The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-28
rORAAGB'S BATG BILL
Ohio Senator Would Amend Inter-
State Commerce Law.
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE
Provides Against Excessive Rates and
Authorizes Court TO say What is An
Unlawful Rate - Prohibits Free
Passes and Other Abuses.

Passes and Other Abuses.
Washington. Nov. %. Senator For
aker presented to the senate committee
on Interstate commerce the draft OF
his bill to amend the interstate com
merce law. The senator stated that ne
had tried to meet the complaints against
present railroad conditions and at the
same time avoid conierring upon the
Interstate commerce commission, OF
any similar body. the power over rail-
road rates.
The Foraker bin, however, provides
for enjoiniGg the publishing and chars-
ing of excessive rates and for enjoining
and discrimination forbidden by law.
whether between shippers places, COM
modiues or otherwise, and wheher ef-
fected by means of rates. rebates, clas-
siGcauons. private ears, profcrentials.
"or i'm any other manner whatever
While this does not confer upon the
court the power to fix rate it does
authorize the court to say what is an
unlawful rate and how much is unlaw-
ful and to enjoin he carrier from
charging more than is found to be law
ful. The bin also is designed 70 pro-
hibit the giving Of passes. TO allow
free access TO railroad documents and
10 meet complaints as 90 rail rates on
export and import freight
Provision is made so that the laws
TO expedite cases in the courts viii APP
ply to the new law. No carrier is al
lowed 10 grant a special rate or in any
manner collect from any person a
greater or less compensation than il
receives from any other person.
After the adjournment of the COM
mittee Senator Foraker made the fol-
lowing statement as an epitome Of his
argument before the committee:
"The results desired by the president
should be accomplished. but if they can
be secured without comforting the rate
making power on the interstate COM
merce commission or any other govern
mental agency. a number of very trOu-
blesome LEGAL questions Will be avoid
ed. The great evil to be reached and
dealt with is discrimination. This takes
the form Of discrimination between To-
calities and individuals. II is practiced
under numerous guises and devices
such as terminal charges. elevator
charges. refrigerator charges private
car line charges. classification, false
weights. refusal 10 supply cars equally
to shippers and in numerous other
ways
"The proposition Of tho bin is that
upon complaint and the showing of
probable cause. the case shall be heard
on its merits in the first instance in
the court where full relief can be
granted
Another feature Of the bill provides
for the appointment of expert exam
iners who under the direction Of tho
interstate commerce commission. can
make an examination at any time of
all books. documents and papers Of any
railroad that relate 10 interstate trans
pOrtation OF commerce. This viii en-
able the commission TO ascertain the
facts and secure evidence.
Another provision Of the bill is de-
signed TO prohibit and break up the
giving Of passes. This provision needs
no comment
Another provision prohibits the car
wing Of freight hat is to be exported
or freisnS thu; has been imported on
through rates. less as to the rail p0r-
ton OF the charge than is eXacted for
the carrying of similar domestic COM
merce between the same points. unless
the carriage be in ships OF American
registry. The amount Of freight carried
on these lower through rates is con-
stantly increasing, and there is a con-
stantly growing complaint from manu-
facturers on this account"