The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-01
THE HEPBURN RATE BILL
FavorabIy Reported in House With
Recommendation of Republicans
and Democrats.

Chairman Hepburn reported to the
house Saturday his railroad rate bill
with the favorable recommendations
of the entire republican and demo
cratic members of the interstate and
foreign commerce commission.
The report is a comprehensive ex-
planation of the measure. Prellml-
nary to giving details as to the in
tention of each section, the statement
is made that the bill is the product
of several years consideration by the
committee. The object of the bill is
simply to amend the interstate com
merce law which has been in force
for twenty years.
No attempt is made to give the
commission power to read5ust freight
classification, power which Hep
burn says his committee considers
much greater power over rates than
in the, bill Under a grant of power
to establish system OF freight clas-
sifcation the commission would have
authority to take the initiative. Little
complaint, it is said, has been heard
against classification.
In attempting to correct the ship
ping evils the, bill provides for q
broader definition of the words rail
roads, and transportation" so as to
include within the jurisdiction Of the
commission the regulation of switch
es, private cars and terminal charges.
It is section four Of the bill which
confers power on the commission to
establish a rate or to declare what
will be proper charge in a certain
instance. The report states in this
connection that it is just to the com
mission that none of it's members
think it wise that authority to take
the initiative in rate making should
be conferred upon it.
Its jurisdiction is confined to cases
where complaint has been made, when
it is authorized to declare what shall
be "just and reasonable and fairly
remunerat:ye rate or rates, charge
or charges, to. be hereafter observed
in such case as the maximum to be
charged; and what regulation or prac-
tice in respect to such transportation
is. just and fair and reasonable there
after to be followed, and to make an
order that the carrier shall cease and
desist from such violation to the eX.
tent to which the commission finds
the same to exist, and shall not there
after publish, demand or collect any
rate OF charge for such transportation
in excess of the maximum rate, or
charge so prescribed and shall con-
form to the regulation or practice so
prescribed"
Additional requirements and re.
.strictions are provided in the matter
of awarding damages, receiving COM
plants and giving notice Of hearings.
etc. A penalty OF $4,000 is provided
for violation or disobedience OF. any
order of the commission. Authority is
given to the shipper to apply to the
circuit court for the enforcement OF
the commissions orders. The court
is to enforce this order by means OF
injunction.
Appeals may be taken to the su.
preme court direct, and such cases
are given priority over all other ex.
ceptional cases. Access may be had
at all times to the books Of the
carriers. A fine of $4,000 or imprts-
onment for two years is the penalty
provided for refusing to allow experts
of the commission to examine the
books of such carrier.
The bill provides for two additional
members of the commission, the term
of service for a commissioner being
increased to seven years and the sal.
ary to $4,000.