Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
FOR A RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Mr.. Saunders Offers Three Bills
Bearing Upon This Subject.

Hon. i. w. Saunders introduced three
companion measures in the House on
| Friday. affecting common carriers AND
| telephone, telegraph, and express COM
| panies. The measures provide for the
creation Of a commission TO regulate the
business of such corporations. appraise
| their property, and keep them within GER
tain bounds, as for tolls, tariffs. etc. The
| measures are similar to those introduced
! by Mr. Withers at the last session.
The first bill provides that the COM
| mission created shall constitute a board
Of appraisers for the property of the
railway corporations. The bill defines in
detail what reports, verified on oath,
shall be made by the officers Of the COM
panies to the commission 20 enable them
to discharge their duties effectively.
This information relates to the num-
Der Of miles Of railroad lines in the State.
the depot buildings, grounds, rolling stock
&c.
The amount Of the capital stock and
its market value, or actual value, If there
is no market value, is required to be ex-
hibited.
In order to enable the commissioners 10
effectually carry out the powers con-
ferred upon them, they are invested with
the power to examine witnesses and call
for books and papers in possession of the
companies, and to punish them for fail
ure to furnish the Information and papers
needed.
After all the information is put in, the
commissioners are required to proceed to
the discharge of their duties Of assessing
and appraising the value Of the railway
property in the State Of Virginia.
A COURT OF RECORD.
The second bin makes the railroad COM
sell 90
the Supreme TO be known as the board
Of railroad commissioners, with all the
powers and jurisdiction of a court OF
general jurisdiction, as 10 all subject en-
braced in the act creating the railroad
commission.
Bill No. proceeds TO define, in detail. |
the powers OF the commission relative TO |
the supervision Of the railway, steam |
boat, express. and other companies.
The railroads are forbidden to charge |
more than reasonable rate of toll, or |
compensation, for the transportation OF |
either transportation or freight
The commission is expressly clothed /
with tie power TO make reasonable and |
just rates Of freight and passenger
tariffs for the State OF Virginia ana !
cause the same to be furnished by any
railroad company.
MUST SUBMIT THE RATES.
All rebates and bonuses are forbidden |
and in addition the companies are for
hidden TO mislead or deceive the pub
lie In any manner as TO the real rates |
charged for freight or passengers.
The railroad companies are required 10
submit their contracts and agreements
between themselves as 10 rates of freight
md passenger tariffs TO the board of
for inspection and cor
'ectiOn in order that II may be seen
whether any of these contracts are I'm
violation of the rules and regulations of
he commission, and of the provisions OF
he general laws on the subject.
Heavy penalties are imposed upon the
companies for violation of any provisions
II the acts
The terms companies" and railroad
ale expressly defined by the
Ict.
All the common carriers subject to tho