Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-02-02
DEMOCRATS VOTE NO
Minority Members Do Not Like Ad-
minisration Freight-Rate Bill.
CREATES COURT OFTRAySPoR1ATION
Republican Measure Presented In
the House Provides for Control
of Freight Schedules by Nom
Partisan Commission.


washington, Jan. 31.-The house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce by party vote authorized
a favorable report to the house on a
bill extending authority to the inter-
state commerce commission to iix
rates, increasing the size Of the com
mission from fiYe to seven members
and creating court OF transporta-
ton" The bill is a combination OF
the Esch- Townsend measures, with
amendments taken from the Hepburn
bill. The action of the committee was
reached after sessions lasting practi-
cally all day. The democrats gave
notice that they would present the
Davey bill in the house with a minor
ity report. Mr.. Townsend subsequent
ly introduced in the house the meas
ure agreed on in order to have 1t print
ed. The act takes effect April l, 1905.
The bill as reported contains ~ sec
lions. It extends authority to the in
terstate commerce commission when
ever after full hearing it has declared
any existing rate for the transporta-
tion of persons or property, or any
regulation or practice whatsoever az
fecting the transportation OF persons
or property to be unreasonable or un-
Justly discriminatory to declare and
order what shall be just and reason
able rate, but at any time within 80
days from date of such notice any
person or persons directly affected by
the order of the commission and deem
ing It to be contrary to law, may in
stitute proceedings in the court OF
transportation, sitting as a court OF
equity, to have it reviewed and its
lawfulness, justness or feasonableness
determined.
Section imposes a penalty OF
fine Of $1,000 a day for each day par
ties violate the rulings Of the com
mission made under sections and q
of the bill. Section 6 increases the
membership of the commission to-
seven and makes the salary OF each
$4,000 a year and concludes; The
president shall appoint, by and with
the consent of the senate, two addt-
tional interstate commerce commits
sioners. Not more than four commits
sioners shall be appointed from the
same political party" Section Z es-
tablishes the court of transportation
to be composed of five circuit judges
of the United States, no two Of whom
shall be from the same judicial dis
trict They shall be designated by the
president for terms Of one, two, three,
four and five years, respectively, from
April /, 1905, and as their terms ex1
pire the president shall from the cir
cult judges appoint their successors
for terms of five years each.
The court of transportation is given
mower to summon before 1t all parties
named as defendants or respondents
in proceedings before 1t and its sub
poenaes for witnesses may run into
any judicial district or any territory
,or possession of the United States"
Representative Jenkins, of Wiscon-
sin, introduced a bill requiring all cor
porations in existence April 6, 1905
created by act of congress since Janu-
ary i, 1900 80 file detailed statement
with the attorney general on or be-
fore April next showing in detail the
amount Of capital stock, number and
value Of shares, amount paid in and
amount unpaid, names and addresses
and amount of stock subscribed by Of
ficers, directors and stockholders, as
well as the law under which lncorpor-
ated It is provided that corporations
shall not transact business until att
er compliance with this provision and
II any corporation failes to comply
its corporate existence shaall cease.
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