Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-05-26
EFFECT OF The
RATE BILL
Will be More FAIR aching Than
Any Law OF ..ecent Years.
RESTRICTIONS ON CARRIERS

read rate bill out Oi thc way. pressure
Tor the adjournment OF congress Is
beginning 10 be felt. The house com.
mittee having sent the bill to confer.
encc II is believed an adjournment
will soon be reached
The most important provision of the
act cOnfers on the interstate commerce
plant. to examine into any charge or
practice OF carrier alleged to be un.
just and when such allegation Ii sus
tanned to prescribe what shall be a
just and reasonable maximum rate or
charge. regulation or practice.
The act defines as common carriers
owners OF pipe lines engaged in the
transportation OF oil or other commod-
fly. except water and natural or arti-
fetal gas; also sleeping car and ex-
press companies. and all forms of pri-
vate ears, terminals. switches and
spur tracks.
Free Passes Forbidden.
The issuance o! passes or free trans
except employees or carriers and their
families and certain exempted classes,
is forbidden, and penalty OF not less
than 500 nor more than $1,000 Is pro
vided not only for the person issuing
such free transportation but also for
the person applying for or accepting IL.
Common carriers are prohibited on
and after May /, 1898. from transport
Ing across and state or territorial line
any article or commodity other than
timber and the manufactured products
thereof. manufactured. mined or pro-
duced by 1t or under its authority.
They are required To construct and OPP
crate upon reasonable terms sidetracks
and switch lines and To furnish cars
for the movement of traffic without
discrimination and to furnish equally
good accommodation TO all persons
paving the same fare.
Carriers must print and post in con.
spicuous places all tariffs and charges.
and such charges cannot be changed
without 80 days notice to the public
mission. except where the commission
valves such notice. They are required
In time of war or threatened war, on
demand of the president. To give pref
erence and precedence to the transpor
tation OF troops and munitions OF war
Every person company or corporation.
whether carrier or shipper. is prohib-
tied from offering. granting. giving. SO
Letting. accepting or receiving any re
bate. preference or discrimination.
Heavy Penalties For Violations.
Heavy penalties, and In some in
stances Imprisonment. are prescribed
for violation OF the provisions Of the
act individuals and corporations alike
TO be held guilty of misdemeanor for
any violation willfully committed. and
the corporations and individuals are
held responsible for the acts OF any
agent Failure to publish tarifi entails
fine of not less than $1,000 and not
more than $4,000.
Granting or accepting of rebates or
kindred determinations entails fine
OF not less than $1,000 and not more
than $50 600 and the individual guilty
OF such act Is liable to imprisonment
Tor not more than two years in addition
10 the fine. in the discretion OF the
court
ANY shipper who willfully accepts a
rebate or discrimination must In addi-
ton to the above penalties, pay to the
United States three times the value OF
such rebate or discrimination and the
attorney general is required to bring
civil suit to recover this penalty when
ever he believes such violation OF law
has occurred.
The authority of the interstate com
merce commission 10 Ak maximum
rates refers not only To single but Joint
rates. and applies whore one OF the
parties TO the joint rate is a water line
Forfeits For Failure to Obey Orders.
For failure To obey an order OF the
commission the carrier forfeits 10 the
United States $4,000 for each ofIense.
and each day of a continuing viola
ton Is deemed separate offense.
Where the interstate commerce COM
mission orders refund to a shipper
and the carrier fails so to refund the
shipper may institute civil suit to re-
cover: the finding of the commission
constitutes prima facie evidence OF the
facts and the petitioner Is not liable
for the costs in the court or at any
subsequent stage of the proceedings.
and II the petitioner finally prevails a
reasonable attorney fee is allowed him.
The interstate commerce commission
or any person injured by failure OF a
carrier 10 comply with an order of the
commission. other than the payment of
money. may apply to the circuit court
and II the case Is established the court
shall issue a writ OF injunction. manda-
tory or otherwise. to restrain such car
rier from further disobedience. and
from such action appeal shall lie direct
10 the supreme court OF the United
States. where the case shall have pri-
GRITTY OF hearing and determination
The Allison Amendment.
The act provides that in suits brought