The Forrest City times., 1906-06-29
THE RAILROAD RATE BILL

l the schedules of rates provided for in l tais aef. shall be deemed guilty Of a fraud. which is hereby declared 10 be misdemeanor. and. shall. upon con- Fiction thereof in any court of the Jniied States Of competent Jurisdic- ton within the district where such o. fense vas committed. in addition 10 gay other penalties provided by this act, be subjected to a fine equal to three times he sum of money So re- eeifed CT accepted. and three times the talBe of any other consideration so re- ceiyed or accepted, to be ascertained by the trial court; and in the trial for such offense. all such rebates or other enstaerations SO received or accepted for period Of six years prior 10 the commencement Of the action may be considered. and the said fine shall be three times fhe total amount Of money or three times the total value Of such eorsideEatious so received or accepted. ae the case may be Provided. that the foregoing penalties shall not apply 70 rebstes or considerations received prior 70 he passage and approval Of this act.
 h addition to the above the eoma.Is- sion is empowered to make Joint rs ls.
 Orders of the Commission.
 Any carrier. any officer. representa- tive. or agent of carrier. or any re- ectver. trustee. lessee. or agent of either of them. who knowingly tails or negleets to obey any order made un- der the provisions of section l5 of thIs act. shall forfeit @ the United States the sum Of e 600 for each orense Every distinct violation shall be a sep aratc offense. and in case of a contina- i3s violation each day shall be deemed . separate ofense
 Provision for Court Review.
 The court-review provision Of the bill is as follows:
 If any carrier fails or negieets . obey any order of the commission. other than for the payment of money. while the same is in effect. any party irjured thereby, or the commission in its own name. may apply to the circuit court in the district where such carrier has it's principal operating office. or in which the violation or disobedienee of such order shall happen, for an en- forcement of such order. Such appliea- tion shall be by petition. which shall state the substance of the order and the respect in which the carrier has failed of obedience. and shall be served upon the carrier In such manner as the oerrt may direct, and the court shall prosecute such inquiries and make such investigations, through such means as i. shall deem needful in the ascertain mert of the facts at issue or which nay arise upon the hearing Of such petition. II. upon such hearing as the i court may determine to be necessary. t appears that the order was lawfully made and duly served, and that the alrier is in disobedience of the same the court shall enforce obedience ro such order by writ Of injunction. or other proper process. mandatory or otherwise. 10 restrain such carrier. is officers, agents or representatives. from further disobedience of such order. or 10 enjoin upon l. or them, obedience to tbe same; and iu the enforcement of such process the court shall have those powers ordinarily exercised by Y in compelling obedience 10 its writs If injunction and mandamus
 From any action upon such petition on appeal shall lie by either party 70 the supreme court of the United States. aHG in such court the case shall have priority in hearing and determination over all other causes except criminal causes, but such appeal shall lot va cate or suspend the order appealed from.
 The so-ealled Allison provision pro- vides that all cases for the annulllpg of a rate as made by the commission should be brought in the district where the carrier against whom such order of requirement may have been made las its principal office
 Other provisions Of the bill provide that the commission shall be empow- cred 10 require annual reports from al common carriers. and providing that such reports shall be of the fullest character, giving the commission at all times access to the books Of com mon carriers. heavy penalties are en-
 
 fine of 1000 or imprisonment for a term of two years, or both. k decreed for any examiner who shall wrongly divulse information acquired through examinations of accounts. Circuit and district courts are To have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus compeli- ing common carriers to obey the or ders ot the commission. Bills Of Iad- ing are to be issued by any common carrier accepting goods for transPorta- tion, making railroad companies liable for loss or damage done in transit over their or any other line The com mission is empowered to employ spe- cial agents or examiners with fun powers.
 This act takes effect and is in force from and after its passage.
 The interstate commerce commission will consist of seven members, who shall draw salaries of sl0.009 per an- nun each.