Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-01
FOR RAILROAD COMMISSION
Bill Is Ready to Be Reported to the Joint
Legislative Committee.
MEASURE COMPREHENSIVE IN ITS SCOPE
Gives Authority 20 the New Body and
Defines Its Duties, Outlining
what is to he Expected
of IL.
CFrom a stan correspondent5

I
1 exception of one section the bill giving
authority to the State Railway commission
and defining the duties of the commission
has been completed and will be reported
to the Joint committee some time tomor-
! row. The section yet to be drafted VIII
provide that railroad agents must report
| to the commission the contents of cars
| loaded. and the contents of cars coming
into the state must also be reported TO the
commission. This measure, which is con-
sidered the most important Of any of the
railroad measures, was prepared by SEN
ator Epperson of Clay Senator Aldrich OF
Butler and Representatives Harrison of
otoe and Walsh of Douglas. The bill is
as follows:
A bill for an act creating and defining
the powers, duties and qualifications Of
! the State Railway Commission and the
secretary thereof and fixing their compen-
sation; defining railway companies and
common carriers, regulating the same and
providing the method of fixing. establish
ing and publishing rates and charges for
the transportation OF freights and cars, in
cluding joint through rates and Joint traffic
arrangements, over and upon the various
lines of said railway companies and COM
mon carriers; the method of making. es-
tablishing and enforcing the general or
| QeT9 OF SalO COnTnlSSlOnt uellllnb uhJhSN
determinations; to provide penalties for
the violation of the provisions of this act.
and to repeal all acts or parts Of acts in
conflict herewith. and to declare that an
| emergency exists.
Eligibility and Salary.
| Be II enacted by the legislature of the
! state of Nebraska:
Section l. Eligibility. salaries Of COM
| missioners clerks, etc. The members OF
! the State Railway commission shall
be resident citizens OF this state, ana
qualified voters under the constitution
five years No person shall be eligible to
the ONCE Of State Railway Commissioner
who is directly or indirectly interested In
any railway company in this state or out
Of it. or who is In any way or manner
| pecuniarily interested in any corporation
or any other common carrier subject TO the
provisions OF this act, and If such COM
missioner, or any Of them, become so In
terested, after his election or appointment
his office shall become vacant; and II any
! railway commissioner shall become so
| interested otherwise than voluntarily he
! shall within a reasonable time divest him.
self of such interest. falling to do this'
his office shall become vacant.
| No railway commissioner shall hold any
office under the government of the United
States or of this state, or of any other
| state government; and shall not while such
commissioner engage in any occupation or
| business inconsistent with his duties as
such commissioner,
the office OF railway commissioner py ap-
nointment. and the persons so appointed
shall fill said office until the next general
election after his said appointment.
Refore entering upon the duties of his
oN1ce each of said commissioners shall take
and subscribe to the oath OF office pre-
! scribed in the constitution, and shall In
! addition thereto swear that he is not, d.
rectly or indirectly interested in any rail-
road. nor in the bonds, stocks, mortgages
securities, contracts or earnings OF any
railway company or common carrier ana
that he will, to the best OF his aplhty'
faithfully and justly execute ana ENFORCE
the duties devoving upon him as such
railway commissioner, which oath shall be
filed with the secretary OF state
Each of said commissioners shall receive
an annual salary of SOOO' payable In the
same manner that the salaries Of other
state officers are paid.
In addition thereto the commissioners,
secretary and clerks and other employees OF
said commission shall be entitled to re-
caIve from the state their actual necessary
,ravelinR expenses, which shall include the
cost onlv of transportation while travelling
on the business of the commission, TO be
| naid ont on the order of the governor upon
| on itemized statement thereof, sworn to
bv the party who incurred the expense ana
approved by the commission.
Powers and Duties.
Section q Organization, powers and du-
ties.
Immediately after the members OF said
conrnission have taken the oath Of Of
Ace herein prescribed they shall meet at
Lincoln. Neb. and organize by electing
enc ~ their member chairman and appoint
a secretary, at a salary OF not more than
tventv-iye hundred dollars CS2.50C per an
mum. who shall take the same oath as the
commissioners, and any person Ineligible 70
the ONCE of commissioner shall be ineligible
10 the once Of secretary OF said com
mission. Said commission may also appoint
not more than two clerks. at a salary OF
not more than twelve hundred dollars
Isl, ,2OO) each per annum' ana Sucn other
narsona as experts as may be necessary to
nertoru any duty that may be required of
them by this act The secretary shall
keen full and correct minutes of all trans
actions and proceedings Of said commits
.ton and perform such duties as may be
raouired by the commission. The commits
sion shall have power to make all needful
rules and regulations for the government
NJ their proceedings. They shall be known
collectively as the Nebraska State Rail
vay commission and shall have a seal.
similar 10 the seal OF this state, with the
words railway Commission OF Nebraska"
engraved thereon. They shall be furnished
with an office in the capitol at Lincoln,
Neb.. and with necessary furniture. sta
tionery, supplies and all necessary ex-
penses, to be paid for on the order Of the
governor.
said railway commission may hold ses-
sions at any place In this state when
deemed necessary 10 facilitate the dis
charge OF their duties, and may conduct
the hearings and other proceedings pro-
yided for herein. or under any other law
OF this state. at such place or places in
the state as may In the judgment OF said
commission be the most convenient and
practicable for determining the particular
matter before said commission.
Said commission shall have the general
supervision OF all railroads In the state ex-
press companies, car companies. sleeping
car companies, freight and freight line
tcompanies and any other common carrier