Milford chronicle., 1906-05-25
EFFECT OF The
RATE BILL
VIII be More Far.Rsaching Than
Any Law of Recent Years.
RESTRICTIONS ON CARRIERS

will soon be reached.
The most important provision of the
act confers on the interstate commerce
commission the authority, on COM
r plaint to examine into any charge or
practice of a carrier alleged to be un-
just, and when such allegation is sus-
tained to prescribe what shall be a
just and reasonable maximum rate or
charge, regulation or practice.
The act defines as common carriers
owners of pipe lines engaged in the
transportation of oil or other commod-
ity. except water and natural or arti-
fetal gas; also sleeping car and ex-
press companies, and all forms of pri-
vate cars, terminals, switches and
spur tracks.
Free Passes Forbidden.
The issuance of passes or free trans
portation in any form to all persons,
except employees or carriers and their
families and certain exempted classes,
is forbidden. and a penalty of not less
than $1OO nor more than $4,000 is pro-
vided not only for the person issuing
such free transportation, but also for
Common carriers are prohibited. on
and after May 1, 1O9S from transport
ing across and state or territorial line
any article or commodity other than
timber and the manufactured products
thereof, manufactured, mined or pro-
duced by it or under it's authority.
They are required to construct and op-
crate upon reasonable terms sidetracks
and switch lines and to furnish cars
for the movement Of traffic without
discrimination and to furnish equally
good accommodations to all persons
paying the same fare.
Carriers must print and post in con
spicuous places all tariffs and charges,
and such charges cannot be changed |
without 80 days notice to the public |
and to the interstate commerce com
mission, except where the commission
valves such notice. They are required
in time of war or threatened war, on
demand of the president, to give pref
erence and precedence to the transpor-
tation of troops and munitions of war.
Every person, company or corporation,
whether carrier or shipper, is prohib-
ited from offering, granting, giving, So
iciting, accepting or receiving any re-
bate, preference or discrimination.
Heavy Penalties For Violations.
Heavy penalties, and in some In
stances Imprisonment, are prescribed
for violation of the provisions of the
act, individuals and corporations alike
70 be held guilty of misdemeanor for
any violation willfully committed, and
the corporations and individuals are
held responsible for the acts of any
agent Failure to publish tariff entails
a fine Of not less than $1,000 and not
more than $4,000.
Granting or accepting Of rebates OF :
kindred determinations entails a fine
OF not less than $1,000 and not more
than $4,000, and the individual guilty
Of such act is liable to Imprisonment =
for not more than two years in addition
to the fine, in the discretion of the
court.
Any shipper who willfully accepts a .
rebate or discrimination must, in addi-
ton to the above penalties, pay to the
United States three times the value of r
|
general is required to bring r.
civil suit to recover this penalty when 2
ever he believes such violation of law =
has occurred. a
The authority of the interstate COM =,
merce commission to fix maximum A
rates refers not only to single, but joint a
rates, and applies where one of the n
parties to the joint rate is a water line.
Forfelts For Failure to Obey Orders. r.
For failure to obey an order of the W
the carrier forfeits to the A,
United States $4,000 for each offense, ot
Ind each day OF a continuing viola W
Ion is deemed a separate offense. or
Where the interstate commerce COM hi
mission orders refund to a shipper Of
md the carrier fails so to refund, the
hipper may institute civil suit to re-
over; the finding of the commission
onstitutes prima facie evidence Of the nj
acts, and the petitioner is not liable ar
or the costs in the court or at any BY
ubsequent stage OF the proceedings. II
nd II the petitioner finally prevails a l..
sasonable attorney fee is allowed him. hs
The Interstate commerce commission sh
r any person injured by a failure OF a ha
arrier to comply with an order of the mi
other than the pavment NJ idi
honey, may apply to the circuit court &
nd If the case is established the court
hall issue a writ Of Injunction, manda-
Try or otherwise. to restrain such car wa
er from further disobedience, and an
ON such action appeal shall lie direct col
the supreme court Of the United wa
tates, where the case shall have pri- co,
'ity of hearing and determination era
The Allison Amendment. Wit
The act provides that in suits brought va
gainst the interstate commerce COM tur
ission the venue to enjoin, set aside. =
lnul or suspend any order or re-
lirement Of the commission shall be
the circuit court Of the district
here the carrier has it's principal op-