The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-04
SENATE PASSES
RAILROAD BILL
Continued from Page One.

bill. as Mr. LaForette said. by the pro
cressive Republicans and Democrats
against the combined opposition OF tn"
administration and the railroads
Mr.. LaFollette closed by giving notice
that the confcrees must keep faith with
the senate In the matter OF important
amendments eneraftcd on the bill, II they
expect the conference report TO be APP
proved. He referred 10 a remark made by
Senator Aldrich a fortnight ago. In debate
on the long and short haul clause, that
che who laughs last laughs hest" and
slgnlfying that the confcrccs might be
ready To drop some important feature OF
The 'high spots in the railroad bin
il passed the senate may be described
as follows,
new court OF commerce" for the con-
sideration exclusively OF appeals from or
ders Of the Interstate commerce commits
sion. The court is 10 consist OF five
Judges TO sit In Washington. Their pow
ers are TO be coordinate with the Judges
of the federal circuit court. they arc 10
receive the same pay and emoluments'
and are TO be appointed In the first in
stance by the president for terms, re-
spectivcly. OF one. two. three, four and
five years.
Order of Succession.
Each as he retires to take up the
work Of a circuit Judge is TO be sue
ceeded by designation from the CIR
TO be filled by appointment by the CHIEF
justice OF the supreme court.
While the offices of the court are TO be
in Washington. and regular sessions are
10 be held here. provision Is made for
sittings anywhere in the United States.
The government. rather than the inter-
defendant in all cases coming before the
court, but the commission Is permitted
TO intervene, as are other Interested par
ties. The defense is placed under the
I'll ton ~
commission and interested parties are
permitted TO have counsel and TO carry
on the suit In case the attorney general
falls to do So Appeal may be taken to
the supreme court
Long and Short Haul.
The long and short haul provision OF
the present Interstate commerce law is
amended so as TO permit a greater charge
for q short haul than for long haul
only with the consent OF the interstate
commerce commission, Especial pro-
vision is made against the fixing OF a
lower rate for the purpose OF destroying
water competition.
Railroad companies are required 10 fur
nish written statements OF rates from one
place TO another upon the written appli-
cation OF n shipper. under a penalty OF
$3.50 for misstatement or for failure 10
comply with such applications. In add
tion the shipper can bring suit for addi-
tional damages.
Either upon complaint or upon it's own
Initiative. the commission is authorized
to determine the reasonablencss OF indi-
vidual or Joint rates or classitications and
II such rates are found unreasonable.
discriminatory. preferential or prejudicIal,
the commission Is authorized to prescribe
a porper maximum rate, Rates reduced
TO meet water competition must not be
restored unless after a hearing by the
TO determine whether condi-
tons have changed otherwise than by the
elimination OF the water competition.
cot il1 l,,-N
orders Of the commission are to con-
time In force for two years. The COM
mission is also given authority to In
vestigate the propriety of any new rate.
regulation of classification. Individual or
joint. OF any common carrier and pend
Ing such hearing suspension for ten
months OF the rate. classification or regu-
lation is provided. The carrier Is re-
quired TO refund all charges found TO be
excessive,
Authority Is also given the commits
joint classification and TO prescribe maxi
mum rates over them whenever the car
riers themselves neglec, to do so.
This regulation also covers water lines
that are connecting carriers.
Rights of Shippers.
Shippers are given the right to desig-
nate a through route or part of a route
over which their property shall be car
ried. A penalty Of $4,000 is imposed upon
carriers for disclosing any information
provided for violation of orders under
section Is of the existing interstate
commerce law, and in this case each day
that the violation continues is to be con-
strued as separate offense
At intervals OF six months the commits
sion is required TO make an analysis of
the tariff and classifications. and TO In
vesuSate the advisability of uniform
classification.
Telegraph and telephone lines arc
placed under jurisdiction OF the inter-
state commerce commission. The com
mission is authorized TO decide the rea-
sonableness OF rates and "a penalty is
imposed OF from 500 TO $4,000 against
granting franks or passes for the trans
mission Of messages. Special night and
press report rates are authorized.
The only provision in the bill applica-
bic TO other than railroad corporations is
one regulating injunctions by federal
courts which suspended the operation OF
state laws. II is provided that such ac-
ton shall be taken only when presented
10 justice of the supreme court or 10 a
circuit judge and heard by three Judges.
one of whom shall be a supreme court
tnn nr ~tr