Rock Island Argus., 1899-12-13
CHANGES IN THE LAW
Governing the Interstate Com.
marce Proposed by Senator
Cuilom.
SALIENT POINTS OF THE MEASURE
Expedites Procedure Before the Courts,
and Eliminates the imprisonment Penal
ty-Witness Before the Industrial Com
mission Who Has Ideas of His Own
New Plan to Increase the Currency
Suggestive Question Asked by Pettigrew

mission Who Has Ideas of His Own
New Plan to Increase the Currency
Suggestive Question Asked by Pettigrew
Washington. Dec. 13.-In the house
the debate on the currency bill was
resumed. Bell, of Colorado, was the
first speaker.
He opposed the bill. devoting much
of his time to an argument against
the banking features. Brundige
(dem.. Ark. also opposed the bill. as
did Wheeler (Ky0 Fowler On. J.) +,
member of the banking and currency
committee.of the last congress. said he
would vote for the bill because of the
gold declaration in the first IA lines,
notwithstanding what followed.
In the senate, Gallinger. of New
Hampshire, presented bill for the
coditication of the pension laws.
The house committee resumed in
vestigation of the Roberts case today.
Charles Austin Owen, Salt Lake
City, testified the general understand
ing was DIR. Maggie c. Shipp Roberts
and the defendant at the bar main
tanned the relations of husband and
wife.
By direction of the president, Gen.
Leonard Wood was TODAY assigned TO
command the division of Cuba, re-
lieving Gen. Brooke. Gen. Wood. in
addition to the duties as division COM
mander, will exercise the thority of
military governor of the island
Washington, Dec. 13.-CuIiom yes
terday introduced in the senate i COM
prehensiye 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 il has been changed in several
minor particulars. The main features
of the proposed measure are as fol-
lows: The commission is authorized.
after hearing 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
munu rates; to fix both n maximum
and minimum rate or differential in
rates when necessary to prevent dis
elimination; to determine the divisions
of a joint rate between connecting car
riers, and the terms and conditions I'M
der which business shall be inter
changed, when ecesSary 10 the enforce
ment of the act: to make changes in
classification, and to amend the rules
and regulations under which traffic is
moved.
Provides q 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
eeffctive 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 Il 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 o.
be subject to forfeiture of $1,000
for each Offense. and for every day it
continues in default. If additional evil
dence is found necessary in court the
court must direct the commissioner to
take it and make n 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 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. \ 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 ex-
anime such accounts.