The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-23
Complete Summary Of Measure as
Passed.
THE SENATE MADE SEVERAL CHANGES
AND COMPRE-
HENSlVE REVIEW OF I'M
PROTANT RAILROAD BILL.

pages of space in such type as con-
gress uses for the printing of such
bills, and being, therefore. rather a
yoluminous document, is made to take
the form of a series Of amendments
to the existing interstate commerce
act. Excepting where specified, that
act remains in force.
The senate has made a number OF
changes in the text of the bill as it
was passed by the house, but for the
most part these changes are not i'm
portant.
The following provisions of the bill,
as it passed thee house, were not dis
turbed by the senate:
Asserting affirmatively the power of
the government to regulate rates. pro-
viding that all rates are to be lust
and reasonable" and delegating to the
interstate commerce commission the
task of hearing complaints alleging
that rates are not thus just and rea-
sonable, and naming new rates to take
the place of those complained of when
conditions warrant it, This is the sub
structure of the bill, and therefore its
most sweeping and important provis-
ion. The rates of the commission are
to remain in effect until set aside by
the courts.
Must Furnish Data.
Requiring all railroads to file, as
heretofore, with the commission their
complete schedules of rates, and in
addition everything in the way of ter
minal charges, storage charges, icing
charges and any other special privi-
leges allowed All. these things come
within the meaning Of the Just and
reasonable" clause.
Rates may be changed only on notice
of thirty days.
Making the records Of the commits
sion prima facie evidence in the
courts.
Permitting the commission and the
aggrieved shipper to begin action in
the courts to enforce the commissions
orders, the costs of such suits to be
taxed against the railways. the appeal
to lie directly from the trial court to
the supreme court and the expedition
statute to apply.
All railways are to file annually
with the commission full statements
and liabilities.
Providing that all railways must
keep uniform accounts This is to
/ simplify the work of the commission
in it's statistical work.
The Senate Amendments.
| The amendments to the bill made
by the senate by way of additions are
both nuemrous and important. They
are as follows:
| Oil pipe lines are declared to be
common carriers and subject to the
provisions of this act This amendment
was declared in debate to be aimed at
the Standard Oil company.
Express companies and sleeping car
companies are also declared to be COM
mon carriers and subject to the pro-
visions OF the act
| The issue of free passes is prohib
/ tied under severe penalties, but there
is an excepted list which, it has been
estimated, will number perhaps 10000,
600 persons. 1t includes all officers
and employees of railways and their
immediate families. railroad physicians
and attorneys and their immediate
! families, ministers of the gospel, secre-
taries of the Y. M. c. A, hospital and
charity patients. INDECENT and homeless
persons, disabled soldiers and sailors
female nurses of the civil war, ex-
union and ex-confederate soldiers who
are inmates of soldiers homes, care
takers of livestock accompanying such
livestock to market and returning
home. victims of earthquake and pes
thence. and laborers going to locali-
ties where their services are demanded
All these may receive free passes
should the railroad see fit to issue
them. Passes may also be exchanged
between the officers of railroads as al
present is the custom.
Must Cut Off "Side Lines"
After 1908 common carriers will be
forbidden to transport as interstate
commerce any products mined or pro-
duced by themselves except such as
may be needed for actual operating
purposes. This provision is aimed
in chief at the railways which mine
coal and manufacture coke Lumbe,