Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-03-13
McCHOED BILL.
Most Important Measure Passed
This ession
Was Endorsed in The Democratic
Platform And Fought Bit
terly l3y Tire Roads.

| statute D'oNot - H0 tbiioWo.
An act 20 pr ven. railroad com.
panies or corporations owning and
operating a line orlines eff railroad.
and its officers. agents and employ es
from the charging. collecting or re-
cerving extortionate freight or pas
senger rates in this Commonwealth,
and to further increase and define
the duti, and powers of the Rail
road Commission in ref renee there
to, and prescribing the manner OF
enforcing the provisions offhis act,
and penalties for the violation OF it's
provisions.
Be it enacted by the General AS
sembly of he Commonwealth of
Kentucky: Section l. When COM
plant shall be made tothe Railroad
Commission accusing any railroad
company or corporatioo Of charg-
ing, collecting or receiving extor-
tionate freight rates over its line or
lines Of railroad in this Common
wealth, or VIII said commission
shall receive information, or have
reason to believ. tlat such rate o
rates. are being charged, collected
or received, it shall be the duty of
said commission to hear and deter
mine the matter as speedily as pos
sible. They shall give the company
or corporation complained of not
less than ten days notice, by letter
mailed to an officer or employe of
said company or corporation, stat
ing the time and place of the hear
ing Of same, also the nature of the
complaint or matter Do be investi-
gated, and shall hear such state
ments, argumentsor evidence offer
cred by the parties as the commls-
sion may deem relevant: and shall
the commission determine that the
company or corporation, said com
mission shall make and hx a just
and reasonable rate, toll or COM
pensation which SAID railroad COM
pany or corporatiOs may charge, ;,
collect or receive for like services
thereafter rendered. The rate. toll
or compensation SO fixed by the
commission shall De entered and be
au order on the record book of their
Office and signed by the commission,
aud a copy thereof mailed to an
clhcer, agent on employe of the rail-
road company er corporation affect
cd thereby, and shall be in 6ull
force and eifeet at the exs rat 90 o
ten days thereafter, and may be re-
voked or nidslied by an order bike
wise entered of record. And shah
SAID raiIro.,d company or corpora
ton, cor amy officer, agent or en-
piuye thereof, charge, collect or re-
ceive greater or higher rate, toll
or compensation for like services
thereafter rendered than that made
and fixed by said commission, as
herein provided, said company or
corporation, and said officer, agent
or employe, shall each be deemed
guilty Of extortion, and upon con
viction shall be fined for the first
Offense in any sum not less than
$500 nor more than 81, 600, and upon
a second conviction in any sum not
less than $1,000 nor more than ST.
300, and for a third and succeeding
convictions in any sum not less than
$1,000 nor more than $1,000.
Sec. ? The Circuit Court Of any
county into or through which the
line or lines of road carrying such
passenger or freight, owned or
operated by said railroad, and the
Franklin Circuit Court Shall have
jurisdiction of the olfense against
the railroad company or corporation
offending, and the Circuit Court OF
the coanty where such offense may
be committed by said officer, agoni
or empoye, shall have jurisdiction
in all prosecutions against said
o1icer,ageat o. employe.
Sec s. Prosecutions under this
act shall be by indictment.
Sec. 4 All prosecutions undei
this act shall be commenced within
two wears after the offense shal
have been committed
Sec. 5. In making said inyestiga
tion said commission may, when
deemed necessary, take the depo
sitiols Of witnesses before an exam