The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-05-16
Express Hearings Come Next.

Express hearings Come Next.
The state board of railroad commits
sioners will no more than have the
freight hearings disposed of than the
express hearings will be coming up for
under the new law which
gives them their general supervision.
Copies of the new law will be prepar-
ed for distribution. 1t provides as fol-
lows:
"Section 2. All express companies
operating and doing business in this
state are declared to be common car
riers, and it shall be the duty of every
such express company or common car
rier to transport all property, parcels,
money, merchandise, packages and
other things of value which may be
offered to them for transportation, at
charge or rate therefor; and
all laws SO far as applicable, now in
force or hereafter enacted, regulating
the transportation of property by rail
road companies, shall apply with equal
force and effect to express companies.
section 3. The railroad commission
ers of this state shall have general SUI
pervision of all express companies opcr-
ating and doing business in this state;
and shall inquire into any unjust dis
elimination, neglect or violation of the
laws of this state governing common
carriers, by any express company doing
business therein, or by the officers,
agents or employees thereof; and they
shall have power and it shall be their
duty to fix and establish reasonable,
fair and just rates of charges, including
a schedule of maximum joint rates for
each kind or class of property, money,
parcels, merchandise, packages and
other things to be charged for and re-
ceived by each express company or
carriers by express, separately or con-
parcels, merchandise, packages and
are to be transported separately or con-
jointly by such express companies, or
carriers by express, doing business over
between points wholly within the state
of Iowa, which rates or charges shall be
made to apply to all such express COM
panies or express carriers, and may be
changed or modified by said commits
sioners from time to time in such man
ner as may become necessary.
"Section 4. Within six months from
the taking effect Of this act it shall be
the duty of said railroad commissioners
and they are hereby directed to prepare
and make for each express company
doing business in this state schedule
of reasonable maximum charges of rates
for transporting property, money, par
GELS. merchandise, packages and other
things carried by such express COM
pany or companies between points
wholly within the state of Iowa; and in
all actions brought against such CON-
mon carriers wherein are involved the
charges thereof for the transportation
of any property, or any unjust discrim-
nation in relation thereto, the sched-
ules or reasonable maximum rates of
charges so made by the railroad COM
missioners shall be taken as prima facie
evidence in all courts that the rates
fixed therein are reasonable and just
maximum rates of charges for which
said schedules have been prepared.
section 5. 1t shall be the duty OF
every such express company or common
carrier engaged in transporting prop.
erty, money, parcels, merchandise, pack
ages and other things to print in clear
and legible tyre the schedules of rates
| for transportation of such property
money, parcels, merchandise, packages
and other things, SO made by such rail
road commissioners, and shall post in
each of it's Offices or places of business
where patrons visit for the purpose OF
making and receiving shipments, and
keep displayed in each office or place
of business within convenient access
and for the inspection AID use of the
public during customary business hours
such printed schedule Of rates Of
charges and any amendments thereto
and shall also post and display in SINH
lar manner any special rules and regu
lations which may be promulgated by
| them or said railroad commissioners fol
the information of their patrons.
Section 6. 1t shall be unlawful fol-
any express company or common carrier
to charge, demand, collect or receive 6
a greater compensation for such trans
portation of property, or any service ir
connection Herewith between the
points named in such schedules thar
the rates and charges which are speci
fed in the schedules made by said rail
road commissioners and in effect at the
time. Any such express company OF
common carrier, any officer, representa-
tive or agent or any express company
or carrier, who knowingly violates the
provisions of this act shall forfeit t.
the state of Iowa the sum of $500 fo1
each offense, to be recovered as by Law
provided.
"Section z. Each and every express
company or carrier by express, a!
herein defined, doing business within
the state of Iowa, shall at all convent
ent times during the hours of business
accept and receive for prompt transpor
tation and shipment destined to points
on their own lines, or to points on tn,
lines of other express companies operat
ing within the state, or for points be
yond said state, all property, parcels
money, merchandise, packages ant
other things of value which may be Of
fered to them, or either of them, fo
transportation by the public, and an.
express company or other common
carrier refusing to transport goods as
above provided taking the same in tn
order presented, shall be liable to tn
party injured for damages sustained b,
reason of it's refusal, and in addition
thereto shall be liable to penalty O
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