Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-11-30
Prepared by Commerce
Commission Made Public.
Latter viii Have Complete Su-
pervision Over the Rates
Established BY Interstate Railroads and CIas.
sificaion Of All Merchandise.


committee on Interstate Commerce, to-
day, received copy of the rate bill
prepared by the Interstate Commerce
Commission to be submitted to Con-
gress for amendment to the Interstate
commerce law. The members of the
committee who were present at the
session. today, read the bill but took no
action, adjourned until Friday.
The most important provisions of the
bill are summarized as follows:
lie makes the through or joint rate by
which goods are shipped from one part
Of the United States to another through
a foreign country subject to the con-
troll of the Interstate commerce Id"
and enforces these provisions by max
ing such merchandise subject to the
customs duties at the frontier unless
the frontier unless the through rate Is
filled with the Interstate commerce
commission and published as required
by law.
It authorizes the commission through
inspection to examine the accounts VI
Interstate railroads, forbids the Keep
ing of any other books OF account eN
cept those prescribed by the commls-
sion and requires roads to make
great variety of reports in regard 10
all it's business.
II giyes to the er-state Commerce
Commission the power, where rates
and practices of railways are COM
plained of by individuals or corpora
tions including other carriers, or trade
examinations or municipal corpora
tions as unjust or unreasonable dis
criminatory, to determine upon fun
hearing what just and reasonable
rate or practice is which should take
the place of the-rate or practice COM
plained of by the commission. And in
discharging this duty the commission
is given power:
ITO fix a maximum rate.
'To fix a differential and to prescribe
both maximum and minimum rates to en-
force the same when that be necessary 10
prevent discrimination forbidden by the
bill. but not otherwise.
ITO change the classification of any
article"
1t also gives the commission the power.
in case it fixes a joint rate and the car
riers interested are not able to agree on
its apportionment, to make supplement-
al order apportioning the same. 1t pro-
overcharges found due by the commission
and the penalties for the failure of the
carriers to observe final orders of the
commission.
It provides that the final orders of the
commission shall take effect within 80
days from the time they are served on
the carrier and unless vacated by the
courts the orders will remain effective for
the year.
In case the carriers complain or objec.
to putting orders of the commission into
effect their right to have the same reviv-
ed in the circuit court of the United
States is provided for and an elaborate
form of procedure is outlined. differing
only In one important particular from the
procedure now established for the courts
of the United States. namely. that the
chancellor may. upon notice to both par
ties. extend the time within which such
orders shall take effect not to exceed 60
days from the date of service of the or
ders on the carriers; and that the court
may also. IL it plainly appears that the
7 order Is unlawful, but not otherwise. sus-
pend Ats operation within the discretion
of the court. An appeal from the circuit
court to the supreme court without So
persedeas is allowed. Complaints may be
made by the general committee of any
state CT territory and shall be investigat.
ed by the interstate commerce commits
sion or the commission may initiate in.
vestigate
III a carrier does not comply with TIN.
final order of the commission or if anv nj
the omcers or agents knowingly fails OF
negiects to comply with the same the,
shall forfeit to the United States 800
Tor each offence. Each violation shall b,
deemed a separate offence and a contin.
oance OF the violation each day shall be
regarded as a separate offence.