The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-19
ELKINS MAKES
RATE MEASURE
Chairman Senate Committee on
Commerce Will Submit
a Bill.
INCREASES COMMISSION
SEVEN TO NINE MEMBERS
UnreaSOnableneSS of Charge Is
Limit of Power to
Change.

WASHINGTON, Jan Ex-senator Ell
kins, chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce. has made
public his bill for the regulation OF rail-
road rates. which he purposes to offer for
the consideration Of Congress The COM
mission Is increased from seven TO nine
members. Expenses of litigation are 10
be borne by the United States. The bill
has not been completed fully, but the sec
ton regulating rates cmbodics most OF
the important features, and is as follows:
Most Important Features.
That whenever the Interstate Commerce com
mission shall be OF tho opinion that reaoona-
bic grounds exist Tor believing that any rate,
Inre or charge established charged by my
common carrier or carriers for any transpor'a-
proved February 4. lSS5, or any oct nmcndatpry
thereof. 'S unjust and unreasonable. OF that any
such carrier or carriers shall bo making any
unjust discrimination OF he engaged I'm any
other practice or b. doing eny other Gct in
violation Of any provision Of said acts. Il
shall DO lawful for said commission to insti-
tote suit or proceeding I'm equity IN the
Circuit court Tor any district In which the
principal Office Of any carrier defendant In
tho suit or proceeding shall be located. To rs
strain such carrier or carriers from continuing
in force such rat" fare or charge from con
ttnUne such unjust discrimination OF other
unlawful act practice.
May Institute Suit.
Tho committee In It's discretion may insti-
tute any such suit or proceeding upon ito own
motion upon the appll alton oi any person.
firm or corporation interested I'm the matter
be required before instiluting any such suit
or proceeding TO give notice 10 the parties de-
fendant thereto or grant hearing o. make
report. nndlnS. recommendation, decision or
order In respect OF the matters complained OF
but the commission shall have power before in
stitutns any such suit or proceeding to make
such investigation az II may deem proper.
Restrain or Enjoin Carrier.
any rate OF any carrier complained OF by such
suit or proceeding, Is unjust and unreasonable
on that thc carrier Is making any such
jGst discrimir alton is engaged In any such
other practice ar Is doinS any such other act
IN violation OF law, the court may by It's or
dor or decree, mandatory otherwise
strain and enJOin such carrier from contnu-
Ing I'm force such rate fare OF charge or from
continuing such unjust discrimination such
other unlawful act or practice on or after
date 10 be specified In the order or decree; md
thcroupon Il shall be ihc duty or the carrier,
on or before such date 10 put In force a low
ful and proper rate. fare. cnnrgc practice
in substitution Tor that re5Tainc1 or required
to be changed.
Put in Force Just Rate.
In any carrier shall fall. within the
time specified In such order or decree, to put
In force a lawful and proper rate. farc
charge In substitution FOR that constrained
required to be changed In any sub
sutUtcd rate. fare charge put In force by
the carrier shall be unjust and unrea sonabIc or
otherwise unlawful. the commission shall have
power, upon the evidence in such suit ana
without further hearing, or. in Its discretion.
upon further evidence and herring before tho
commission, to mako an order directing the
corricr 60 modify the original the sub
stitutcd rate, fare or charge. the case may
he, by putting In force In lieu thereof II just
and reasonable rntc prescribed in such order
OF the commission. but the committee shall not
have power To modify any original or sub
stituted rnte, fare charge 10 greater
tent than shall be necessary In order to re-
move the injustice and unrcasonableness there