The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-07-06
THE RAILROAD RATE BILL

this act, shall be deemed guilty OF
fraud, which is hereby declared to be
q misdemeanor. and. shall. upon con-
viction thereof in any court OF the
United States OF competent jurisdic-
ton within the district where such of
Tense was committed, In addition to
aay other penalties provided by this
act, be subjected to a fine equal to
three times the sum OF money so re-
ceived or accepted. and three times the
value OF any other consideration so re-
ccived or accepted, to be ascertained by
tho trial court; and In the trial for
such oifense all such rebates or other
considerations so received or accepted
for Il period Of six years prior TO the
commencement OF the action may be
considered. and the said fine shall be
three times the total amount OF money
or three times the total value OF such
considerations so received or accepted,
aG the case may be: Provided, that tho
foregoing penalties shall not apply to
rebates or considerations received prior
to the passage and approval OF this act.
In edition TO the above the commits
sion Is empowered to make joint rates.
Orders Of the Commission.
Any carrier, any of1cer Representa-
tive. or agent OF n carrier, or any re-
cCtyer, trustee, lessee, or agent OF
either Of them, who knowingly falls or
ucGlects to obey any order made un-
der the provisions of section Is OF this
act, shall forfeit 90 the United States
the sum OF 5000 for each oftense.
Every distinct violation shall be q sep
aratC onense and in case OF a continu.
i?g violation each day shall be deemed
a separate o1ense.
Provision for Court Review.
The court-revicw provision OF the
bill is as follows:
II any carrier fails or neglects 70
obey any order of the commission,
other than for the payment OF money,
While the same is in effect. any party
Injured thereby, or the commission in
i's own name. may apply to the circuit
court in the district where such carrier
has Its principal operating Office, or in
which the violation or disobcGience OF
such order shall happen. for an en-
lorccm"nt OF such order Such appllca-
tiOn shall be by petition, wAlch shall
state the substance OF the order and
the respect in which the carrier has
failed Of obedience. ana shall he served
upon tho carrier In such manner as the
court may direct. and the court shall
prosecute such inquiries and make such
Investigations, through such means as
f. shall deem necdful In the ascertain
meut of The facts at issue or which
my arise upon the hearing OF such
petition. II. upon such hearing as tho
court may determine TO be necessary,
Il appears that the order was lawfully
made and duly served, and that the
cDrrcr is in disobcdienCe OF the same.
TIC court shall enforce obedience to
aVcn order by a writ Of injunction. or
other proper process, mandatory or
otherwise, 10 restrain such carrier. its
officers agents or representatives. from
further disOhedienCe OF such order, or
60 Cnjoin upon It, or them, ObeI rncc to
the same; and IN the enforcement Of
such process tho cour, shall have those
powers ordinarily exercised by II in
compelling obedience to its wits Of
Injunction and mandamus.
From any action upon such petition
on appeal shall lie by either party 10
the supreme court OF the United States,
and In such court the case shall have
priority in hearing and determination
over all other causes except criminal
causes, but such appeal shah rot va
cate or suspend the order appealed
from.
The so-Called Allison provision pro-
vides that all cases for the annulilng
of a rate as made by the commission
should be brought in the district
where the carrier against whom such
order of requirement may have been
made has its principal Office.
Other provisions of the bill provide
that the commission shall be empow-
cred To require annual reports from all
common carriers, and providing that
such reports shall be OF the fullest
character; giving the commission at
all times access 20 the books of COM
mon carriers, heavy penalties are en-
Joined for false entries in accounts. A
fine OF $4,000 or Imprisonment for
term Of two years, or both, is decrced
for any examiner who shall wrongly
divulge information acquired through
examinations of accounts. Circuit and
district courts are to have jurisdiction
TO issue writs OF mandamus compel-
ing common carriers to obey the or
ders Of the commission. Bills OF lad
ing are to be issued by any common
carrier accepting goods for transporta-
ton. making railroad companies liable
for loss or damage done in transit
over their or any other line. The COM
is empowered to employ spe-
cial agents or examiners with full
powers.
This act takes effect and is IN
force from and after its passage.
The Interstate commerce commission
will consist of seven members. who