The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-01-08
SHIPPERS WANT MORE CARS
TIE FEDERAL CONGRESS 10 BIZ PEII-
TONED FOB RELIEF.
Southwestern Lumbermenss Association
viii Ask That Law Regulating
Movement and supply Of Cars
Be Enacted-Tezt OF Bill

a
by congress It wiz compel the railway
companiessto furnish an adequate nun
Der of cars to shippers, both lumber
shippers and others; and It IS COntem-
plated that the railway companies shall
also be compelled TO supply sufficient
equipment so that freight may be ship
ped without material delays. For sew
eral years shippers have complained
of the lack of freight cars. It Is said
shippers have also lost hundreds Of
thousands of dollars because of delays
of the railway companies IN handling
freight after it was on the tracks.
This year conditions have been worse
than ever before. The Southwestern
Lumber association hopes TO interest all
of the lumber interests OF the United
States in the proposed law. Grain,
stock and other large shippers allege
the same grievance that the lumber in
terests complain Of Efforts viii be
made forthwith to -endeavor to interest
the stock and grain shippers. Il is be
lieved that If these three great shipping
interests combine on the question that
congress cannot well refuse to take
some decisive action
I've have gone at the matter slowly
but very carefully" said one Of the
committee, which is urging legislation.
Conditions of freight shipments have
become such that It is considered nee
essary that congress be called upon for
relief A bill covering the question has
been drafted for as by a firm Of lawyers.
The bill has also been read by eminent
jurists. We shall present the bill to
congress and ask that It be made law. -
BE It enacted by the senate and
house of representatives Of the United
States Of America in congress assem-
bIed.
Section 1. It shall be the duty of
every railroad company engaged IN car
rying OF in giving bills Of lading for
carrying personal property and live
stock, between points in different states
/ or territories, upon written application
by any person for the carriage of any
| such property or live sock over the rail
road of any such company, OF over such
railroad and any connecting line or lines
of railroad, to any point in another
state or territory, to receive and com
mence the carrying thereof within FIVE
days after the offer of the delivery there
of for such carriage, and any failure to
receive or commence the carriage of
such property or live stock by any such
company in any such case shall entitle
the person making such application to
recover from such company, for each
car necessary for such carriage, for
each day after the said FIVE days during
which such failure shall continue, a
penalty of ten dollars, recoverable by
such person as plaintiff against said
company as defendant by a civil action
in a circuit court of the United States
for any district in which such Company
may have an Office and agent for the
transaction Of any business, upon whom
summons therein may be served.
"Section 2. The provisions of the
next preceding section shall apply not
only to the initial railroad carrier to
/ which such application shall be made,
{ but also to any connected railroad car
rier engaged in such earring of person
al property and live stock, on any rail
road line or part Of a line between the
2 point of terminus of such initial carrier
j and the ultimate point of shipment to
t which connecting carrier said person
t shall make written application for the
S continued carriage Of his property Of
E live stock by such connecting carrier.
Section 3. It shall be the duty o.
every railroad company engaged II
carrying personal property OF live stool
Z between points in different states Of
territories, whenever so engaged as
sole carrier, or as an initial OF connect
ing carrier IN such carriage, to trans
port and haul all cars furnished to an
shipper for such carriage over its line o
railroad from the starting point TO tn
point Of destination thereon OF sucl
shipment, IN such number OF days o
p hours each as win equal the numbe
resulting from the division by the nun
Der 50, of the total number OF miles o
carriage of said shipment over its lin
Of railroad by such company with o
without any remainder by such division
and for each additional day occupied Il
such carriage over and above sue
number in completing such shipment
said company shall forfeit and pay q
the. consignee Of such shipper for eacl
car so furnished and transported th
sum and penalty of SO. to be recovere
By him IN the manner provided IN III
first section Of this act
Section 4. ItshaH not be a defense Z
any suit under the provisions Of this &C
that the company sued did not hav
the cars necessary for any shipment ap
piled for, or did not have the requisit
equipment for the carriage OF haulin
thereof from the point of starting to tn
destination thereof. OF any portion ths
reof, on its line Of railroad
Section 5. The penalties recoverabl
under this act may Be sued for n on
single count OF statement IN the petite