East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-22

From the Salem Capital-Journal is
taken the following first draft of a
proposed railroad law" for the state.
drawn by j. N. Teal. at the sugges-
tion of the Portland Chamber of Com
merce. and subject to amendment by
suggestion from divers sources as in
dic1ted by perusal of the Introductory
paragraphs:
4 bill Will be offered and its pas
sage urged upon the Legislature of
Oregon at Its next session to control
common carriers in this state. and
for that purpose to create an Oregon
railroad commission that shall have
power to regulate the railroads with
in the state. In response to the public
demands for such a law, the trans
portation committee of the Portland
Chamber Of Commerce has drawn a
bill, and copies Of the same have been
submitted to the governor, members
of the legislature and officers of vari-
Gus public bodies, who have been ask
ed to examine and make suggestions
concerning it, in writing, by Novem-
ber %.
j. y. Teal, attorney for the COM
mittee, in a letter submitting copies
ot the bill Ia the state Officers. says:
THAT the business of the common
carriers Is of so public a character
and the interests of the general pub
lie therein so vital as to warrant and
demand proper supervision, to pre-
vent eXtortion and unjust discrimina-
ton, cannot he doubted, either as 4
matter of law or policy. Today Ore
gon stands practically alone being
one of a small group OF less important
states making no effort to regulate
the rates or practices of their com.
mon carriers"
What II Provides For.
1t provides for reciprocal demur-
rage, requires that adequate equip
ment be furnished ana adequate SER
vice rendered, and that all charges
for transportation of persons and
property must be reasonable and just.
Unjust ana unreasonable charges are
decided unlawful, and this provision
applies also to joint rates Dscrimi-
nation. giving and accepting rebates
are prohibited under heavy Penalties
as is the giving of an undue and un-
reasonable preference and the taking
of COMPENSATION other than specified
in the lawful schedules. An anti-pass
provision is incorporated, excepting
from its operation the privileged per-
sons listed in either the interstate or
Wisconsin acts.
Every railroad is required, under
the provisions of section to file on
the first Monday in February each
year a verified list of railroad passes,
mileage books and tickets issued free
or FOR any other than actual bona
fiGe money consideration at full es-
taolehcd rates during the preceding
year together with the names of the
recipients thereof, the amounts re-
Ccived therefor and reasons for issu-
ing same.
Section u of the bill gives wide lat
itudc to the railroads in the issuance
of free transportation to employees for
charity making excursion or other re-
duccG rates, etc.
kcngdy for Car shortage
TIL" committee I'm considering a
remedy for the car shortage evils that
have cursed Oregon and inflicted un-
told injury upon its industries in the
last few years has accepted the re-
ciproCul demurrage plan. Their meth
Oh does not, however. contemplate any
incorporation of rigid rules and de-
mUrrage penalties in the law itself.
The railroad commission is to be fur
nishcd with a flexible law that will
authorize and direct It to fix recipro-
cal demurrage rules and regulations,
and carry them into effect. 1t is fear
cd that to incorporate into the law