The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-31
RAILROAD POOLING BILL.
Introduced in the Senate by Senator
 ITOraker

Foraker,
 Washington, March 30-Senator For aker this mornine introduced in the senate a modified form of the Patterson pooling bill. which permits railroads under certain restrictions, to pool in the matter of transportation of freights. The bill is quite voluminous. making more than thirty printed pages,
 The first section amends the inter- state commerce act so as to render it lawful for railroad associations to en- ter into pools under the following con- ditions:
 Every contract agreement or ar rangement shah be in writing and filed with a commission created by this act, and shall become lawful and enforcible between the parties thereto at the eX- piration of twenty days from the filing thereof unless the commission shall in the meantime, and upon such investi- gatiOn and consideration as it may deem proper, make an order diSapprOv ing of the same, and it shall be the duty of the commission to make such order of disapproval whenever, upon such investigation and consideration, it shall be of the opinion that the opera tion of any such contract, by reason of It's provisions or for want of necessary restrictions and limitations, would re- suit in unreasonable rates, unjust dis crimination, insufficient service to the public, or otherwise contravene any of the provisions of this act
 It is also made the duty of the com mission to observe the workings of such contracts or agreements as affect the transportation business of the coun- try and to investigate all complaints re- lating to rates or facilities afforded by pooling associations, and whenever the commission after due notice shall find that any such rates, facilities or practices are excessive or unreasonable, or result in any unjust discrimination as between individuals, localities or ar ticles of traffic or are otherwise in con- travention of any of the provisions of this act, the commission shall issue an order requiring such rates and charges, etc. maintained by or inder such con tract, to be changed, modified or cor rected."
 The authority of the commission goes lO LIlt tHlFIil pl tiilOWlllS NJ Ntls1t'p prove of the contract itself and requir- ing it to be terminated at time men toned, which time, it IS provided, shall not be less than thirty days.
 The effect of this order. it is specifi- cally stated would render the contract unlawful and nou-enforcible, but it is provided that the orders and findings of the commission in such cases shall be subject to review by the United States circuits courts upon petition.
 The bill further provides that in such cases the courts shall act speedily in determining questions of this character and that it shall make such order or de- cree as may be just and equitable in de- termining whether the contract shall be enforced notwithstanding the disap- proval by the commission.
 A further appeal is allowed by any of the parties to the supreme court of the United States, where such cases are to be given the right of advancement on the docket as government cases. The contract is to be unlawful during. the pendency of the cases i'll court if the decision had been against the pool.
 The bill requires all common carriers to print and keep open to public inspec- tion their schedules of both passenger and freight rates, giving full particu- lars as to the classification of freight, terminal charges, etc. the schedules to be plainly printed in large type and pasted in conspicuous places in every depot.
 No advance is to be made in rates or charges except after ten days public notice and it is made unlawful to re- ceive a greater or less compensation for the transportation of either passengers or freight than specified in the sched- ules All railroad and other transport ation companies are required to file cop ies of their schedules with the interstate commerce commission.
 All joint schedules are to be filed with the commission and to be made public as the commission may deem practical. Practically the same regulations pro- vided for single companies apply to joint agreements in the matter of the notice of the reduction or increase of rates and it is also made unlawful for a part to any joint tariff to receive oth- CT compensation than that provided for in it's schedule.
 CONFERENCE AT NEW YORK.
 New York. March 30.-A conference between counsel for the members of the Joint Traffic association was held here to-day. The conference was attended by the attorneys of almost every rail- road included in the Joint Traffic asso- citation, and was for the purpose of dis cussing the decision of the supreme court in the Trans Missouri Freight as sociation case. James c. Carter, coun- sel for the Joint Traffic association in whose office the meeting was held. when seen this morning before the meeting, said that he had no idea what would be discussed or what action would be taken. Ali the other counsel were equally reticent about the nature of the conference.