Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-06
Mas Been Redrawn and Was
introduced in the House
Today.
EMBRACES OLD PROVISIONS.
In New Form Specifics Things Which
May he Done by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.


rownsend railroad rate bill which pass
% the house at It's last session, has
hsan redrawn and was reintroduced In
tho house today by Mr.. Townsend. The
hu embraces all Of the features Of the
former measure. but II drawn so ms to
sreclfy the things which may be done
nv the interstate commerce commits
s,on In addition Il has publicity
feature and gives the commission jurls-
dlctlon over refrigeration and terminal
charges. II also directly prohibits the
CARRIER from granting any shipper the
nrlyilege OF collecting his product and
then getting special rate under the
short term provision for changing rates.
As explained today by Mr.. Townsend
the bill Expresses the ideas Of the
president in hls message and will, II
enacted into law, amend the inter-
state commerce laws so as to make
Il more effectual in securing exact JUS
iice between tho carriers, shippers. pro-
ducers and consumers. II amends the
substantive law so as to embrace
within the powers of the commission
oil Interstate carriers of interstate and
foreign commerce. whether by rail-
roads or partly by railroads and pat
~ by water and includes specifically In
the term transportation all cars. We
hiclts. ventilation. refrigeration, eleva-
ton transfer. storage and all other
facilities and instrumentalites OF ship.
ment and carriage as we'll as terminal
I'M Sfria al tran Ixu A,,-
ing the commission authority over the
so-called private car and other
agencies.
1T enlarges the interstate commerce
commission to seven members Increases
the length of their term Of office 20
seven years and their salaries to $4,000
This is done at the presidents sugges-
ton as the increased power conferred
upon the commission will Increase it's
duties and responsibilities and require
the best men obtanable.
This commission will compel the es.
Enlistment OF joint and through rates
for interstate traffic and abolish the
custom which Is In some cases OF bill
ing shipments within the boroughs OF
state then compel reshinment.
IL seeks to abolish ~ so-called mid.
night rate evil by enlarging the time In
which a published or scheduled rate can
he charged to 60 days and compels the
carrier TO itemize It's schedules and
rates In accordance with the instruc-
tons Of the commission. This schedule
must also show the division Of charges
between so-called trunk, or through
lines and terminal or industrial roads.
The bill also provides that the COM
mission shall decide promptly and with
IN % days after hearing all eases
brought before II. II contains practi-
cally the same provision of the Esch-
townsend bill wltch authorizes the
commission upon complaint and after
iuIl hearing tn determine whether a
rate or regulation is reasonable or un.
reasonable, and II unreasonable to sub.
stitute the reasonable maximum rate
in It's stead and IT may order both a
maximum and minimum rate In cases
INVOLVING the relation of rates when Il
finds that cource necessary TO enforce
the application OF differentia charges
and such order Of the commission shall
20 INTO effect within 80 days after II
IL made, This same provision applies
also to joint rates and where the car
rler parties to such Joint rate fail TO
agree on the division of the same, the
commission may determine the share
OF each carrier.
1T also provides for a rehearlng up-
on any order which the commission has
made on the application Of either party
IN The case. In case the carrier is dis
satisfied with any order of the COM
mission, H. can, on petition, begin pro-
ceedlngs IN the federal court OF the ju-
diclnl district In which II has Its prin-
opal operating office. alleging that the
order OF the commission In unlawful
and praying that II be vacated and set
aside. When such petition Ii filed II Is
the duty OF the attorney-general to
give notice as provided under the expe-
dillon act of Feb. H. 1903. whereupon
the court. consisting of three circuit
judges or two circuit judges and dis
trlct judge, shall proceed directly TO de- |
termine the lawfulness OF the commits
slon's order in which the commission IL |
the defendant and the attorney general |
has charge of the defense. Either par
" to the proceeding may appeal from
the decision OF the expedition court d. |
reclly TO the supreme court. No pro- |
vision Is made for suspendlng either |
the order Of the commission or of tn, |
TRIAL court, for the reason that the |
court whether expressly permitted by |
The bill or not would have the power |
10 enioin any order II the proper show |
Ing Is made that the order or decree is |
unlawful
The bill also provides that the
commission shall have authority 10 |
designate and employ special agents |
and examiners empowered to admins
Yer oaths, examine witnesses and re-
ceiln evidence; this also Is done to ex-
pedite business before the commission.
The bill also provides for the full
20 tl.. rfait 10
Of every detail of their business and |
business relations: showing receipts
and disbursements all contracts, pri-
waite or otherwise and gives the COM
mission power to require specified |
methods of keeping accounts and Of
making reports. The bill also author
ICES the commission and It's agents To |
inspect AZ any time all books Of ac-
counts. records, memorandums or con-
tracts and imposes fines and inlprson-
lnent for keeping and reporting any
thing but true and fun records and for |
Withholding any information from the
committee.
The president In his message calls |
particular attention to three matters
which should be included IN any mea-
sure TO amend the interstate commerce
law:
ISL Np pTpNlut hkdlilsN So-thHNh
midnight rates; second. 10 empower
The commission with authority to fix.
upon comnlaint and full hearing. rea-
sonaole maximum rate In place OF one
round by the commission 10 be unreal
Sonahle and TO have II 20 into early
efect; third to compel the widest pub
lieity Of railroad bookkeeping and
methods made. This the new Esch-
Townsend bill fully accomplishes."
IIEInIrSl NJ AnnII,S EAnI