The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-25

Two years unless suspended, houiheu vi
set aside by the commission or by
court of competent jurisdiction.
Oil pipe lines, express companies,
sleeping car companies are made COM
mon carriers and placed under the jur-'
isdiction of the commission.
No railroad may hereafter furnish
free transportation except in excepted
cases. A fine of from 800 to $4,000 is
provided for the improper issuance of
pass and the person accepting it is liza
BILE to the same punishment.
The railroads must before May, 1908,
divorce themselves from all business
connections and confine themselves en-
tirely to the duties of common carriers
They will not be permitted to have a
direct or indirect interest in any com
modify they transport unless it is in
tended for their own use.
All railroads must provide switches
and side tracks for shippers without dis
elimination. Provision is made for the
enforcement of this regulation by the
commission.
All railroads must file with the COM
mission schedules of their charges. Thir-
ty days notice must be given the COM
mission of any change in schedules. Any
car receiver failing to file its charges
with the commission is prohibited from
transacting business.
The granting of rebates and discrim-
nations is forbidden and fine of from
$1,000 to $4,000 is fixed as punish
ment, in addition to Imprisonment for a
term not exceeding two years. Both
penalties may be imposed by the courts.
Any person, corporation or company
demanding a rebate for the shipment
of goods is subject to fine of three
times the amount received or three
times the value of any concession grant
ed.
All orders of the commission fixing
maximum rate shall take effect within
thirty days and continue for two years
unless suspended or modified by the
commission or court of competent
jurisdiction.
The commission is authorized to es-
tablish through rates and joint rates
as the maximum to be charged and pre-
scribe the division of the rates..
The commission is authorized to pre-
scribe what annual reports shall be
made by the railroads. 1t may also pre-
scribe exactly the forms of any and all
accounts, records and memoranda kept
by each railroad or carrier. Any per-
son making a false entry in the books
as ordered to be kept by the commits
sion is liable to fine of from ST 900 to
$1,000 and Imprisonment for not less
than one year and not more than three
years.
The commission is empowered to en-
ploy such special agents and examiners
as are necessary to keep that body in
formed as to the business transacted by
the railroads. Any examiner who di-
vulges any facts or information obtain
ed during his inspections, except to the
commission, is liable to a fine of not
more than $4,000 and to Imprisonment
for not more than two years, or both.
All railroads are made responsible for
damages or losses sustained on goods
delivered to connecting lines. The or
iginal bill of lading fixes full response
bility on the carrier accepting the ship
ment.
Section l6 of the present law is
changed so as to provide for pecuniary
damages to, compliments found entitled
to them, and in case payment is not
made promptly the beneficiary is au-