The advocate., 1897-02-24
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
What the House Bill Proposes to Accom-.
plIsh for the People.

pliSh for the People.
The railroad bill now pending in the
House Of Representatives House bill No.
67S) is an exhaustive and carefully pre-
pared document, and it would seem that
if it were enacted into law it would go
long way toward correcting the evils
under which producers, shippers and the
public generally are now laboring to
such great disadvantage.
The object Of the bill seems to be not
only to regulate railroads and establish
maximum charges" but it goes further
than that. 1t seeks to prevent discrimi.
nation by special rates, rebate, draw
back or other device, and by its terms
declares such discrimination unjust and
unlawful. 1t also prevents common car
riers from giving preference or Sdvsn-
tage to any particular person, company,
firm, corporation or locality, or to subject
any such to any disadvantages In the
matters Of receiving and forwarding
freight; compels carriers, as far as is in
their power, to afford facilities for the
Interchange of traffic between their re-
spective lines, including receiving, for
warding and switching OF care and the
receiving and delivering Of passengers
and property to and from their several
lines, and forbids discriminating between
connecting lines. 1t also gives the Board
of Railroad Commissioners power to pre-
scribe terms and conditions upon which
any common carrier may be required to
switch and transfer cars for another for
the purpose Of being loaded or unloaded.
The bill allows carriers to give prefer
ence as TO time Of shipment of live stock,
uncured meats and other perishable
property.
1t also provides that, as between short
and long hauls OF passengers or property
Of q like kind, no discrimination shall be
made in favor of one ss against the
other, and the charge for the short haul
shall not be more than would be the pro-
portionate charge for longer haul over
the same road.
Section makes it unlawful TO pool,
and provides that in case Of an sRree-
ment for combining for the purpose Of
dividing tonnage or proceeds, each day
Of it's continuance shall be deemed q sep
arate offense. Common carriers are re-
quired to keep for public inspection
schedules showing rates, fares and
charges for its services; also any termi-
nal charges or any rules which in sny
wise change or affect the aggregate Of
charges. Also to post notices in stations
indicating where such schedules can be
found.
No advance in rates, fares or charges
shall be made except after ten days pub
liO NJ tice, and proposed changes shall be
shown by printing new schedules. When
rates are once established and published,
il then becomes unlawful for the carrier
to charge or collect from anyone q
greater or less compensation than is
specified in such published schedule
while the same is in force.
Companies are required to file with the
Commissioners copies OF their schedules;
also Of all contracts and agreements with
other lines, and all joint tariffs and
charges for lines operated by more than
one company. Each company is held for
the performance Of it's own part Of Joint
agreement. Writs OF mandamus may
issue in the name Of the State Of Kansas
upon petition of the Board of Railroad
Commissioner to compel such Compa-
mics to file and publish their schedules
az rates, etc., and on q failure 10 comply
with its requirements, they may b. pun