Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-05-24
ENLARGED POWER
FOR COMMISSION
NEW LAW GIVES RIGHT TO MAKE
RATES.
HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED
Fines Accumulate 5000 Day When
Railroads Have Recourse to Courts
to Test Validity of Acts of Com
merce Board.

Washington, May 19.-The principal
purpose of the railroad rate bill
passed yesterday, is to permit the in.
terstate commerce commission to f
rates. The provision comforting this
authority is found in the fourth Sec
to investigate complaints of unjust
and unreasonable charges on the part
of common carriers in the transpor-
tation of persons or property, or OF
regulations or of practices affecting
such charges. 1t also authorizes in
quiry as to whether rates or practices
are "unjustly discriminatory or un-
duly preferential or prejudicial or
otherwise in violation of the act" ana
in case any of these conditions are
found to exist, the commission is en-
powered to determine and prescribe
what will be just and reasonable
maximum rate and what regulation
or practice is just, reasonable ana
the commission to enforce it's orders
and they are to go into effect within
80 days and continue in force two
years unless suspended, modified or
set aside by the commission or by
a court of competent jurisdiction
Other powers conferred by this Sec
ton 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.
Heavy Penalties Provided.
Section 16 of the present law is SO
changed as to provide for the award
of pecuniary damages to complain
ants found entitled, and in case pay
ment is not promptly made in accord
ance with this award the beneficiary
is authorized to file suit in the Unit
ed States circuit court to compel
compliance. The finding of the COM
evidence of the facts in such suits
and the petitioner is absolved from
all liability for costs. Another pro
vision renders legal the service OF
| orders of the commission through
the mails and provides that these or
ders shall take effect 80 days after
service unless suspended or modified
by the commission or suspended or
set aside by the courts A penalty
of $4,000 for each offehse in disobedi-
ence of the order is imposed, and the
penalty is to accumulate at the rate
of $4,000 a day in case of continuous
violation. Orders other than those
for money payments are to be en-
forced by the federal courts through
wrIts of mandamus or injunction and
in case of appeal to the supreme court
these cases are to be given prece-
dence over all others except those OF
criminal character. United States
circuit courts are given jurisdiction
to entertain suits brought to annul or
change orders of the commission and
| provide against the granting of inter-
| locutory degrees without hearing and
making appeals from such orders d.
rect to the supreme court. The in
tention of the provision defining the
| word Transportation" is to make rail
roads responsible for all special car
| service. 1t is made the duty of car
riers to furnish special car service
upon reasonable request
Other Companies Included.
Senate amendments include oil pipe
lines, express companies and sleeping
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 grant
| ing 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 at reasonable request oil
shippers, prohibits the granting Or ac-
| ceplduCt vi lcDdIcs anu ItinSldltS llt
| Imprisonment penalty for violation
of the law. A penalty of 500 day
is imposed for the failure of railroads
to comply with the law relative to
reports.
| Access to Railroad Books.
| The commission is given access to
the accounts of the companies Sect
ed by the act, but examiners are for.
hidden under penalty Of heavy fine
and long Imprisonment from divulg-
| ing facts ascertained. Fines of $500
for each failure to keep proper ac-
counts is provided. classification oi
accounts Is made punishable by fine
| and Imprisonment.
The circuit and district courts OF
the United States are given jurisdic-
ton over all complaints by the com
mission Of failure to comply with its
orders and such courts are required
to issue writs of mandamus COMPEL
| ing such compliance.