Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-11
IOWA SENATOR INTRODUCES
MEASURE IN SENATE PRoPos-
ING AMENDMENTS TO INTER
STATE COMMERCE ACT.
MAY PRECIPITATE
A LIVELY FIGHT
CONTROVERSY OF RAILROAD
LEGISLATION, 1T is DECLARED,
MAY sURPAss CONFLICT OF
FOUR YEARS AGO.


controversy over railroad legislation
will be precipitated in congress this
winter which in intensity of interest
and gravity of Importance promises to
surpass the legislative conflict over
railroad rates of four years ago. The
first gun was fired today by Senator
Cummins of Iowa when he introduced
a bill proposing radical changes in
the interstate commerce act.
In g. large sense the Cummins meas
Ire is a practical substitute for the
present interstate commerce act Ii
requires uniform classification and
rates on freight, authorizes the COM
mission to fix minimum rates, and
changes of rates by railroads have no
effect until approved by the commits
sion 1t it to prohibit the acquisition
of parallel competing lines and holds
that all capital stock must be repre-
Sented at par by money or property
1t is declared the progressives In
congress may take up and try to pass
i.:c Cummins bill if the administra-
ion bill now being prepared by
+ , L
Wickersham should prove unsatisfac-
tory. The bill presented by Senator
Curnmins contains the following i'm
Tortant provisions:
/. The commission is directed to
prepare and serve upon every common
carrier freight classification which
shall be uniform throughout the Unit
ed States. Such classifcations shall
be obligatory upon the carrier and
may be changed only by the commits
sion.
O. Likewise the commission shall
serve upon every common carrier d
form or plan of freight schedules, and
these also are made uniform and
obligatory.
8. If any carrier fails or refuses up
on demand to give shipper written
and accurate statement showing the
charge for any proposed shipment
when SO requested it shall be fined
$500.
Gives Absolute Power.
4. The commission is authorized
and directed upon it's own motion,
without waiting for complaints, to pro-
ceed as rapidly as possible to con
sideration Of all the rates in the coun.
try. Wherever 1t finds Il rate unjust
unreasonable, discriminatory or pre-
ferential or prejudical it shall give no
tice Of hearing; and at such hearings
and in further consideration all rates
and circumstances shall be taken into
account, to preserve the right of every
community to a fair and natural oppor
ttlniIy to compete and to make every
class of freight bear its proper charge
Having determined the rate, the com
mission shall establish it, and it shall
be obligatory.
5. The commission shall establish
through routes and divide joint rates
and prescribe all regulations which
shall be obligatory.
6. No court shall enjoin or annu
or set aside any rate unless it shal
be proved that all the rates made by
the commission mean that the rail
road shall operate at loss; that the
one rate complained of causes loss
shall not be sufficient to secure in
junction or annullment by the courts.
Z. Shippers shall have the right tc
designate the establishment through
routes they wish to have their good!
follow.
8. NO Changes OF TdIeS OF SCneQdle'
shall go into effect without the ap
proval of the commission.
To Preserve Competition.
9. No common carrier corporation
shall purchase OF lease any competin,
line, or hold any part of it's stock
though the commission, for reasons q
public policy, may permit lawful ant
open consultations or acquisition
which do not destroy competition be
tween lines.
10. No shares shall be sold excep
at par.
II. No share of stockholders shal
be issued or sold based upon increase,
value of property or betterments. Vic
lation of this provision is made
felony.
12. No bonds shall be issued excep
to pay debts, buy equipment or bull
new lines or terminals.
13. Right to carry interstate CON
merce is denied to any transportatio
company engaged directly or indirec
ly IN any other business.