The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-03
IT is THE BILL.
4 Description of the Railroad
Rate Measure
As Completed Today Which 1t
Is Expected
WILL BECOME A LAW.
A Pretty Clear Idea Of It's Pro
visions
Given In an Interview With w.
f. Brown.
WILL BECOME A LAW.

The house committee on railroads of
which Representative w. F. Brown of
Pratt is chairman, has about completed
the bill which will be introduced by the
committee in the house tomorrow morn
ing. The bill is stringent one in many
respects, but the committee says it is
only fair and just in all its provisions
This is the bill as it is expected to pass:
Mr. Brown made the following state
ment concerning the measure to aJour-
nal reporter this afternoon:
THE bill will prohibit discrimination
in all phases and forms. 1t will place
the small shipper on a basis of equal
ity with the large one. 1t will cut off
the giving of rebates, and provides
heavy penalties for giving them
1T provides for the transfer of freight
from one line to another; it prohibits
discrimination in favor of the long haul
as against the short haul; it prohibits
pooling; it makes the rates fixed by the
railroads themselves Just rate, and it
also becomes the legal rate which must
be given to all alike.
This prohibits favoritism in the mat
ter of localities and places all upon
basis of equality.
This rate fixed by the railroads.
however, must be within the rates
which are fixed in the bill or such
rate as may hereafter be fixed by the
board of commissioners.
THE bill also provides for joint rates
and gives any person the right to swear
out a writ of mandamus to compel the
roads to give such joint rates; also for
continuous carriage; provides for DAM
ages under certain conditions and for
recovery of damages; makes. every rail-
way official responsible under certain
conditions for the carrying out of the
provisions of the bill. 1t also provides
for the classification of the roads. They
are placed in three classes, according
to their gross receipts per mile.
The roads earning 81 900 per mile or
over are in the first class.
"Claos B includes all roads whose
earnings shall be $4,000 and less than
81, 900.
'Ciass c includes all railroads whose
gross earnings are less than So, 900 per
1.-The reports from companies under
the bill, if it is enforced, will be very
complete. One of the strongest fea-
lures OF this is that the findings of the
commissioners shall be prima facie evil
dence of their business. This throws
the burden of proof upon the complain
ant. The people on the one side and
the railroads on the other.
1.-The bill will provide for a schedule
| of rates. which shall be a basis from
| which the commissioners must work;
| but the bill provides that the tariff OF
rates established in the schedule. set
| forth in this act, shall be considered
! the basis on which to compare the
| compensa ton for the transportation of
merchandise. freight, goods or property
| over any line of road in this state, I'M
| less the same shall be found to be I'M
| reasonable or unjust, excessive or too
| low, and shall go into effect and be in
| force on the LIST day of July, 1897.
1.-The bill. in addition to the schedule
| of rates, will also fix the classificatiOns,
but the classificat tons will be the same
| as are now used by the roads them
| selves; and this classification will be
| subject to the same changes and mod
| ifications as the schedule of rates. The
! bill also provides for joint through
! rates. and it also provides that the
| board of railroad commissioners can or
! der the attorney general to bring suit
| in the federal courts in the name of the
/ state of Kansas, to compel the inter-
| state commerce commission to fix rea-
| sonable interstate rates This is one
| of the most important provisions in the
| entire act.
THE schedule of rates viii show a re-
| duction of about 20 per cent as COM
pared with the present rates, but they
| are still from 10 to Is per cent higher
| than are the rates in effect in Iowa"
| This bill does not provide for the
| election of railroad commissioners
That will be reported in separate act