The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-03-17

But He Yields to the Judgment OF the
Majoriry-The New Law and Its Pro-
visions.
Little Rock, March 13.-Almost at the
eleventh hour Gov. Jones affixed his
signature to the house railroad COM
mission bill passed by the general as
sembly. The governor stated frankly
that the measure did not meet his
views, bat he did not presume to set up
his judgment against that OF the major
ity of the legislature, and for that rea-
son signed the measure. There is much
speculation as to who the commissioners
will be, there being about IS applicants
for the three positions. Below Is given
the bill:
A railroad commission Is hereby created. TO
be composed of three persons. TO be appointed
by the governor until the next general eiec-
ton, by and with the advice and consent OF the
general assembly in joint session. one TO De
chosen from the First and Sixth, one from the
Second and Third and one from the Fourth
and Fifth congressional districts. to carry out
the provisions Of this act, and whose success
ors shall be elected at each general election
thereafter. After the expiration OF the term
OF ONCE Of the commissioners first appointed,
the terms OF ONCE OF their successors shall be
two years. The salary Of each commissioner
shall be q. 500 per annum, to be PAID 10 the
same manner as other state of1cers.
The commissioners shall be resident citizens
Of this state and qualified voters under the
constitution. and not less than Is years of age.
No one shall be appointed or elected as sucn
commissioner who is directly or rectly in
terested In any railroad In the or out OF
1t. or in any stocks. bonds, mortga security
or the earnings Of any railroad, and In case
any commissioner becomes disqualified from
any cause or in any way. he shall at once re-
move the disqualification or resign, and on
failure so to do, he must be suspended BY the
governor.
The governor shall NIL all vacancies in the
Office OF commissioner by appointment and the
person so appointed shall fill out the unexpired
term Of his predecessor.
The commissioners appointed shall meet at
Little Rock and organize and elect one OF their
members chairman. A majority shall consti-
tute quorum to transact BUSINESS. Said
commission may appoint secretary at sal
airy not to exceed u 600 per annum, and one
stenographer. at salary not to exceed Vi 900
per annum. The secretary shall keep full and
correct minutes of all transactions. and per-
form such other duties as may be required by
furnished with an once in the capitol, with
necessary furniture stationery supplies. and
all necessary expenses. not TO exceed $500 per
annum.
The commissioners secretary and stenogra-
pher shall be entitled to receive from the state
their actual necessary travelling expenses.
Said commission may hold session at any
place in the state when deemed necessary to
facilitate the discharge OF their duties or for
the convenience OF the parties litigant.
Every person or corporation operating
any railroad or express business in the state Is
hereby required to furnish the commission.
within Is days after notice to do So with the
rate sheet and tariff Of charges for transpor-
tation of every kind over such railroad, and 1t
shall be the duty of said commission to exam
Inc and revise said rate sheet and tariff Of
charges for freight or express matter for each
railroad in this state and determine whether
or not. and in what manner, II any, said
charges and rates are in violation Of any OF the
provisions Of this act; and said commission
will make reasonable and just rates OF freight,
express and passenger tariffs to be observed
by all persons and corporations operating any
railroad or engaged In transporting persons or
property as express or freight in this state;
shall make rules and regulations as to charges
at any and all points for the necessary hauling
and delivering Of express or freight: regulate
rates AMI charges for such service on all rail-
roads as, in their Judgment. Justice to the pub
lie and said person or corporation may re-
quire. Said commission, in making any such
rules ana regulations. shall frst give the per-
son or corporation to be affected thereby notice
to appear and show cause IL any 1t can why
no change should be made In the rates then In
force. and shall take into consideration the
character and nature OF the service to be per-
formed, the entire earnings OF any railroad or
express company. the expense of operating the
same, the income and the value thereof And
when any tariff Of charges Is corrected and
approved, said commission shall append GER
tificate of its approval to said tariff OF charges
and give notice thereof to any ofhcer or agent
of the railroad or express company to be af-
fected thereby. and said tariff OF charges shall
be kept posted up for at least five days before
the same shall go into effect. Said commits
sion shall not alter or change any tariff or
charges so approved by 1t except upon ten
days notice In writing TO the person or cor
poration operating the express company or
railroad to be affected by such change.
There shall be schedules which shall state
the different kinds and classes Of property to
be carried. the different places between which
property shall be carried. tho rate Of freight
or express charges for carriage between such
places, and for all services connected with the
transportation Of such property from it's re-
ceipt until It Is delivered or forwarded. Such
schedules shall be posted for at least FIVE days
before the same shall 60 into effect. All the
provisions OF this act shall apply to all prop
erty, and all the services in and about the
transportation thereof. on one actually or sub
stantially continuous carriage. or part there
Of and to the compensation therefor, whether
the same is carried wholly on one railroad or
partly on several railroads. provided, that at
such points where freight or express are sub
ject to competition by water routes not con-
trolled by this act nor complying with its pro-
visions. the schedules herein provided for may
be posted and 60 into immediate effect
1t shall be unlawful for any person or cor
poration engaged alone or associated with
others in the transportation OF passengers or
property. by railroad In this state, as freight
or express. directly or indirectly, TO demand or
receive from any person, arm. company or cor
poration. any greater or less rate or amount of
compensation than Is demanded or received
from any other person, firm, company or cor
poration for substantially similar service.
1t shall be unlawful TO make or enter into
any contract. directly or Indirectly. for the
pooling OF freight or to pool the freight of the
different railroads or lines, by dividing be-
tween them the gross or net earnings OF such
railroads, or any part thereof, or by equaliz-
ing, evening up, or dividing the property or
passengers carried by such railroads.