Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-02-20
Power to Fix Rates, But
Courts May Re-
view
Sweeping Measure Apply
ing to All Transports
ton Matters

bill was introduced. The final
changes were made at a meet
ing of the senate committee on rail-
roads, and in it's final form it rep
resents the best Judgment of the com
mittees of both houses, after securing
the opinions of many members as well
as others who may be considered
authorities on the subject.
An appointive commission of three
members is provided for at a salary
of $4,000 EACH with secretary at
$4,000. They must not be interested
in any railroad. 1t is vested with
power to require an adequate railway
service, to prescribe just and equitable
rates, charges and regulations, to
govern and regulate railroad freight
and passenger rates, and switching
and other charges, to correct abuses
and prevent unjust determinations and
extortion in the rates Of freight and
passenger tariffs, and all other rail-
way service on the differen: railroads,
and to enforce such rules, charges and
regulations by having the penalties
prescribed by law.
The commission shall have power to
fairly and justly classify apd sub-divide
all freight and property Of whatsoever
character that may be transported
over the railroads of the state into
! such general and special classes as
may be found expedient. 1t shall
/ have power to fix for each class of
freight and article or commodity
reasonable rate for each railroad.
These classifcations shall be the same
/ for all railroads. The commission
! may fix different rates for different
railroads and for different lines under
/ the same management, or for different
parts of the same lines, and may make
rates for express companies different
from the rates fixed for railroads. The
4 commission has power to fix and es-
tablish for all or any connecting lines
of railroad reasonable joint rates of
/ freight charges for the various classes
and kinds of freight and cars that may
pass over two or more lines of such
I railroads.
If any two connecting railroads fail
/
4 charges arising from the transporta-
ton of freights, passengers or cars,
over their lines, the commission may
fix the pro rata part of such charges
to be received by each of said con.
Meeting lines.
The commission has power to estab-
/ lish reasonable regulations for the
transportation of passengers over all
| railroads and prescribe the rates.
The commission shall have the power
to prescribe reasonable regulations,
j rates, tolls or charges for any other
service performed by any railroad
subject hereto.
The commission shall have the
/ power, when deemed by it necessary
to prevent injury to the business or
interests Of the people or railroads OF
this state through interstate rate
wars, or in case of any other emer-
! gency, to temporarily alter, amend, or
with the consent of any railroad com
pany, suspend, any existing passenger
rates, freight rates, schedules, orders
and circulars on any railroad or part
of railroads in this state
All claims against any railroad com
pany for injury to property from any
cause, or for overcharge upon any
shipment, or for any other service.
may be investigated by the com.
mission, and upon request OF any in
terested party it shall be it's duty so
to do, and the results of such in
vestigation shall be embodied in a
! special report, which shall be open 20
public inspection, and may be incIud-
| ed in the next report Of the com
mission.
Any person proposing to erect and
| construct a public elevator or public
warehouse upon a line Of railroad,
shall be furnished facilities therefor
by such road The commission shall
have power to require any railroad
company to construct spur tracks
whenever the same may be reason.
ably necessary for the accommodation
OF shippers. Whenever any shipper
constructs a private track in aid of
! shipments over any road, the COM
mission shall have authority to re-
quire the road to make switch con
nection Herewith and to set in on
any spur track, whether owned
| privately or by the road, cars re-
CURED for loading at such place or
places and at such times as shall be
convenient for the shipper.
Before any rates shall be estab.
| lished the commission shall give the
railroad company ten days notice of
! the time and place when and where