Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-09-21
Fhe Railroad Rate Law.

On Monday, August 9th, the Rail-
way Rate Law went into effect This
law in its passage through congress
elected more discussion in both houses
of congress and in the press of the
country than any legislative measure
of recent years. 1t was fought vig-
orously by the railroads in every stage
of its progress. President Roosevelt
with his characteristic energy exerted
himself to win victory for peO-
pie. The membership of the Inter-
State Commerce Commission which
will have charge Of the enforcement
Of the law has been increased from five
10 seven members who will meet with
in few days for the purpose of at
tending to the many details they will
have to pass Judgment upon.
The new law requires that railroad
companies shall supply the commission
with schedules of changes. Any COM
pany failing to file these schedules
with the commission is liable to fine,
varying from ST 900 to $4,000. In
this way the shipper will be ai<e to
ascertain for himself from these
schedules which every company must
maintain accessible to the public at
every shipping point, just how much
he has to pay on his shipment If he
finds that he is charged too much
he may enter a complaint with the
commission which will at once take
action. The work of the commission
ers will be facilitated by a provision
that "any officer, representative or
agent" binds the company, so that if
an agent is guilty so is the company.
Shippers will be greatly benefited
by the one price rate and they will no
longer have to dicker with hale
dozen concerns over charges for get
ting their goods transferred from one
point to another.
Hitherto the shipper of perishable
goods had to figure on icing, refriger-
ator and other charges and in conse-
quence had to deal with several COM
panies.
Hereafter the railroad viii have to
do all this The shipper will have
only one charge and will deal with
only one concern.
In reference to practice of grant
ing rebates, every person, company
or corporation, whether shipper or
carrier, is prohibited offering, grant
ing, soliciting or receiving any rebate,
preference or discrimination. The
violation of this clause entails fine
of from 81 1000 to $4,000. Persons
guilty of such violation are also liable
to term Of imprisonment of not more
than two years. Any shipper who ae-
cepts rebate, on conviction must, IN
addition to the above penalties, pay
to the United States three times the
value Of such rebate.
The system of free passes which
has existed for years is done away
with by the new law. Railroads are
not to issue after January l, 1907,
passes to any person except to en-
ployees. A penalty of not less than
800 nor more than $4,000 is provided
not only for the person issuing such
pass, but also for the person applying
for or accepting it.
Such are the outlines of the new law
which is the result of the general de-
sire to place curb on the overgrow1
power of railroad corporations. How
it will stand the test Of experience re-
mains to be seen. Its very enact.
ment is a recognition Of the need for
stripping these corporations of the
means of extorting unlimited tribute
! from the American people.