The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-02-22
TO REGULATE RAILROAD RATES.

If the ninth legislative assembly
creates a railroad commission. the
law providing for such q tribunal
will probably be a compromise meas.
ure agreed upon by the senate and
house. Ia the senate, the Bremen
railroad commission bill is expected
to receive favorable consideration
when a vote AT be reached, and in
the house a bill prepared by the COM.
mittee on railroads and transp0rta.
ton has been Endorsed by q number of
the members. A general outline of
the latter measure is given 10 news
paper reports to this effect:
The first board of railroad commits.
sioners shall be composed of three
persons. the first of whom shall serve
until January. 1907, the second until
1909, and the third until January,
1911.
At the regular election held in 1906
there shall be elected to succeed the
member of the board whose term ex-
pires in 1907, a member of the board
who shall serve six years: commits.
sioners shall be elected in 1908 and
1910 for a similar period and bien.
nially thereafter one member shall be
elected for a term of six years. Va.
cancies shall be filled by appointment
by the governor.
The members of the board are re-
guired to furnish bonds to the state in
the sum of $25, 900 for the faithful dis
charge of their duties. The Office of
the board is to be in Helena, where
the members are to hold at least one
meeting each month. The sessions
of the board are to be public.
The salary of each member of the
board is to be $4,000 per annum, and
that OF the secretary, to be chosen by
the board, 81, 400 a year.
The board. according to the terms
of the bill, is vested with the power
and authority to adopt as soon as
practicable after the organization of
the board, all necessary rates, charges
and regulations to govern and regu.
late freight and passenger tariffs, to
correct abuses and prevent unjust dis.
Grimm alton and extortiOn in the rates
OF freight and passenger tariffs on the
different railroads in the state, and to
make the sam effective by the en-.
forcement OF penalties provided.
When any schedule shall have been
made or revised it shall be the duty Of
the commissioners to cause notice
thereof to be published for two success
sive weeks in some Helena newspaper
and a printed notice of such schedule
shall be conspicuonsly posted by
such common carrier in each freight
and passenger house on its line. Any
failure or refusal on the part OF any
railway company to comply with the
provision, shall subject such railroad
to a penalty of Tot less than 800 nor
more than $500 for each day that such
failure or neglect is continued.
The board shall have the power from
time to time to change, alter or amend
or abolish any classification or rate
established by it when deemed neces.
sary. The board shall make and es'
tablish reasonable rates for the trans
portation of passengers over each and
all of the railroads in the state and
shall prescribe rates, tolls and charges
for all other services performed by
any railroad in the state.
Any railroad which shall charge ,
greater rate, charge or compensation
than that fixed and established by tn,
commission for the transportation o
freight, passengers or cars, shall b
deemed guilty of eXtOrtiOn, and snail
forfeit and pay to the state of Montan;
sum of not less than $500 o NOR
than s 1900.
The district court shall have juris
diction to enforce by proper decree tn
rates, classitications, rulings, order
and regulations made by the commits
sion, but appeals may be taken to tn
supreme court. Railroads may brin,
actions in the district courts to deter
mine whether OF not any such classic
cation. rate, toll, charge, regulatio
or order may be made by the board
Any shipper or other interested pei
son may bring an action in the dis
trict court against the said railroa
as defendant to determine the san
question.
The bill expressly forbids rebate:
drawbacks or any other means h
which discrimination in rates is et,ec
ed between shippers.