The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-05
GIVE IT MORE POWER
SENATOR ELxINs INTRODUCES BILL.
ON INTERSTATE COM
MERGE LAW
ORDERS CAN BE ENFORCED
Rulings as to Rates to BE Made OPP
erative Thirty Days After
Made-Fines for DeIin-
quent Roads.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Senator Elk
Sns, chairman of the interstate commerce
committee, today introduced a bill max
ing number of changes in the inter
state law the most important of which
are the following: Giving the interstate
commerce commission authority under
certain conditions to fix railroad rates,
legalizing pooling and abolishing impris-
cnment as a method of Furnishing offenses
against the law.
The provision with reference to the fix
ing of rates authorizes the interst ate
commerce commission to hear complaints
Of discrimination made against common
carriers and directs that any definite or
der made by the commission after such
hearing, declaring a rate regulation or
practice to be just and reasonable, shall
become operative and be observed by the
party or parties against whom it is made
within thirty days after notice. Appeal
to the United States circuit courts ami
to the supreme court Of the United States
is authorized. The latter court is given
authority to suspend or revoke a rate
order made by the commission upon ap-
plication by parties affected and all such
orders are limited to one years dura-
ton.
The commission is authorized to deter
mine the proportion for each of the car
riers when the rate fixed is joint rate.
The section of the bill concerning pool
ing provides that lit shall be lawful for
any two or more common carriers to ar
range between and among themselves for
the establishment of or maintenance Of
rates. 1t also shall be lawful for such
carriers TO agree by contract in writing
filed with the inteTs tate commerce COM
mission upon the division of their traffic
or earnings, or BOTH
A,,AI l.
commerce commission to hear complaints
against the fsiTress of such pooling ar
rangements and to make an order an
nulling the contract in the respects found
to be unjust and unlawful Failure to
comply with the order will work the an
nullment Of the contract.
Proceeds gs by writ of injunction are
authorized against any party dIsobeying
the provision of the BILL and the offend.
ing party also is made subject TO pen
atty OF $4,000, to be paid into the treas
ury of the United States. Where rail-
roads pass into foreign country, author
ity is given, in addition to the imposition
of fines, tO suspend the movement of
trains within the United States until the
requirements shall be complied with. A
fine Of not less than $1,000 nor more than
$4,000 is provided for the willful failure
Of any carrier to publishstariff rates and
charges as required by the interstate
commerce law.
Fines for Convictions.
en- all convictions, occurring after the
passage of this act, for Offenses under
said act to regulate commerce, whether
committed before or after the passage of
this act or for Offenses under this Sec
ton, 10 penalty shall be imposed upon
the convicted party other than the fine
prescribed by law, Imprisonment Wher-
M l0r.acoriIeaS of
atty being hereby abolished
Authority is given to the commission
to require the publication of traffic rates,
and where there is reasonable ground for
belief that freights or passengers are be-
ing carried for less than the published
rates, the commission is authorized TO
begin proceedings in the circuit court of
the United States, which court is required
to enforce an observance Of the published
tariffs These proceedings are to be di-
rected not only against the carrier, but
also against the other parties interested.