The Saint Paul globe., 1902-01-14
MUST KEEP FAITH
NEW INTERSTATE COMMERCE. BILL
INTRODUCED BY CORLISS,
OF MICHIGAN
IT WILLs HELP COMMISSIONERS
Power of the Commission to Do
Business and Enforce Its De-
crees Is to BE Restored by
Proposed Act.
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washington, d. C.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The presen-
tation in the house of representatives of
the new bill proposing amendments to
the interstate commerce act has at
tracted widespread attention. The meas
ure was offered by Congressman John b.
Corliss, of Michigan, who is a member
of the house, committee on interstate and
foreign commerce. Senators and repre-
sentatiYes and students of the railroad
question, who have examined the new
bill generally, assert that the bill is
manifestly a fair one both to shipper
and carrier, and that many Of the feat
ures in the Cullom bill SO strenuously
opposed by the carriers are not en-
braced in the pending measure.
The new bill, which consists of but
three sections, aims to restore to the
interstate commerce commission the
powers which it was supposed to possess
and which it exercised for some years
after the act creating it was passed. 1t
simply makes the rulings Of the commits
sion effective until reversed by the
courts. 1t confers no rate making
power, but does authorize the commits
sion to correct a rate which has been
found, after full hearing, to be unjust
or discriminative, and gives ample pro-
lection, through appeal, from all pos
sibIe injustice.
A brief synopsis of the bill is as fol-
lows:
Must Stick to Tariffs.
Section 1 amends section 10 Of the act,
so that the transportation of or offer to
transport traffic at any other rate, or
upon any other terms or conditions than
those stated in the published tariffs, or
the payment of any rebate or departure
by any device, from published rates, or
the transportation of traffic, without
having first published a tariff applica-
BILE to the same, shall be deemed mis-
demeanor, punishable by a fine of not
less than $1,000 nor more than S20OOO
That the making of any false representa-
ton as to the weight or description of
property by a shipper shall be punish
able by fire of from $1,000 to $1,000 All
imprisonment penalties prescribed by
the existing act are eliminated.
Section amends section Is of
the act, so that it shall be the duty of
the commission when, after a full hear
ing, it is found that any rate, relation
of rates, classification Of freight, or
other practice of the carrier is in viola
tion of any provision of the act, to order
such change to be made therein as it
(the commission) may determine to be
necessary in order to correct the wrong
The commissions orders shall take effect
in not less than twenty days after
service upon the carrier; but the car
rier may apply to a circuit court Of the
United States for a review of any such
order within that time, which shall Of
itself suspend the order for thirty days.
If it plainly appears, that the order is
unlawful, or is unjust and unreasonable
upon the facts, the court may suspend
its operation during the pendency of pro-
ceedings. If, upon hearing, the court
finds the order not to be lawful lust, and
Either party has the right Of appeal to
the supreme court, within thirty DAYS:
but such appeal shall not stay or super
sede the order Of the circuit court.
How Orders Shall Govern.
Section 8 amends section 16 Of
the act, so that the orders of the com
mission shall continue in force for two
years only; but, in case a change shall
thereafter be made by the carrier in the
rate or practice prescribed by such order.
any party interested may file objection
thereto with the commission within sixty
days, and the comm ission may order a
restoration thereof pending its investiga-
ton, which order shall not be subject to
review; but a final order, pursuant to the
investi tigation, shall be subject to the same
right of review as the original order In
case of refusal or neglect to obey the
commissions order the circuit court hav-
ing jurisdiction is required, upon petit
tion of the commission or any interested
party, to enforce obedience thereof; the
penalty for refusal or neglect to obey
such order being $4,000 for every day of
default. The circuit court is required to
enjoin carriers and shippers from giving
or receiving any concession from pub
lished rates, and the carrier from render
ing greater service in any respect than
that stated in the published tariffs.
1t has been deemed advisable to restrict
the provisions of this bill to the above
points, which seem indispensable for Sc
curing the effectiveness Of the interstate