Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-30
COMMISSION DRAWSRATELAW
ospy of Proposed Bill Is Seat to Senate
Committee on Commeros.
TO CONTROL TRANSPORTATION DEVICES
Requires Railroads 10 Make Great
variety of Reports and Gives
COmmissIOn Access 20
Books.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2g-rhe senate
committee on interstate commerce today
received a copy Of the rate bill prepared
by the Interstate Commerce commission
to be submitted to congress for amendment
to the interstate commerce law. The mem
bers Of the committee who were present
at the session today read the bill. but
took no action and adjourned until Fri
day. The bill is very extensive. covering
twenty-seven pages of typewriter sheets,
and 1t proposes to amend materially the
present law. The more important provi-
sions of the bill are summarized as fol-
lows:
1t defines the word transportation as used
in the bill so as to include all instrumental
tiles employed by the carrier. including
elevators, terminals, cars, whether owned
by the carrier or other persons for refrig
GRAFTON, ventilation Or other purposes and
requires the carrier TO furnish such trans
portation upon reasonable request of the
shippers, publishing the total charges for
such transportation as now required by
law.
1t makes the through or joint rate where
goods are shipped from one part of the
United States to another through a for
eign country subject to the control of the
interstate commerce law and enforces this
provision by making the merchandise
through the foreign country from one part
In the United States and delivered in
the United States subject to the customs
duties at the frontier unless the through
rate is filed with the Interstate Commerce
commission and published as required by
law
Regulates Railway bookkeeping.
II authorizes the commission through in
spectors to examine the accounts of inter-
state railroads, forbids the keeping OF any
other books of account except those pre-
scribed by the commission and requires
roads to make a great variety of reports
in regard to all its business. II gives to
the Interstate Commerce commission the
power, where rates and practices of rail-
ways are complained of by individuals or
corporations, including other carriers or
trade organizations or municipal corpora
tions as unjust and unreasonably discrim-
inatory to determine upon fun hearing
what just and reasonable rate or prac-
tice is which should take the place of the
rate or practice condemned by tho com
mission. And in discharging this duty the
commission is given power:
To fix a maximum rate.
To fix the differentisl and to prescribe
both maximum and meoiun ecsss no et ~
prevent dlscriminat ion forbidden by the
bill but not otherwise.
To. change the classification OF any
article.
Fixing Joint Rates.
1t also gives the commission the power
in case 1t fixes Joint rate and the carriers
interested are-not able to agree on its APP
portionment, to make a supplemental order
apportionng the same.
similar power Is given to establish
through routes and joint rates and to fix
the terms and conditions under which
routes shall be operated, # the 'riers fail
or refuse to agree upon the
It also provides that where the owner
OF the property transported, renders any
service. In connection with the transporta-
ton, or furnishes any fundamentally used
the commission may on complaint, deter
mine what is reasonable charge to be paid
by carriers for such service or instrument
tally.
II provides for the collection in the courts
OF overcharges found due by the commits
sion 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 thirty
days from the time they are served on the
carrier, and unless vacated by the courts
said orders will remain effective for the
space OF one year
Enforcing Commissions orders.
In case the carriers complained OF OBJ
ject to putting orders of the commission
into effect, their right to have the same
reviewed 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 parties,
extend the time within which such orders
shall take effect, not to exceed sixty days
from thei date of service OF the orders
en- the carriers, and that the court may
also, If it appears that the order is I'M
lawful but not otherwise. suspend its
operation within the discretion of the
court. An appeal from the circuit court to
the supreme court without supersedeas is
allowed. The bill provides that no costs
shall be allowed the petitioner In the cir
cult court. In the cases appealed to the
circuit court the United States is the de-
PENDANT ana If the proceedings are dis