Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-07-07
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SOME PROVISIONS OF THE RATE

In the public mind the most i'm
portant legislation enacted at the re-
cent session of coLeress was the rail-
road rate bill. 1t was productive of
more interest and discussion than any
other bit of legislation and in it's pas
sage it is agreed that the country has
a safe and sane measure for curing or
curling those evils with respect to
transportation, unfair discrimination,
rebates and other particulars of
modern railway business that, have
been much complained of by shippers
and the public. In brief, the following
gives a good idea of the general pro-
visions of the bill:
1t broadens the term Transportation"
rier' to include express companies as
well as railroads and boat lines, under
a common management which may
be engaged in Interstate or foreign
commerce, either passenger or freight.
1t brodens the term Transportation"
to include private car lines, elevators
and all other instrumentalities for the
shipment of property. It provides
that all rates shall be just and reason
able whether through or joint rates.
1t Increases the number of Interstate
Commerce commissioners to seven,
their term of Office to seven years
and their salaries to be $4,000 per;
Sannum, and permits four of them to
pc OF one political party. This COM
mission is given full power upon COM
plant and after a full hearing to fix a
reasonable and just maximum rate
which shall take effect thirty DAYS
after the order Of the commission and
shall remain in effect two years un-
less changed by the commission or,
after review by the courts, shall
have been set aside as eonfiscatory or
ordered by the commission in excess
OF the powers conferred upon it, This
as the broad review provision as
stated by those who favored it, the
provision which bore, the brunt Of the
light in the senate. Violations OF
orders Of the commission knowingly
committed may be punished by ine
of $1,000 a day, each day constituting
"a separate offense. Enforcement OF
the orders of the commission may be
had by injunction or other mandatory
order --2,;o
Appeals from the orders OF the
commission may be taken by either
party from the lower Federal courts
to the supreme court. No injunction
or interlocutory decree or order sus-
pending or restraining any order of
the commission shall be issued except
upon hearing, without five days no,
tice; appeals from such procedure
may be taken to the supreme court
within thirty days. The commission
may order a new hearing before itself
upon application e 4. 5,~ (.
. The commission may order what
records and memoranda may be kept
by common carriers, and shall have
access to the same at all times. Re.
fusal to permit such access is made
punishable by a fine of $500 for each
ofense, Mutilation Or false entry up.
on such records is made punishable by
fine Of from $1,000 to $1,000 for each
@offense and imprisonment from one to
three years. Federal inspectors re.
Vealing. the secrets Of these records
may be fined not more than SIS 900 and
Imprisonment not more than two
years. The commission may enforce
these orders by mandamus. 4 Il
Common carriers are required
within reason, to make switch eonnec
+ tons with lateral branches and pri,
vate sidetracks ana to furnish cars
without discri limitation. Shippers may
complain OF violation Of this provision
They are required to file with the
Interstate Commerce commission al
public documents, and to conspicuous
4 81
post along their own lines, all
rges Of rates and fares undei
which they operate. No changes ii
these VI rates can be made without
thirty days. notice to the commission
and the shipper. except upon permits
sion from the former.
ssomnlorl carriers are required to filf
with the commission copies of all con
tracts and agreements made Will
other carriers for the shipment b
prop Violations of the above
proyisions nay BE punished by q fns
of from sl,0oe ID $40, 900 tor each 81
Tense.
Rebates ana rinina tons of III