The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-09-28
pertaining thereto.

II can order the abolition Of gsade
crossings wheW II considers them toe
dangerous to tho community to DO per.
mitted. and can order the railways TO
construct snbways or overhead crossings
or Che installation Of safety appliances
ut level crossings.
II has the power 10 regulate the run
ming and operation Of trains, and can
order changes in schedules or operation
OF additional trains to give better ser.
vies for the accommodation Of bust.
! ness
Railway companies must report 10 tho
board all cases OF fatal or serious In
Jury.
All agreements for the sale, lease or
amalgamaslon Of railways must be sp-
proved by the board.
The board may oNier the allotment or
distribution or cars. wherc there may
be question Of discrimination.
Railway companies must submit TO
the board plans Of all branch lines, new
lines, spurs, sidings. or railways OF any
description whatever, and the approval
Of tho board must be secured before tho
work can be commenced, This apples,
also, TO oil works. brodges, etc, which
the railways may desire to construct.
The board may order the construction
Of bridges over Manageable waters. and
the regulations respecting the construc.
tion OF such bridges are included In tho
Railway Act,
The board may order the construction
Of private sidings or spurs to any In
dustries. II Il deems Il necessary.
Tho board may exercise jurisdiction
over claims against railway companies
at the same time, 1t protects railway
companies from unjust claims.
The board may determine what lands
the railway companies may take with
out the owners consent for right Of way,
etc. and It's authority extends 10 ex-
preparation proceedings Of every de-
scription.
No railway may cross or join another
railway without the consent Of tho
board.
The Railway Act defines the duties
and powers Of directors OF railways.
1t can fix either maximum or abso-
lutte rates.
No toll can be charged which un.i,
justly discriminate between different To-
calities.
No greater toll can be charged for a
shorter haul than for longer haul un-
less, in the judgment OF the Commission
special conditions make II necessary.
Freight tariffs are governed by
classification which must receive the ap.
proyal Of the board. This insurcs uni-
formity Of classification.
The effects Of this beneficial rate reg
ulation on the commercial development
OF Canada cannot be oyerestimatel.
Consider for one moment what this pro-
lection means.
]. Equal rates for all, A guarantee
that one section Of the country will NOT
be exploited to the detriment Of another
region equally endowed with natural
resources.
2. No secret rebates. An exempli-
hcation Of the Give and lot live" policy.
The email producer is zealously pro-
tected and afforded an equal chance on
the Same basis with . wealthy corpo-
ration.
3. Government regulation Of train
schedules. An absolute assurance to the
shipper that he can fulfil his contracts.
In short, 1t may be said that, the
Board Of Railway Commissioners has
absolute control over all matters per-
tanning to the construction, operation
and maintenance Of railroads, and, In
comparison, the powers Of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission seem dwarf
ed almost to insignifcance 1