The Daily Texarkanian., 1899-01-20
RAILROAD COMMISSION BILL.
introduced in the House by Mr.. Col
qitt of Columbia County

qltt OF columbia county
The railroad commission bill in
troduced in the house by Hon. ]. G.
Colquitt, of Columbia county, pro-
vides for three commissioners with
terms of office two, four and six
years, respectively, to be appointed
by the governor Each commits
sioner shall have a salary of $1,000
per annum and transportation
when engaged in the business Of
the commission, 10 be paid by the
state. Section / ,fthe bill de fines
the qualifications reqrisite in com
missioner, Applicants or appointees
in order to be eligible, cannot hold
any other Office or pursue any other
business inconsistent with the duties
of the commission, and must not be
interested in any railroad in any
way. The commission shall employ
a secretary at a salary not to ex-
ceed 81 800 per annum.
Section 2 empowers the commits
sioners to make rules for its govern
meut. The commission must have
a seal. 1t may hold session any
where in the state when necessary
to expediate business, or for the
convenience of litigauts.
Section 3 autharizes the commits
sion to adopt and enforce rates for
freight; it may fix different rates
for different roads, or for different
parts of the same road.
Section 4 to Z provide for modes
of procedure, giving notice before
fixing rates, rates to be exclusive
until set aside, when any lawsuits
may be brought against the com
mission, right to appeal given, bur-
den of proof fixed, etc.
Section provides that classifl-
cation and rates must bel furnished
each railroad; and said, schedules
and rates must be posted for public
inspection. Section 9 SETS forth
how complaints against railroads
may be made and. Investigated.
Evidence when reduced to writing
is admissible in certain cases. Sec
tion 10 deals with the right to in
spect books, papers, acc3hnts, ETC.,
and prescribes the penalty for re-
fusal to permit inspection. Sec
tion II states that the commission
shall ascertain the cost of construc-
tion of roads, operating expenses,
interest on bonds, etc, this infor-
nation to be reported to the at
torney general and state auditor.
Section IL directs the commission
to prepare questions to elicit the
above information, and prescribes
penolty for refusal to give intorma-
tion or fill out blanks. Section l3
gives the commission power to
compel the attendance of wit
esses and relates to fees of wit
nesses, sheritfs and constables.
Section IA defines extortion and
fix penalty for the same. Section
10 defines discrimination and pro-
hibits it. Section l6 appertains to
false billing, classifications, weight
etc. Sections II aud Is relate to
the liability of railroads to persons
or companies injured by violations
of law. Section 10 deals with pc
nalties, how recovered, attorneys
fees, fines to be paid into the state
treasury. Sectiod 20 makes au-
thenticated copies of classiflcations,
rates, etc, admissible in evidence.
Section q makes it the duty of the
commission to enforce this act and
all other laws of the state on rail
roads. Section % gives definitions
of terms used Section % pertains
to penalties being cumulative, and
section "a is the enforcing clause.