have power to
regulate interchange of traffic between
railroads, also to regulate the charges
for storage wharfage, demurrage and
terminal facilities; and to regulate and
direct the use and charges for use of re-
frigerator cars, icing, etc. in transit and
to direct and control all other matters
pertaining to railroads that shall be for
the good of the public.
Provided, however, That before apply
ing joint rates to roads not under point
management and control, the commits
sioners shall give thirty days notice to
the owners, operators or lessons of said
road of the joint rate contemplated and
of it's division of the same, and give hear
ing to roads desiring to object to such
rates. and shall make just and reasonable
rules and regulations for the observance
of all railroad companies operating said
road to prevent the giving or paying of
any bonus or rebate or devices of any de-
scription used by said company, directly
or indirectly, for the purpose of deceiv-
ing or misleading the public as to the
actual rates charged; provided, that the
said commissioners shall have the power
to create rating or basing points at plac-
es where competing lines of railroads
meet and to break the continuity of
rates to and from such points, so as to
maintain competition between rival
roads.
Section directs the commission to in
vestigate interstate rates. and when it
finds that thorough rate is excessive or
unreasonable or discriminating in it's ma
ture" the commission shall call the at
tention Of the railroad officials to the fact,
and urge upon them the propriety Of
changing such rates. Then: whenever
such are not changed according to the
suggestion of the Railroad Commission
it will be the duty of the commission to
appeal to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for relief
Section S reads follows:
Rates to be Prescribed-That said com
missioners shall make and furnish to
each railroad corporation doing business
in this state as soon as practicable
printed schedule of just and reasonable