The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-11

&o. 6s) AN ACE. tS -.
 sbe known as the Railroad Com
 mission of Alabama. define Its du-
 ties and powers and provide for { it's mode of procedure and pre-
 scribe penalties for violation of its orders.
 section l. Be it enacted by the Leg tslature of Alabama, That a Commits sion to be known as Railroad com mission of Alabama, consisting of president and two associates, who shall De competent persons, and qualified electors of this State, is established their terms of office shall be for four years; at the election to be held in the state on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Nineteen hundred and eight. and every four years thereafter, president or said Commission shall be elected, by the qualified electors of this State. and at the election to be held in the State on the first Tuesday after the first Mon- day In November, 1910. and every four years thereafter. two associates, who, with the president shall constitute said Commission shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State The re- result of such election shall be ascer- fained. and declared by the same au- thority and in the same manner, as are the results of election for Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme oCurt: the persons elected to nll saio offices shall enter upon the discharge of their respective duties on the first Monday in March after their election. and shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualified. If any vacancy should occur in either or said offices, caused by death, resigna- ton, or otherwise, the same shall De filled by appointment by the Governor. fhe appointee holding for the balance .. DasnN no two of said Railroad Commission CTS shall be elected, or appointed from fhe same Confessional District. Pro- vtded further, that the members of the Railroad Commission elected in Novem- 1s04, and November, 1906, shall continue xo hold such offices, and that the terms of office of said members shall be ana remain as prescribed by the Act ap- proved October 1. 1903, under which 4hey were elected and provided fur ther that in the event any person cleo ted to the office of Railroad Commits sioner at the election held in November. 1906, or any person hereafter elected to such office, shall fail or refuse from any cause to qualify for the office to which he was elected. the Governor Nhail appoint to the office some person possessing the qualifications prescrio- cd in this Act, who shall discharge the duties of the office until the person elected qualities; but if the person sc falling or refusing to qualify shall be or become ineligible or dfsqualfhed from holding the office and shall Tall or refuse to qualify, such failure or re- 9nsal shall be held to create vacancy in the office. which vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Govern or, the appointee to hold for the term Tor which the person so failing or re- 9using to qualify was elected.
 Sec 9 The Commission shall be Known as the "Ratlroad Commission of Alabama" and the members thereof ahall be State oficers and before en- 4ering upon the, discharge of their du- ties. they shall take the oath of office prescribed for other State officers. The Commission shall have a seal with the words "Railroad Commission of Ala bama" with such emblem as the Com mission may prescribe.
 Sec. 8. No person owning any stock in any railroad corporation, or in the employment of any railroad corpora fionl or on any person. firm, company or association, owning or operating rail- road in this State, shall be eligible to the office of Railroad Commissioner.
 Sec. 4 Such Commissioners may be fmpeached and removed from office by the Supreme Court for the same causes and in the same manner as other State officers; and any Commissioner who shall accept any gift, gratuity, emolu-
  firm. corporation, company or associa- tion. owning or operating a railroad in whole or m part in this State during his continuance in office, except per init for himself. or any employe of the Commission, to pass over the railroad of such person, corporation, company or association, on official business, Bhal1 forfeit his office and may be im- peached and removed from office there for, or for any other cause of im- peaohment.
 Sec. 5. The president of such Com mission shall receive a salary of thir- Ey-five hundred dollars per annum, and the associate commissioners shall each receive a salary of three thousand dol lars per annum, and they may employ s clerk at salary not exceeding twen- ty-four hundred dollars per annum. and stenographer at a salary not ex- ceeding twelve hundred dollars per am mum, and may employ such experts as may be necessary to perform any ser vice 1t may require of them; provid- ed that the amount expended for such experts shall not exceed twenty-five hundred dollars in any one year; such salaries to be paid as the salaries of other State officers are paid. All money paid out under the provisions of this section including such sum as may be necessary to procvre office furniture and stationery. and to pay other of1ce expenses. snail De pau ou war e1ht drawn by the Auditor on the Treasur- es; but such office expenses shall not exceed five hundred dollars per an- num-
 Sec. 6. Such Commissioners shall have an office at the Capitol, and there meet on the first Monday of every month, and shall remain in session un- til all business before them is dispos- ed of; and they shall hold other ses- sfons at such times and places as may be necessary for the proper discharge of their duty, or as the convenience of parties in the judgment of the Com mission may require; and they shall keep a. record of all their proceedings, which shall be open at all times to the Inspection of the public.
 Sec. T. The Commission shall have power to adopt and publish rules to govern It's proceedings, and to regulate the mode and manner of all investiga- lions, and hearings before it. provided all hearings shall be open to the pup
 Sec. 8. On. or before the 10th of October, of each year, the Railroad Commission, through the president thereof, shall make to the Governor for transmission to the legislature. a report of their acts and doings for the wear ending on the thirtieth day of Tune. next preceding. setting forth Nuch facts as will disclose the actual workings of the transportation sys- 4em of this State and making such sug- srestion as to them may seem appropri-
 Da for the hest interests of the