The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-08-23
WHAT THE RATE LAW
T" .an---PROVIDES FOR
Observation-Disclosures.

appeared recently on the editorial
page of the New York World:
The newspapers printed columns
about the speeches on the Rate hin
and the wrangling over proposal
compromises, but | have not seen
single article explaining what the act
as finally passed by Congress and
signed by the President, actually pro.
vides for. II. w. II
The so-called Rate law is serle,
of new amendments to the Interstate
Commerce act of 1887 and its pre-.
vious amendments. It's Fundamental
principle is that all charges for the
interstate and foreign transportation
of passengers and property shall
be Just and reasonable" Every "un.
just and unreasonable" charge for
such service is prohibited and de.
clarsS unlawful.
The Interstate Commerce Commis.
sion is enlarged from five to seven
members, appointed by the President
for seven years, with an annual sal
airy of $4,000 each Not more than
four may be of the same political
party.
The act applies to all common car
riers engaged in interstate commerce,
including express companies, sleeping
car companies and pipe lines other
than those transporting water and
gas, as well as railroads and steam. .
boats operated in connection with
railroads. The definition of rail.
road is broadened to include railroad
b:idges and ferries, switches, spurs.
tracks, terminal facilities, freight
depots. grounds and yards. This
broadening will enable the commits
sion to regulate switching and ter
minal charges, which have been a
prolific source OF discrimination.
Transportation is defined to include
all cars irrespective of ownership and
contract and all services in connec-
tion with the receipt, delivery, eleva-
tion, transfer in transit, ventilation.
refrigeration or icing. storing and
handling of property transported.
This brings all the private-car lines
under the authority of the commits
sion.
Every interstate common carrier
must file with the commission, and
keep two copies conspicuously dis
played in each of its depots for pub
lie inspection, schedules showing all
its rates and charges, not only be-
tween all POINTS on it's own lines, but
to all points on the lines of other car
riers. These schedules must state
separately all terminal, icing, storage
and other charges, and all privileges,
facilities and rules affecting the value
of the service. In order to destroy
the iniquities of midnight sched-
ules' no changes may b. made except
on thirty days notice to the commits
sion, without the commissions per-
mission. These published rates are
the only ones that may be lawfully
charged to anybody. All carriers are
forbidden to vary in any way from
these schedules until duly changed,
or to extend to any shipper privileges
or facilities not enumerated therein
After May /, 1908, railroads are
forbidden to carry, except for their
own use, any commodity which they
directly or indirectly mine, manufac-
ture or produce, except lumber. Rail-
roads owning coal and iron mines
must dispose OF these properties or
ship the product out of the State over
a competing line.
Whenever complaint is made that
rate is unjust or unreasonable the
commission is to grant a hearing. II
it finds the complaint Is justified 1t
is to fix the just and reasonable rate,
which then becomes the maximum
charge which the carrier may levy
This rate is to take effect within
thirty days and remain in effect for
two years, unless suspended or modi-
fled by the commission or suspended
or set aside by the courts.
The commission is also authorized
to compel detailed reports from all
common carriers showing capitaliza-
tion, Investment, franchise values,
salaries, earnings, profits and the
like, and to compel a uniform system
OF accounting.
All violations OF this act are held
TO be misdemeanors committed by
the corporation itself as well as the
individual. For refusing to obey the
commission 5 orders in fixing rates
the fine is $4,000. Every distinct vio-
lation is separate offense and each
day is separate offense. For giving
or receiving an illegal pass the fine
is from S100 to $4,000 For falling
to file and publish tariffs the fine is
from $1,000 to $4,000. For giving
or taking rebates there are several
penalties. The carrier and shipper
are each subject to a fine of from
$1,000 to $4,000. The railroad Off
cial or agent responsible for giving
the rebate is liable to two years i'm
prisonment and the fine. In addition
the receiver of the rebate, instead of
Imprisonment, is liable to pay three
times the value of the rebate re-
ceived. For making false entries in
the books or failing to keep correct
records there is fine OF from $1,000
to $4,000 and Imprisonment from one
to three years.
The commission, after hearing,
may award damages to a shipper for
the carriers failure to observe the
law. In case the carrier appeals to
the United States Circuit Court, and
the shipper wins, he Is entitled not
only to damages and costs, but to a