Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-01-31

i22 OF the public acts recently issued
In supplement form, was a composite
measure, framed in committee and
embodying some of the features OF two
Senate and one House bills, The first
OF these, introduced by Senator Chase
OF Windham, was an adaptation Of the
federal railroad rate regulation law en-
acted by Congress last year at the be-
hest of President Roosevelt, despite
the fierce opposition OF the railroads
The second was simple bin, intro
dueed By Senator Moody OF Washing
ton, providing ior reciprocal ear de-
murrage; that Is, that railroads falling
10 provide cars when ordered should
be subject To the same charge by ship
pers as the latter are when they fail to
load or unload cars within a given
period The House bill forbade de-
murrage charges until due notice in
writing had been given the consignee
OF the arrival of his cars, Taking all
of these bills, dealing largely with the
same subject, the actual operation OF
railroads, the committee framed one
measure therefrom, adding a few new
features only. II sought TO handle the
evils complained of-eyils that ample
evidence proved existent-in the
simplest, least stringent way consist
ent with force and efficiency, II also
sought to bring strength to certain
provisions of the statutes already exist
ing and to harmonize them with the
new act, In the main, the rate act
provides
lst-Railroad passes or free tickets
shall not be issued except to certain
classes connected with the business OF
railroading. The exceptions are broad
enough to cover all who can or should
properly accept such favors. That is,
of course, accepting the principle that
railroads should not give passes ad lib,
2d-Railroads shall post their
schedules of rates in their depots so
that the public may know what.said
rates are. These rates shall not be in
creased except after thirty days pub
lie notice. The board of railroad COM
missioners is given some discretion as
to the modification of these require
ments "for good cause shown" The
purpose is to prevent railroads from
the practice, once common, of making
unannounced changes in their charges
that might seriously affect shippers.
1t is likely that a simple schedule OF
rates could be prepared by railroads,
if disposed to comply, that would
satisfy the commission and serve the
public in its ordinary needs.
3d-Railroads accepting property fol-
transportation are held liable for loss
to that property even when it occurs
on forwarding lines. The shipper
may thus look directly to the party
with whom he deals, and the latter is
given the right to recover from the
companies to whom it delivered the
goods. Any injustice there?
4th-Railroad rates, when found by
the board of railroad commissioners,
after due investigation and hearing, to
be excessive, unjust, unreasonable or
discriminatory, may be remedied by
order of the board, with the right of
appeal to the supreme court. The
board also has authority, after due
hearing, to require railroads to fur
nish adequate, reasonable and equal
facilities for handling business. The
new law added nothing to the old law
here except to provide new means
for carrying it out There has always
been prohibition of unjust or discrimi-
natory rates and requirement tor
proper railroad facilities. The only
difference is, the old law was ignored.
being destitute of a penalty or of easy
remedy for the parties aggrieved.
That no Interpretation offensive to the
public is justified by this provision,
except as railroads may, for their own
purposes, choose to make it so, is evil
dent from clause in Section 1904
Vermont Statutes, which was not dis
turbed, but rather emphasized by ref
erence in this act to Section 1902. to
which 1904 refers. This clause reads
that the preceding sections "shall not
be SO construed as to prevent the issu-
ing of excursion, mileage and commu-
tation tickets" Discriminatory rates
would be rates not open to all persons
offering the same money for the same
service, under like conditions.
5th-Express, parlor car and sleep,
ing car companies are subject to the
same provisions as railroads, in so far
as the nature of their business war.
rants. This requires them to abstain