The advocate., 1897-02-24
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
Continued from page ~

orders is but farce, and section 2l
seems to cure that by enabling the board
to apply to the courts, where the matters
may be determined on such short notice
as the court may deem reasonable, and
it's DEGREES may be enforced by iniuno-
tion, attachment, etc.
The tariffs set forth id the bill is to be
used as basis on which to compute
rates, and goes into effect July l, 1897.
Companies will be allowed to show cause
why such rates should not be enforced.
Glass "a" roads may not charge more
than the rate provided for in the bill.
Glass "B" roads may charge 10 per cent.
more than class "a" and class &c" roads
may charge not TO exceed 20 per cent.
more than "A" subject to provisions to
be- made by the board, BY way Of ex-
planation, ii might be stated that the
fifth class 10 the one most used.
Companies must furnish reasonable
facilities for loading, unloading and st0r-
ing; also, within reasonable time after
demand, furnish cars for shippers.
All in all, the bill seems to be a very
good one. Among other things, it pro-
vides that the Railroad Commissioner
shall furnish to each County Clerk
through whose county any railroad runs
ten certified copies Of the schedules Of
maximum rates, for public inspection,
which are to be evidence in causes in
court as to the truth Of matters at issue,
and the County Attorney and Sheriff are
directed to compare at stated times the
certified copies 80 filed with the schedule
Of rates published by the companies.
This enables notice to be given the pub
lie Of any discrepancies and enables az
grieved parties to secure redress It
makes 1t the duty Of the Railroad Com
missioners to prosecute for extortion or
unjust discrimination, and no suits so
brought are to be dismissed unless the
board and Attorney General shall con-
sent to such dismissal.
The act does not prevent the carriage,
storage or handling Of property free or
at reduced rates for the government,
States, municipalities or for charitable
purposes, or to and from fairs, ETC., for
exhibition, or FOR employees or their fami-
lies, or the issuance OF mileage, excuT-
sion or Communication tickets, or from
giving free transportation to officers, em
ployes, or persons in charge OF live stock.
Joint rates may not exceed the rates for
single lines the same distance, but they
may be fixed at lower rate, though
companies cannot in this way discrini-
nate between different points. In trans
feErinR carload lots from one line TO
another, cars shall not be unloaded un-
less done free Of cost TO the shipper or
receiver OF such car lots, and less than
car lots shall be transferred into connect-
ing cars at cost, which 10 to be made q
part Of the joint rate. The joint rates
are to be established by tne Commission
ers, whore companies neglect or refuse
to do 70, and, in sectloh 48, the Attorney
General 10 empowered, when ordered by
the Commissioners, to bring suit in the
name Of the State Of Kansas in the Fed
eral court to compel the Interstate Com
merce Commission to fix joint through
interstate rates with the railroads Of this
State. This would seem to be an efHec.
tive way to prevent pooling lines from
shipping over such routes as they might
choose, and be the means OF sending
products TO market by the shortest lines.
A study Of the schedule is interesting,
and the comparison accompanying this
article is an eyeOpener, as the present
rate, the Iowa law, the Senate bill and
the House bill are set before the eye;
and while the House bill rate is, in every
instance, in excess of the Iowa law, thus
showing that it would not be unjust to
the railroad companies, yet it divulges
the fact that the House bill proposes
rate far below the Senate bill, and very
far below tho present rate as whole.
No temporizing policy seems to be neces-
sary, and as the people are well nigh
desperate, it would be well for the Leg