The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-04-16
RAfLRO4D COMMISSION
ADOPTED.

The passage of the commission
bill shows that a majority of the
constitutional convention could not
be influenced by the specious argu-
ments of the railroad lobbyists who
have been using, since the introduce
ton of the ordinance, the same dis
honest means which have many
times before disgraced the legisla-
tive halls Of this State.
To the gentleman who made such
a vigorous fight for the commission,
the thanks of the people are due.
Among those who strained every
effort to defeat the opponents of
the bill we are pleased to note the
names of Mr.. r. c. Landry, of tn is
parish, and District Attorney NJ. T.
Gordy, Of Verm,lion.
BY adopting the commission the
manner possible that it is incorrup-
tible and beyond the reach of the
lobbyist.
A railroad com mission in charge
of intelligent and honest men can
not fail to be beneficial to the COM
merce of the state, without antago-
niz,ng in the least the interests of
the transportation companies. Ju-
diciously administered the COM
mission will guard the interests of
both the people and the corpora
tions. There is no disposition on
the part of any one to Cypress the
railway corporations, but there Is a
fixed determin alton to resist the
discrimination and extortion prac-
ticed by them.
The commission will be composed
of three members to be elected by
the people at the congressional cleo
eion next November. OF the three
commissioners elected, one shall
serve two years, one four years and
one six years: the periods for which
each member shall serve to be de-
termined by lot. The headquarters
of the commission will be at Baton
Rouge and the yearly salary Of each
member will be S5,o 900.
The commission will have control
over railroad, express, telegraph,
telephone, steamboat and sleeping
car companies; its domicile will be
at Baton Rouge and its powers are
described in the following article:
cart. z. The power and authority is here
by vested in the commission, and it is here
by made its.duty to adopt, change or make
10 md vafN oh md Ia
tons to govern and regulate railroad. steam
boat and other water craft and sleeping car,
freight and passenger tariffs and
service, express rates and tele-
phone aud telegraph charges, to correct
abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and
cxtortion in the rates for the same, on the
different railroads., steamboat and other wd-
ter craft sleeping car, express, telephone
and telegraph lines of this State, and to pre-
vent such companies from charging any
greater compeu sation in the aggregate for the
like kind of property or passengers, Or mes
sages for a shorter than a longer distance
over the same line, unless authorized by the
commission to do SO in special cases; to re-
quire all railroads to build and maintain
suitable depots, switches and appurtenances
wherever the same are reasonably necessary
at stations and to inspect railroads and re-
quire them to keep their tracks and bridges
in safe condition, and to fix and adjust
rates between branch or short lines aud the
great trunk lines with which they connect,
and to enforce the same by having the pen
alties hereby prescribed inflicted through
the proper courts having jurisdiction.
..'rhe commission shall have power to
adopt and enforce such reasonable rules,
regulations and modes of procedure as it
may deem proper for the discharge of the
duties herein imposed, and to hear and de-
tern,ine complaints that may be made against
the classification of rates it may establish,
and to regulate the mode and manner of all
Investigations and hearings of railroad COM
panies and other parties before it, in the es-
tablishment of rates, orders, charges and
othe! acts required " a. or authorized by these these
mon and compel the attendance of witnesses,
to swear witnesses and to compel the pro-
duction of books and papers, to take testi-
mony under commission, and to punish for
contempt as fully as if provided by law for
the district ourts.
The adoption of the commission
is signal victory for Mr.. Brazeale
and those who so ably assisted him.
Upon the final passage the vote