Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-24
MAYFIX THE RATES
Synopsis Of the Bill for Railroad
Regulation as 1t Passed
the Senate.
AMENDMEN1SADD STRENGTH
OIL Pipe Lines, Express Companies
and Private Car Lines Are Also
Made Subject TO Its
Provisions.

| and Private Cur Hhep nv
Made Subject 10 Its
Provisions.
Washington, May 19-The principal
purpose of the railroad rate bill passed
Friday is to permit the interstate
commerce. commission to fix rates
The provision comforting this author
lty is found in the fourth section OF
the bill which amends section ID OF
he interstate commerce law 30 as 10
accomplish this result. That section
directs the commission to investigate
complaints of unjust and unreason-
lble charges on the part OF the COM
mon carriers in the transportation OF
persons or property or Of regulations
Or Of practices affecting such charges
II also authorizes an inquiry as to
whether the rates or practices are
'uniustly dlscriminative or unduly
preferential or prejudicial or other
wise in violation Of the act" and In
ease any of these conditions are found
10 exist the commission is empowered
10 determine and prescribe what Will
be the lust and reasonable maximum
rate and what regulation or practice
is Just, reasonable and fair. Further,
authority is given the commission TO
enforce its orders and they are to go
into effect within 80 days and continue
in force for two years unless s'ls-
pended, modified or set aside by the
commission or by court of competent
Jurisdiction. Other powers conferred
by this section are ITO apportion
Joint fares, establish through routes
and maximum joint rates and pre-
scribe their division and to deter
mine the compensation to be paid to
shippers doing service for carriers.
Section 16 of the present law Is so
changed as to provide for an award
Of pecuniary damages to complainants
found entitled and in case payment iS
not promptly made in accordance with
this award the beneficiary is author
lied to fle suit in United States CIR
cult court 10 compel compliance. The
finding of the commission is to be re-
ceived as prima facie evidence 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 provides
that these orders shall take effect 30
days after service unless suspended
or set aside by the>courts. A penalty
Of $4,000 for each offense 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 VI
olation. Orders other than those for
money payments are to be enforced
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 preference over
all others except those Of a criminal
character.
The bill was amended by the senate
30 as to give the United States circuit
courts Jurisdiction to entertain suits
brought to annul or change the orders
Of the commission and to provide
against the granting of interlocutory
DEGREES without hearing and making
appeals from such orders direct to the
supreme court.
other provisions extend the deAni-
ton Of the word railroads so as to
make 1t include switches, spurs, tracks,
terminal facilities, freight depots,
yards and grounds and defines the word
Transportation" SO as to make 1t
embrace cars and other facilities for
shipment or carriage, irrespective OF
ownership or of any contract" the in
tention being to make the railroads
responsible for all special car service.
It is made the duty Of carriers to fur
nish special car service upon reason
ablo request.
Senate amendments include oil pipe
linas axnress companies and shipping
car companies unuer Jne neau OF COM
mon carriers" and make them amen
able to the requirements of the bill.
other senate notifications prohibit
the issuance of passes or the granting
of special favors to one class Of pas
sengers over another, prohibiting rail-
road companies from transporting
commodities produced by themselves;
require such companies to put in
switches at the reasonable request Of
shippers, prohibits the granting of
acceptance of rebates and relnstate the
Imprisonment penalty for violation of
the law.
There are also changes in the law
relative to the reports to be required
of common carriers, and a penalty Of
500 q day is imposed for failure to
comply with the report requirement
The commission is given access to
the accounts Of the companies affected
by the act, but examiners are forbid
den under penalty Of heavy fine and
long Imprisonment from divulging the
facts ascertained. Fines Of $500 for
each failure to keep proper accounts
Is provided. A Justification Of accounts
is made punishable by fine and i'm