Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-23
RATE BILL IS PASSED.
Bill Has Attracted More Attention and
Debate Than any Measure Of Re.
/ cent Years.

After seventy days of almost continu.
Gus deliberation, the senate Friday,
at 4 :5S p. m, passed the railroad rate
bill by the practically unanimous vote
of II to 3. The three negative votes
We're cast by Foraker, republican, OF
Ohio, and Morgan and Pettus, de-
mocrats, of Alabama.
The bill has received more attention
from the senate and from the country
at large than any measure that has
been before congress since the repeal
of the purchasing clause of the Sher-
man act in 1898. 1t was reported to
the senate on February 26th, and made
unfinished business ON March 12.
From March 18th to May the bill
was under general discussion without
limitation Ionj duration of speeches,
fifty -eight of which were delivered.
The principal purpose of the railroad
rate bill is to permit the interstate
commerce commission to fix rates.
The provision comforting this authority
| is found in the fourth section, which
directs the commission to investigate
the complaints of unjust and unrea-
sonable charges, on the part of the
common carriers, in the transporta-
tion OF persons or property, or of re-
gulations or practices affecting such
charges 1t also authorizes an, in
quiry as to whether the rates or
practices are Unjustly discriminating
or unduly preferential or prejudical
or otherwise in violation of the act. ;"
And in case any of these conditions
are found to ..exist the commission is
empowered to prescribe what will be a
just and reasonable maximum rate and
what regulation or practice is just,
reasonable and fair. Further it is
given the commission to enforce its
orders and they are to go into effect
within thirty days and continue in
force two years unless suspended,
modified or set aside by the commission
or by court of competent jurisdiction.
Other powers conferred by this section
are
"To apportion joint fares, establish
through routes and maximum joint
rates and prescribe their division and
to determine the compensation to be
paid to shippers doing service for
carriers.
The present law is so changed as to
provide for the award of pecuniary
damages to complainants found en-
titled and in case payment is not
promptly made in accordance with this
award the beneficiary is authorized to
file suit in the United States court to
compel compliance. The finding of
the commission is TO be received as
prima facie evidence of facts in such
suits and the petitioner. Another
provision renders legal the service of
the orders of the commission through
the mails and provides that these
orders shall take effect thirty DAYS
after service, unless suspended OF set
aside by the courts. A penalty of
IS, 600 for each offense in disobedience
of the order is imposed, and the
penalty is to accumulate at the rate of
s.. 600 day in case of continuous
violation. Orders other than those for
money payments are to be enforced by
the federal courts through writs of
"A mi nj s,,
of appeal to the supreme court these
cases are to be given precedence over
all others, except those of criminal
character. The United States circuit
courts are given jurisdiction to enter
tain suits brought to annul or change
the orders of the commission and to
provide against che granting of
interlOcutory DEGREES without hearing
and making appeals from such orders
direct to the supreme court. The in
tention Of the provision defining the
word Transportation, is to make
the railroads responsible for all special
car service. 1t is made the duty of
carriers to furnish special car service
upon reasonable request.
The senate amendments include oil
pipe lines, express companies and
shipping car companies under the head
of Common carriers, and make them
amenable to the requirements of the
bill. Other senate notifications pro-
hibit the issuance of passes or the
granting of special favors to one class
of passengers over another, prohibiting
railroad companies from transporting
commodities produced by themselves !;
require such companies to put in
switches to the reasonable request of
shippers prohibits the granting or
acceptance of rebates and reinstates
the Imprisonment penalty for violation
of law. A penalty of 800 day is
imposed for the failure of the railroads
to comply with the law relative to re-
pOrs.
The commission is given access to
the accounts of the companies affect
ed by the act, but the examiners are
forbidden under penalty of fine and
long Imprisonment from divulging the
facts ascertained. Fines of $500 for
each failure to keep proper accounts
is provided. The Justification of
accounts is made punishable by fine
and Imprisonment.
Circuit and district courts of the
United States are given jurisdiction
over all complaints, by the commits
sion, OF failure to comply with its
orders, and such courts are required to
issue writs of mandamus compelling
such compliance.