The Sentinel=record., 1910-01-05
IN NEW RAILROAD LAY OFFER. ED IN HOUSE BY MANN, OF lN-
 TERsTATE COMMITTEE.
New Legislation Is in Some Respects a Modification of the Elns and
 Hepburn Bills of the
 Last Congress.

Washington, Jdn. IA Dli tiA&hihS sweeping changes in the interstate commercel avs for the regulation Of railroads was introduced in the house today by Representative Mann of Hi nois, chairman of the committee on interstate and foreign commerce.
 The bill is not in accord with the one prepared by the committee acting under the direction of President Taft, and known as the railroad bill but was prepared by the chairman during
 he summer vacation of congress.
 The measure does not provide for special court to hear interstate com merce. cases. as had been reported would be the form of legislation on this subject, which President Taft would recommend.
 It is possible. however to create in the department of commerce and latpr bureau to be called 'The Blu reau of Transportation" where a shipper may file complaints aganst railroad.
 If, after an investigation, the com missioner Of the bureau Of transpor- tation finds there is justice in the complaint. hem ust report the facts 10 the attorney general of the Unired States and is the attorney general is satisfied with them. he is required to file petition with the interstate com merce commission and prosecute the case at the expense of the govern ment.
 The shipper. if he prefers. may still file his complaint direct with the com. mission or prosecute it at his own ex- pense. as the present law provides.
 The bill makes it the duty of the common carriers to establish just and reasonable classifications and regusa- tions and authorizes the interstate commerce commission to prescribe what they shall be
 long and short haul clause of the interstate commerce act would be amended so as to provide that tne charge hor a short haul shall in no case be greater than the charge for a long haul and the charge for a through rate shall be no greater than the ag- gIegate of the local rates.
 False or padded claims for damages by a shipper are prohibited, as re- bates are.
 The provisions of the law fin regard to filing complaints and authorizing the commission to adjust complaints and fix rates are very much enlarged and they give power to the commis- f sion not only to fix rates upon com 2 plsint, but also to adjust and prescribe classifcations. regulations and prac- tices generally.
 The commission may suspend the < taking effect of any proposed rate or chang~ in classificatipns until full 2 hearing can be had on the subject. The commission is also given the pow CT to establish through rates and 1oint rates, and the shipper to select the entire route over which shipment shall be transported.
 Railroads are required to furnish rates on written application Every shipment of property on which re- < bate is paid is made a separate of. fense and the Elkins law is amended ip that extent The railroads. under the Mann bill. may exchange trans. portation for advertisement of their time tables In the newspapers.
 common carrier is prohibited from owning or acquiring ownership oi Etock in any competing carrier.
 The bill also makes it unlawful fo, a railroad company to issue any stock hr bonds except for the acquisition oi property. the construction of it's line =:aszz lie Improvement of it's service. or ihe fiacharge of it's obligations. and after