Evening journal., 1901-02-14
WOULD REGULATE
RAILROAD TRAFFIC
Senator Abbott Introduces His
Proposed Measure
Would Govern Rates, Charges, Freight
and Passenger Traffic and Cor
rect Abuses

lluuuttu Ulo lil ~ tiNdNC otdAt
Railroad Commission, and had it re
ferTiad
The bill provides that a commission
be created to be composed Of thrc.
members TO be appointed by the gov
ernor Immediately on the passage OF
the act, not more than two of whom
shall be from any one political party. |
They shall be appointed for term OF
four years, and their successors SHALL
be appointed by the succeeding COVER
nor on the second Monday after his
Inauguration, for like term. Each |
commissioner shall be at least twenty |
five years old, and shall not be con |
nected in any way with a railroad |
either within or without the State |
Should any commission become inter-
ested in the railroad business. either
directly or indirectly, his Office shall at
once become vacant No person em-
ployed shall hold any other State orl
government position, and shall engaged
in no business or duty inconsistent
with that OF railroad commissioner.
Each commissioner shall receive AM
annual salary Of 81 500, payable in the
same manner that salaries of other
State officers are paid. The commits
sioners appointed shall meet I'm Dover
and organize and select one OF thsirI
number as chairman They also shall
choose a secretary. at a salary of not
more than 5000 annually Their Office
shall be in the capitol in Dover.
The power and authority is vested
In thh commission 10 regulate rates
charges. and govern railroad freight
and passenger tariffs, to correct abuses
and prevent unjust discrimination and
eXtortion in rates of freight and pas
senger tariffs On the different lines IN
the State. The commission also is
to be empowered to fairly and Justly
classify and subdivide all freight and
property of whatsoever character that
may be transported over the railroads
of the State to such general and spe-
cial classes as may be found neces-
sary and eXpedient
1t also shall have authority TO fix to
each class of freight a reasonable rate
for each railroad subject under this
law. If any two or more c9nnscting
railroads shall fail 20 agree on a fair
and just division of the charges arising
from the transportation OF freights.
passengers or cars over their lines, the
commission shall fix the pro rate part of
such charges to be received by each of
the connecting lines. It shall be the
duty of each and every railroad sub
iect to the law to provide and main
tain adequate. comfortable and clean
depOts for the accommodation Of pas
sengers. and suitable freight depots
for the handling of all freights. No
existing laws on the subject are TO be re-
pealed by the present bill, however.
The commission shall give the rail-
roads ten days notice of the time and
placs, and where rates shall be fixed
before taking definite action thereon.
The committee shall have power to
compel the attendance of witnesses
and the production of way-bills, books,
accounts, documents, and testi-
mOny, and to punish for cOntempt
as fully as is provided for by the law
for the courts of this State The deci-
sions of this commission shall be con-
elusive, and deemed and accepted to be
responsible, fair and just. II any rail-
road company. or other party at inter
est, be dissatisfied with the decisions
OF the commission, such company or
party may file a petition setting forth
with particularly. cause or cadsCs Of
objection to the decision in q court OF
competent jurisdiction of the State
Appeals to an uppar court from the de-
cisiOns of the commission may be
taken for just cause A schedule of
rates and the various classifications
complied by the commission shall be
furnished Immediately to each railroad
doing business in the State and be
submitted TO each railway agent at the
various STATIONS. The commission will
have at all times the right to examine
any books and papers of any railroad
company. and to examine under oath
any officer, agent or employe in rela-
tion to the business and affairs of the
same. If any railroad shall refuse to
permit the commissioners. or any au-
thorized person. to make necessary ex-
aminations. said railroad for each Of
fense. shall pay to the State no less
than S125. nor more than $500 for each
day IL shall SO fail or refuse, provided
that any person other than one Of the
commissioners who shall make de-
mand, shall produce his authority.
| The commission shall ascertain as
carly as practicable the receipts and
| expenditures of the various railroads
including the amount expended i'm con-
struct'on and equipment per mile of
every railway in Delaware. and theI
amount Required to reconstruct theI
railroad. 1t shall also ascertain theI
outstanding bonds debentures and in
debetedness and the amount. respec-
| lively, thereof when ISSUED and rate oil
/ interest, when due, for what purpose
| issued, how used to whom issued. to
whom sold, and the price in cash.
property or labor, If any received
therafor. what became of the proceeds,
by whom the indebtedness is held, the
amount purported to be due thereon.
the floating indebtedness of the COM
pany to whom due and his address
the credits due on II. the property onl
hand belonging TO the railroad COM
pany, and the judicial or other sale OF
said road, its property or franchises, !
and the amounts purporting to have
been paid, and in what manner paid
therefor. The commission shall alsOl
ascertain the amount paid for salarhasl
to the officers and employees of thel
railroad. For this purpose the commits |
sion may employ sworn experts to in
spect ard assist then wien need "a,
and from time to time as the in
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