Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-01

all cases Of alleged neglect or violations
Of the laws of the state by any railway
company or common carrier subject to the
provisions hereof doing business in this
state, or by the officers, agents or employees
thereof, and take such action with reference
thereto as may be- provided herein, or I'M
der the laws OF this state providing for the
regulation of railway companies or COM
mon carriers.
said commission shall have the power,
and It shall be It's duty to fix all neces-
sary rates, charges and regulations to gov
ern and regulate the freight and passenger
tariffs of railway companies and common
carriers, the power to correct abuses and
prevent unjust discrimination, extortions
and over charges in the rates of freight
and passenger tariffs on the different rail-
roads in this state, and to enforce the
same by having the penalties inflicted as
hereinafter provided, through proper courts
different parts of the same lines, II found
necessary to do Justice, and may make
rates for express companies different from
the rates for railroads.
Fix Joint Rates.
The said commission shall have power,
and II shall be it's duty, to fix for all or
any connecting lines of railroad in this
state TedbOnhDle JOINT rates OF IfelBnt
charges, terminal switching charges for
the various classes of freight and cars
that may pass over two or more lines of
such railroads. and II any two or more
connecting railroads shall fail to agree upon
a fair and just division Of the charges
arising from the transportation Of freights.
passengers or cars over their lines, the
commission shall fix the pro rata part of
such charges to be received by each of said
connecting lines.
Said commission shall make and estab-
llsh reasonable rates of charges for each
railway company or common carrier sub
ject thereto for the use or transportation
of loaded or empty ears on its road; and
may establish for each railroad or for all
railroads alike reasonable rates for the
storing and handling of freight and for
the use of cars not unloaded after forty
eight hours notice to the conslgnee. not to
include Sundays.
Said commission shall have the power,
and 1t shall be its duty, to fairly and justly
classify and subdivide all freight and prop
erty of whatsoever character and descrip-
ton that may be transported over the rail-
ways OF this state, into such general and
special classes as may be found necessary
and expedient, and fix to each class or sub
division of freight, reasonable rate for
each railway company or common carrier
for the transportation of each Of said
classes and subdivisions; the .classilcations
herein provided for shall apply to and be
the same for all railway companies and
common carriers subject to the provisions
OF this act.
Said commission may Ak different rates
for different railroads and for different
lines under the same management, or for
The said commission shall have power.
and It shall be its dutyto carefully, examine
into and Inspect. from time to time. the
condition of each railway, or common. car
rier, its equipment. and the manner of. Its
conduct and management with regard to
the public safety and convenience in the
state; make semi-annuals examination of
the bridges of said railway companies and
common carriers and report the condition
thereof to the company to which the same
3, belong, and II found in an unsafe and dan
Eerous condition said commission shall I'M
. mediately notify the railway company or
common carrier whose duty 1t is to put
the same in repair. which shall be done by
Il within ten days after receiving such
notice, and II any railway company or
common carrier subject TO the provisions
Of this act falls to perform this duty said
commission may enjoin and prevent It from
running trains over the same while in such
unsafe and dangerous condition.
Compel Attendance. of Witnesses.
The chairman ana each of the commits
sioners. for the purposes mentioned in this
chapter. shall have power to administer al
oaths certify TO all oficial acts, to compel