The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-12-14
CHANGES IN THE LAW
Governing the Interstate Com.
merce Proposed by Senator
CuIlom.
gALIENT POINTS OF THE MEASURE

Expedites Procedure Before the Courts,
and Eliminates the Imprisonment Penal
ty-Witness Before the Industrial Conn
mission Who Has Ideas of His own
New Plan to Increase the Currency
Suggestive Question Asked by Pettigrew
Washington, Dec. 13.-Cullom yes
terday introduced in the senate COM
prehensive bill for the amendment of
the law creating the interstate COM
merce commission. The bill is in most
respects similar to the Cullom bill of
the last congress for the same purpose,
but it has been changed in several
minor particulars. The main features
OF the proposed measure are as fol-
lows: The commission is authorized.
after hearing a case, to make an order
directing the carrier to deSiSt from the
violation found and also to prescribe
in such order the thing which the car
rier is required to do or not to do for
the future to bring itself into conformi-
ty with the act;" and in SO doing the
commission is given power to fix maxi
mumu rates; to fix both a maximum
and minimum rate or differentiaI in
rates when necessary to prevent dis
elimination; to determine the divisions
Of joint rate between connecting car
riers, and the terms and conditions I'M
der which business shall be inter
changed, when ecessary to the enforce
ment Of the act; to make changes in
classification, and to amend the rules
ind regulations under which traffic is
moved.
Provides Legal Procedure.
The commission now has no power
in any case to fix rates for future OBJ
servance by railroad companies. The
bill makes the order of the commission
EFFECTIVE within the time specified.
which ordinarily shall not be less than
thirty days. Any carrier may within
thirty days begin proceedings in the
United States circuit court for a re-
view of the order. Either party may
appeal directly to the supreme court,
and the case is TO have procedure in
the courts. If the court upholds the
order, or if the order becomes effective
otherwise, the carrier must obey it or
be subject to a forfeiture of $4,000
for each offense, and for every day it
continues in default. If additional evi-
dence is found necessary in court the
take it and make a supplemental re-
port. The orders of the commission
now are not effective until it brings
suit in the court to enforce them.
Other Features of the Bill,
The bill also further provides that
the commission shall make and estab-
lish a uniform classification. The long
and-shOrt-haul clause is made in abso-
lutte prohibition except upon leave
granted by the commission. Large
penalties are provided against carriers
in case of departure from the pub
lished rate. The imprisonment feature
is eliminated from the act, and ship
pers are not liable for any offense ex-
cept false billing or other fraudulent
practice. A forfeiture is imposed upon
carriers for failure to file annual re-
ports efore Sept. 80 of each year. The
commission is authorized to prescribe
the form of accounts and to Inspect
the books of carriers, and it may en-
ploy special agents or examiners who
shall have authority, under the order
Of the commission, to inspect and ek-t
anime such accounts