The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-04
GOOD LAW FOR
THE RAILROADS
EIkins Bill Puts a Damper on
Passes and Other FavOTs.
WILL KNOCK OUT The GRADES
UNION PACIFIC WILL BEGIN AT
ONCE ON IMPROVEMENTS.

Senator Elkins' amendment to the
inter state commerce law is the topic
of the hour in railroad circles. Only
fragmentary parts of the bill have ap-
peared Ia print and railroad men are
not thoroughly familiar with all the
changes. The general impression is
thar the bin benefits the railroads and
puts them an on equal footing. Among
the important provisions of the bill is
one which imposes fine of not less
than $1,000 and not more than $4,000
for the Willful failure or the part OF
a railroad 70 file and publish railroad
tariffs ''Or rates and charges as re-
Quired by the said acts or strictly TO
observe such tariffs until changed ac-
cording 10 law"
The amendment also makes it unlaw-
ful for any person, persons or corpora
ton TO grant, offer. give, solicit, accept
or receive any rebate. concession or dis
elimination in the transaction Of any
property On Interstate or foreign com
merce. This provision makes the party
accepting favors as guilty as the one
granting them. A violation of this
clause must be treated as a misdemean-
or and IN case Of conviction shall be
punished as stated
Fines Only Imposed.
Any property transported under any
device whatever for less than the pub
lished rates makes the party response
BILE for the act liable 10 punishment.
Imprisonment for any violation of the
/ law is abolished, the penalties imposed
being in the shape Of fines.
Every violation Of the section may be
I prosecuted in any court Of the United
States having jurisdiction in the dis
l trict where the violation occurred or
/ through which the transportation may
have been made. If the Offense is be-
/ gun in one jurisdiction and completed
I IN another, it may be tried and punished
I as if it had been committed in the one
jurisdiction. The act Of the agent or
/ the official in a violation Of the law
/ viii be deemed the act of the company.
I ANY published rate Of the company or
/ of its agents viii in law be deemed the
/ legal rate A departure from the pub
/ lished rate will be considered a viola
/ ton Of the law. III an action is begun
( against a company it viii be lawful 20
| include in the examination any person
who may have been interested in the
violation.
Power Of Commission.
| The interstate commerce commission
/ is given power to file a petition against
; any offender discovered violating the
/ law. This petition must be filed in the
/ United States circuit court The law
| applies TO violation Of passenger tariffs
as well as those Of the freights. In the
/ case Of an examination a witness can
| not refuse to testify on the ground that
/ the evidence tends TO incriminate him.
/ In most criminal actions one need not
I testify against himself In other words
1 he is not obliged to testify If the evil
/ dence tends 10 incriminate himself. The
/ evidence in this case cannot. however.
l be used against the person tes-
\ tfying. A person or corporation called
upon 20 testify must produce books and
] papers deemed Of importance in the evil
( denCe
All the acts conflicting with the new
1 act are repealed and the present act
/ takes effect upon its passage. The fore
I going Is the full text Of the law. shOrn
I Of its legal Verbiage.