Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-07-04
THE RAILROAD RATE BILL

|
the schedules Of rates provided for III
this act, shall be deemed guilty Of q
fraud, which is hereby declared to be
misdemeanor, and, shall, upon con-
viction thereof fin any court OF the
United States of competent jurlsd1c-
ton within the district where such Of
tense was committed, in addition to
any other penalties provided by this
act, be subjected to a fine equal to
three times the sum Of money so re-
ce1ved or accepted, and three times the
value OF any other consideration so re-
ceived or accepted, to be ascertained by
the trial court; and In the trial for
such offense, all such rebates or other
considerations so received or accepted
for period Of six years prior to the
commencement of the action may be
considered, and the said fine shall DO
three times the total amount OF money
or three times the total value OF such
considerations 50 received or accepted,
as the case may be: Provided, that the
foregoing penalties shall not apply to
rebates or considerations received prior
to the passage and approval OF this act.
In edition to the above the commits
sion Is *empowereds to make joint rates.
Orders Of tho Commission.
Any carrier, any omcer, representa-
tive, or agent Of carrier, or any re-
cetver, trustee, lessee, or agent OF
either OF them, who knowingly tails or
neglects to obey any order made I'M
! der the provisions of section Is OF this
act, shall forfeit to the United States
the sum of $4,000 for each ofrense.
Every distinct violation shall be sep
arate offense, and in case OF a continue
Ing violation each day shall be deemed
separate otrense.
Provision for Court Review.
The court-review provision of tho
bill is as follows:
II any carrier fails or neglects to
obey any order Of the commission.
other than for the payment of money,
| while the same is in effect, any party
| injured thereby, or tho commission in
its own name, may apply to the circuit
court In the district where such carrier
has Its principal operating Office, or in
which the violation or disobedlence OF
such order shall happen, for an en-
forcement Of such order. Such applica-
ton shall be by petition, which shall
state the substance Of the order and
the respect In which the carrier has
Jailed OF obedience, and shall be served
upon the carrier in such manner al tho
court may direct, and the court shall
prosecute such inquiries and make such
investigations, through such means az
It shall deem needful in tho ascertain
ment OF the facts at issue or which
may arise upon tho hearing of such
petition. If, upon such hearing as the
court may determine to be necessary.
Il appears that the order was lawfully
made and duly served, and that the
carrier is in disobedience OF the same.
the court shall enforce obedience to
such order by writ OF Injunction, or
other proper process, mandatory or
otherwise, to restrain such carrier its
officers, agents or representatives, from
further disobedience of such order, or
to enjo1n upon 1t, or them, obedience to
the same; and in the enforcement OF
such process the court shall have those
powers ordinarily exercised by it In
compelling obedience to It's wr1ts Of
injunction and mandamus.
From any action upon such petition
on appeal shall lie by either party to
the supreme court OF the United States.
and in such court the case shall have
priority in hearing and determination
over all other causes except criminal
causes, but such appeal shall rot va
cate or suspend the order appealed
from.
The so-called Allison provision pro-
v1des that all cases for the annull1ne
OF 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 has its principal Office.
Other provisions OF the bill provide
that the commission shall be empow-
cred to require annual reports from all
common carriers, and providing that
such reports shall be of the fullest
character; giving the commission at
all times access to the books Of conn.,
mon carriers; heavy penalties are en-
joined for false entries in accounts. A
fine OF $4,000 or Imprisonment for a
term OF two years, or both, is decreed
for any examiner who shall wrongly
d1vulge Information acquired through
examina tons Of accounts. Circuit and
district courts are to have Jurisdiction
to issue writs Of mandamus compell-
ing common carriers to obey the Or
ders of the commission. Bills of lad
Ing are to be issued by any common
carrier accepting goods for transporter
ton, 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-
cia1 agents or examiners with full
powers.
This act takes effect and is in
forcs from and after It's passage.
The interstate commerce commission
Will consist Of seven members, who
shall draw salaries Of $4,000 per an
mum each. \
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49,. Explanation.
Myer-Your friend Cutter always
speaks well Of everybody.
..Gyer-Mere force Of habit.
Myer-How's that?
Gyer-He used to carve epltaphs on
COMMISSIONERS Chicago Daily News. =