The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-23
THE BATE BILL
PASSED THE UNITED STATES
SENATE FRIDAY.

Summary OF the PROVISIONS OF tle
Rate Bill as it Finally
Passed.
After 70 days Of almost continuous
deliberation the senate Friday passed
the railroad rate bill by the practical
u unanimous vote Of II to s. T:e
three neFative votes were cast by
Senator Foraker, Republican, Of 0 lio
and Senators Morgan and Pettus,
Democrats, Of Alabama. There was
q somewhat larger attendance OF
senators than ususal, but the asten'
d .nce in the galleries was By no
means abnormal, and there was 20
manifestation Of any Kind Wheo tie
result was announced. There was,
howsver, an almost general sigh Of
relief among senators. The bill has
received more attention from the
$ nate aId from the country at large
than any measure that has bsen be
fore congress since the repeal Of the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act
In 1898.
SUMMARY OF THE BILL.
The principal purpose of the rail-
road rate bill passed Thursday is to
permit the intersta e co onmsrce coz
mission to fix rates. The pr5v,eioa
conferring this authority is found IL
tae fourth section OF the bill ano
amends section Is Of the Interstate
commerce law so as to accomplish
snat result. That sections directs the
commission to investigate complaints
of unjust and unreasonable charges on
the part Of Common carriers in the
trans porta5ion Of persons or property
" Of regulations or OF practices at.
f&csing such changes. It also autho-
LES an tnqu ~ as to whether the
rates or practlces are "unjustly dis
c.ininatory or unduly preferential or
p,ejuaicial or othetW wise / violation
Df tne acs, and in case any OF these
Conditions are found to exist, the
oon mission is empowered to determine
and pre>cribe what will be the just
snd reasonable max mum rate and
shat regul-.inn or Practice is just,
reasonable and fair Further, autnor-
ity il given the commission to enforce
its oruers and they are to 60 into et-
feet within 80 DAYS and Continue IN
force for two years unless suspended.
modified or set asic'e by the commls-
siGn by a court OF competent jurisdic-
tion.
Other powers conferred by this
s ciion are: to aoportion joint fares,
establish through routes and max
lmum Joint rates and prescribe their
division and to determine the co1-
pensation to DO paid to shippers doing
.srVice for carriers. Section 16 OF tie
present law is so changed as to pro-
vide for an award OF pecuniary dam
ages to complsinants found entitled
and in case payments are not promp
t:y made In accordance vito this
award the beneficiary is authorized to
file suit in q United States circuit
court to compel compliance. The find
ings 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 Ct ect sc
says after service unless suspended or
modif q by the commission or suspen-
ded or set aside by the courts. A pen
sluy OF 5000 for each off .ase in dis
obedience Of the order Is imposed,
and the peuaity is to accumulate at
the rate Of 5000 day ia case OF
continuous violation. Orders other
tlao those for money payments are
10 be enforced by the federal courts
througts.writs of nandamus or injunc.
zion and in case OF appeal to the
supreme court, these cases are to be
g ven precedence over all others e1-
cept those Of a criminal character.
The bill was amended by the seDate
80 as to give the Uaited. States Cir
cult courts Jurisdiction to entertain
suits brought to anpul or change the
orders Of the commission and also to
provide against the granting OF inter
itcutcry DEGREES without hearings ano
making appeals from such orders di-
rect to the supreme curt.
Other provisions extend the dehni-
tion ct the word railroad" so as to
make it include switches, spurs,
tracks, terminal facilities, freight dc.
pots, yards and grounds and defines
transportation so as to make it en-
brace cars and other facilities 1ot
shipment or carriage, Irrespective OF
ownership or Of any contract, Tn
intention being to make the railroads
resporsible for al special car service.
It is made the duty Of carriers to iu''
uish special csr service upon reason
able request.
SenaEe amendments include oil
pise lines, express companies ano
Sleeping car com eanios under tie
head Of COMMON carriers" and make
Them amensble to the Requirements
Of the bill. O5her senate modifca
Ions prohibit the issusrce Of passes
yr the grantirg OF special favors tc
one class OF passengers over another,
proaibit railroad companies from
transporting commodities produced
oy themselves; require combines tc
put IN switches a5 ress anable r,oues'
# shippers; prohibit the granting @:
acceptance Of rebates, sud reinstaSe
toe imprisonment penalty for viola
tion Of the law.
There are also changes in the Ia"