Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-29


railroad lines in Chicago which may
result in the withdrawal of all free
transportation. A majority of the
railroad officials favored applying the
free transportation section of the new
interstate commerce law when the
rest of the law goes into effect Aug
ust %. The law specified that free
transportation should not be issued
after january /, 1907. But the rail-
road men say that another section of
tn general law forbids the issuing
of Tree transportation after August
28 The final disposition of the ques-
ton was left to a committee of five
with instructions to get an interpre-
tation of the law from the interstate
commerce commission.
If the contention of the majority is
sustained, free transportation will be
withdrawn August %. This applies to
all forms except that used by persons
specifically named in the law as en-
titled to free transportation.
The law in question does not pro-
hibit free transportation within the
state.
Fifteen railroads operating in the
west submitted a list of questions TO
their respective legal depar ments
which they wanted answered for the
guidance of traffic managers. The at
torneys met in July and considered the
rate law and the questions presented.
The result of the conference is EN-.
bodied in a report handed to the rail-
way managers yesterday in Chicago
1t is understood that these answers
are to determine the policy of the rail-
roads interested.
The provision of the law specifying
persons to whom free transportation
may be given, resulted in long list of
questions. The decision is that a rail
road may furnish free transportation
to its employees, officers, agents, sur
geOns, physicians and attorneys at law
and their families. The word family
is construed to mean members of the
household of the employee and rela-
tives dependent upon him. The ques-
ton, Does the exemption of minis
tiers of religion include their wives
and families?' was answered in the
negative The free transportation
given to caretakers of live stock, fruit
and poultry includes only the journey
with the products and the return Jour
ney. If the caretaker does not ride
with the products of which he mas
charge, he is not entitled to transpor.
tation. Here are some of the other
questions and answers:
Q. Can free transportation be used
in whole or in part in the settlement
Of claims?
A. Yes if the claim is for money
and a fixed amount of transportation
having a definite value. is given as
the agreed value of the claim, or that
portion of it which is settled. Suca
trsns portation is not free.
Q. Will it be lawful to transport a
passenger or check his baggage or sell
him a sleeping car ticket for an inter
state trip whose transportation con.
slsts In part of a state pass
A. A pass for a journey between
Two points IN the same state cannot
leWfully be use' for part of a cortiu-
cous interstate journey. Consequently
nc privilege in the way OF checking
baggage, selling sleeping car ticket.
or other accommodation can be given
inc holder of the pass for his inter.
state journey. We assume in this, how.
ever, that the holder of the pass is
lot one of those persons entitled I'M
DER the law to receive free transporta-
ton.
e. I%r land and immigration agents
VINO are not solely in the employ of
inc ialiroad company and not on their
payroll be paid for their services in
"hole Or in part, with transportation.
A Not unless the indicated persons
are employees of the company in such
sense that the company could lawfully
give them transportation as a pass or
Eratuity.
u In respect to circusses and SINH.
lar organizations must they be handled
subject to the provisions of this oot
with reference to the publication of
rates discrimination in the rates etc
both as freight and passenger traHc
49, NiACJ may DG uedlt with bIr
the railroad company by special con.
tract, the company stipulating therein
thai so far as the transaction ia con.
cerned it is a private carrier.
immigration agents and narsons
seeking locations for industries cannot
be given free transportation. Neither
can special rates be made on freight
which is shipped for the purpose of
building or establishing new indns.
try.
An important question is touched nm.
on in section Fl which refers to "ca s-,s
of loss and damage arising from ca :.
trophies or any other claim which nav
be attributable to the act of God, the
public enemy, or result from son. ~.
herent vice or defect in the freight if.
self"
The question a. ked regarding this
follows: Can such claim be paid as a
matter of policy without liability ia
penalties prescribed ~ the law, when
the policy may be TO conciliate the
shipper in order to obtain fair share
OF his business, or the policy may be
directed towards political sentiment