The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-05-25
THE RAILROAD BILL
What the New Measure Provides For
the Public.
THE BILL is NOT A LAW YET
Reported Back to the House 1t Will
Go to a Conference Committee For
a Tedious Discussion of its Many
Amendments.
Amendments.

Regarding the present state of what
| is generally termed the Railroad
Rate BILL" just passed by the senate,
| It should be stated that 1t is really
| an amendment to the interstate CON-
merce laws, and originated in the
house; the original bill being known
as the Hepburn bill, which consisted
| of only about 600 words. The bill
with fifteen or twenty amendments,
has passed the senate, but is far from
being a law yet. 1t must now be re-
ported back to the house for concur
renee on the amendments before it
goes to the president for his sigma
ture. II Is certain the amendments
will not be accepted, and the bill will,
therefore, go to conference commit
tee of three from the house and three
from the senate. The committee will
discuss the amendments, pro and con,
reporting back to their respective
houses as they progress. Whatever
the committee agrees to must in ths
end lie ratified by both houses, but
that may be weeks hence.
Washington, May 21.-The railway
rate bill, which has now passed both
branches of congress and awaits only
the concurrence OF the house on the
senate amendments and the signature
of the president, will have more FAR
reaching effect than any law Of recent
years.
The most important provision of the
act confers on the interstate COM
merce commission the authority, on
complaint, to examine into any charge
or practice Of a carrier alleged to be
unjust, and when such allegation is
sustained to prescribe what shall be a
Just and reasonable maximum rate or
charge, regulation or practice.
The act defines as common carriers
transportation of oil or other commo-
dity, except water and natural or arti-
fetal gas; also sleeping car and ex-
press companies, and all forms Of pri
vate cars, terminals, switches and
spur tracks.
The issuance Of passes or free trans
portation in any form to all persons.
except employees Of carriers and their
families and certain exempted classes,
is forbidden, and penalty of not less
than 500 nor more than $4,000 is pro-
vided, not only for the person issuing
such free transportation, but also for
the person applying for or accepting
IL.
Restrictions on Carriers.
Common carriers are prohibited, on
and after May 1, 1908, from transport.
ing across any state or territorial line
any article or commodity other than
timber and the manufactured products
thereof, manufactured, mined or pro-
duced by it or under it's authority
They are required TO construct and op.
crate upon reasonable terms side
tracks and switch lines. and to fur
nish cars for the movement of traffic
without discrimination, and to furnish
equally good accommodations to all
persons paying the same fare.
Carriers must print and post in con-
spicuous places all tariffs and charges,
and such charges cannot be changed
without thirty days notice to the pub,
| lie and to the interstate commerce
commission, except where the commits
sion valves such notice. They are re-
CURED in time Of war or threatened
war, OH demand of the president, to
| give preference and precedence to the
transportation of troops and munitions
of war. Every person, company or
corporation, whether carrier or ship
per, is prohibited from offering, grant
ing, giving. soliciting, accepting or re-
ceiving any rebate, preference or dis.
elimination.
Heavy Penalties For Violations.
Heavy penalties, and in some in
stances Imprisonment, are prescribed
| for violation of the provisions OF the
act, individuals and corporations alike
| to be held guilty Of misdemeanor for
any violation willfully committed, and
the corporations and individuals arc
held responsible for the acts of any
| agent. Failure to publish tariffs entails
fine of not less than $1,000 and not
more than $4,000.
| Granting or accepting of rebates or
! kindred determinations entails a fine
OF not less than $1,000 and not more
than $4,000, and the individual guilty
of such act 10 liable to Imprisonment
for not more than two years in addi-
ton to the fine, in the discretion Of