Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
AUTHORIZES FIXING RATES
Bill in Esnats 10 Increase 1atsrstats Cam
nsros Osmmissisn's PSwsTA
SENATOR tlENs AUTHOR OF MEASURE
SPECIFICS New obligations for Rail-
roads and Permits Roads 60
Aaree on Certain
Rates,


WASHINGTON, Feb. ~4.-senator Elkins.
chairman OF the interstate COM
mittee. today introduced a bill uRkine a
number OF changes In the Interstate com
merce law, the most important Of which
was:
Giving the Interstate commits
sion, under certain Conditions, authority te
FIX railroad rates, legahxing poonne anu
pSEiiilhII of msS" against the law The
provision with reference to the fixing OF
rates authorizes the Interstate ComnleTse
alton made against common carriers ana
directs that any definite order made by
ms a rate regulation or practice to be lust
and reasonable. shall become operatiys,
sRS,n Be S SSssGy & Is by mya sss w Pls5itS t ST S' S"s:
after notice. Appeal to the United states
circuit courts and TO the supreme court Of
court is given authority. to suspend or
revoke a rate order made by, the Gem,
mls'iS an uP eSSh "P 5PrSsrs ere Sy %IRinmsISsssd ' 10 oSe
years duration.
Provision ON PooIins.
The commission is authorized to deter
mine the proportion for each OF the car
riers when the rate fixed Is a Joint rate.
The section Of the bill concerning pooling
provides that at shall be lawful for any
two or more common carriers TO arrange
between and among themselves for the es-
Enlistment Of or maintenance Of rates"
1t also shall be lawful for such carriers
to agree by contract In writing nled with
Fthe Interstate Commerce commission upon
the division OF their trafic or earnings or
both.
Authority is given to the Interstate Com
merce commission to hear complaints
against the fairness OF such pooling ar.
.~A a. ranBA 80 AaAaw o~ApllNA1
the contract in the respects found to be un-
just and unlawful. Failure to comply with
the order will work the annulment- OF the
contract.
Proceedings by writ Of injunction are au-
thorised against any party disobeyink the
provisions OF the bill and the offending
party also is made subject to a penalty OF
$4,000, to be paid into the treasury Of the
United States.
May stop Trains.
Where railroads pass Into foreign coun-
try authority is given In addition to the
imposition Of fines TO suspend the move
n ment of trains within the United States
until the requirement shall be complied
with.
A fine Of not less than $1,000 nor more
than $4,000 Is provided for the wilifuI
failure Of any carrier to publish tariffs Of
rates and charges required by the inter.
state Law.
The provision abolIshing Imprisonment II
| as follows;
!, In all convictions occurring after tn,
passage of this act. or ~ofenses under said
act TO regulate commerce, whether com
mitted before or after the passage of thii
act, or for offenses under this section, n,
, penalty shall be imposed on the convicted
I party other than the fine prescribed b.
law, imprisonment wherever now prescribed
as part OF the penalty being hereby abol
ished.
Authority is given to the commission Il
, require the publication Of tarif rates, an,
! where there is reasonable ground TO believ
that freights or passengers are being car
: ried for less than the published rates, tn
!, commission Is authorized to begin proceed
ings in the circuit court Of the Unite
: States, which court is required to enforc
J an observance OF the published tariffs. Thos
proceedings are TO be directed not on
= against the carrier, but also against tn
. other parties interested.