The Aberdeen weekly., 1906-05-25
The Railroad Rate Regulation
aw

Law.
The following Is a synopsis OF pro-
visions of the railroad rate regula-
ton bill which passed the United
States Senate last week, after one OF
the warrnest contests in the history
Of that body, occupying the Senate s
attention from early in February
and creating much discord and bit
terness among Republican members,
involving the President himself and
some Of the Democrats. The bill
was first passed 10y the House and
then taken up and variously amend
ed by the Senate The bill, with
Senate amendments, l. again being
considered by the House and may
yet be- changed in its provisions be-
fore reaching the President for ap-
proval:
The principal purpose OF the
Railroad Rate Bill passed today l.
To permit the Interstate Commerce
Commission to fix rates. The pro-
vision comforting this authority l.
found in the fourth section That
section directs the Commission to
investigate complaints of unreason-
able charges OH the part of the COM
mon carriers in the transportation
of persons or property, or 81 regu-
lations Of practices affecting such
charges. 1t also authorizes inquiry
a. to whether rates or practices are
unjustly discriminatory or unduly
preferential or otherwise III viola
ton Of the act, and in case any OF
thes,. conditions are found 10 exist,
the Commission l. Empowered To de
termine and prescribe what Will be
the just and reasonable maximum
rate and what regulation or practice
il Just, reasonable and fair Fur
ther authority Is given the Commits
sion To enforce its orders, and they
are to go into effect within thirty
days and continue in force for two
years unless suspended, modified or
set aside 10y the Commission or 10y "A
court of competent jurisdiction.
Other powers conferred by this sec
ton are to apportion Joint fares,
establish through rates and maxi
mum rates and prescribe their di-
vision, and to determine he COM
pensation to be paid to shippers do
ing -ssrxlce fox earriers- iers---.---.-
Section Is of the present law Is
so changed as to provide for an
award of pecuniary damages to com
plainants found entitled, and in case
payment Is not promptly made III
accordance with this award the ben
eticiary is authorized to file suit in a
United States circuit court to com
pei compliance The finding of
the commission is To be- received as
prima facie of the facts in
such suits, and the petitioner Is
absolved from all liability for costs.
Another provision renders legal the
service of the orders of the Commits
sion through the mails, and pro-
vides that these orders shall take
effect thirty days after service, un-
less suspended or modified by the
Commission, or suspended or set
aside by the courts. n penalty of
So 900 for each offense in disobe-
dience of the order is imposed, and
the penalty l. to accumulate ut the
rate of 50, 900 day in ease of con-
tinuous violations Orders other
than those for money payments ale
to be inforced 10y the Federal courts
through writs of mandamus or in
junction, and in case of appeal To
the supreme court these cases are To
he given precedence over all Others
except those of a criminal character.
The bill was amended 10y the
Senate - as To give the United
States circuit courts jurisdiction To
entertain suits brought To annul or
change the orders of the Commits
sion and To provide against granting
interlocutory DEGREES without hear
ings and making appeals from such
orders direct To the supreme court.
Other provisions extend the
definition of the word railroads =
so as to make it include switches,
spur tracks, terminal facilities,
freight depots, yards and grounds,
and defines the word transporta-
ton" as to- make it embrace ears