Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-02-06
SYNOPSIS OF RAILROAD BILL

| ox0Ofok6 Ok nAAAhOAb b1xIh The bill was introduced in the coun. eil January 2s by Councilman Eugene Brady O'Neil of Maricopa county, and is entitled: "An Act to Regulate Rail roads and Other Common Carriers in the Territory of Arizona, Create Board of Railroad Commissioners, Fix Their | Salaries, Define Their Duties, Prevent | the Imposition of Unreasonable Rates, Prevent Unjust Discrimination, Insure | an Adequate Railroad Service, Pre- scribe the Mode of Procedure and the Rules of Evidence in Relation Thereto, Prescribe Penalties for Violations, and Making an Appropriation Therefor. " Section 1 provides for railroad com. | mission to consist of three members, to be appointed by the governor on | the advice and consent of the council
 immediately after the passage of the | law. Their term of office shall expire the first Monday in February, 1911, and at that time there shall be appoint cd and confirmed one commissioner foi years and one for six years, and after the expiration of their terms successors shall be appointed for the term of six years, which shall be the regular term of office Vacancies occurring in the
 board shall be filled by appointment of I the governor.
 | One of the commissioners shall have a general knowledge of railroad law and the others shall have a general un. | derstanding of matters pertaining to | transportation. The governor is given power to remove at any time for mis- conduct in office. It is provided that no member of the commission shall be in any way interested financially with any railroad company, and none shall have any other business or employment, | but must devote their time and atten- | tion to the business of the commission. The salary of each commissioner shall be $2,50O per year. The commission may employ secretary at salary of $2,500 and such clerical assistance as | may seem necessary.
 The. commissioners shall be known collectively as the "Railroad Commis- sioners of Arizona" and under that | quarters shall be at the capitol build ing in Phoenix. Actual travelling ex- penses are allowed commissioners and clerks when away from home on busi- ness of the commission.
 Section defines the term "railroad v to mean all that is generally understood | by the term, and in addition includes express companies and telegraph com. panies. The act does not apply to rail roads operated for private use and not
 serving the public.
 | Section 3 requires that every rail road shall furnish reasonable and equit- able service and facilities, and the l charges for services shall be equitable and just. Every railroad shall print and file with the commission all rates, fares and charges for transportation of
 persons and property, which shall at all times be open to the inspection of the public. The schedules of rates shall
 include all demurrage charges, charges for loading and unloading, switching, l terminal or transfer service and all other services in connection with the
 transportation of persons or property. Two copies of this schedule shall be
 kept on file in every depot, station and
 office in convenient shape for the in. spection of the public. No change shall be made in rates without ten days no- tiee to the commission, and all such changes shall be indicated in the sched- ules ten days before taking effect, but the commission in emergency may pre- scribe a shorter time. W henever a change is made in an existing schedule, notice shall be posted conspicuously calling attention to the changes.
 It small be unlawful for a railroad to charge a greater or less rate than indi- cated in the published schedules.
 Section 6 provides that this act shall not prevent concentration, commodity and other special contract rates, but such rates shall be open to all shippers for a like kind of traffic under similar circumstances.
 Section :. There shall be but one classification of freight in the terri
 tory, which shall be uniform on all railroads.
 Section 8. Nothing in the act shall
 be construed to prevent the handling of freight free or at reduced rates for the United States, the territory or any municipality thereof, or for cnaritable purposes, or for fairs or expositions, the transfer of household goods of em- l ployees of the railroads; or the issuance of mileage, excursion or communication tickets, provided the same opportunity shall be extended to all the public to take advantage of such special rates. Railroads may give free transportation or reduced rates to ministers of the gospel, officers or agents of incorporated colleges, inmates of soldiers homes, agents of charitable societies when tray cling on business of the society, desti- ute and homeless persons, railroad of fcers, railroad employees or members of their families when such employees | have become disabled in railway ser vice, or members of the families of de- ceased railroad employees; may allow the exchange of passes with officers or employees of other railroads. It is pro- vided that no person holding public ! office under the laws of the territory shall be given passes or reduced rates not open to the public. Free transporta- tion may be given for an attendant with all shipments of livestock.
 Section provides that adequate de- pots must be furnished and must be kept clean, we'll lighted and warmed