Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-05
in the Inter
state Commerce Law.
Bill introduced in Congress
By Representative Mann.
Would Create Bureau Of Transpor.
tation...0ther Changes.

Washington, Jan A bill making
sweeping changes in the Interstate
Commerce Laws for the regulation of
railroads, was introduced in the house
today by Representative Mann of Illi-
| nois, chairman of the committee on in
ter-state and foreign commerce. The
bill is not in accord with the one pre-
pared by the committee acting under
the direction of President Taft and
known as the administration Rail-
road BILL" but was prepared by Chair
man Mann during the summer yaca-
ton Of congress.
The measure does not provide for a
special court to hear Interstate COM
merce cases as has been reported
would be the form of legislation on
this subject which President Taft
would recommend. 1t proposes, how
ever, to create in the Department of
Commerce and Labor a bureau to be
called 1.-The bureau of transportation
where a shipper may file complaint
against a railroad. If, after an invest
igation the commissioner of the bureau
Of transportation finds that there is JUS
tice in the complaint he must report the
facts to the attorney general or the
United States and if the attorney gen.
eral is satisfied that there is cause OF
action, he is required to file a petition
with the Interstate commerce commls-
sion and prosecute the case at the eX-
perse of the government. The shipper
may, if he prefers, still file his COM
plant direct with the commission and
prosecute it at his own expense as tire
present law provides.
The bill makes it the duty of COM
mon carriers TO establish just and rea-
sonable classifications and regulations
and authorizes the Interstate Com
merce Commission to prescribe what
they shall be,
The long and short haul clause Of the
Interstate commerce act would be
amended so as to provide that that
charge for a short haul shall in no
case be greater than the charge for
long haul and the charge for through
rate shall be no greater than the
aggregate of the local rate. False or
padded claims for damages by a ship
per are prohibited as rebates are.
The provisions of the law in regard
to filing complaints and authorizing
the commission to adjust complaints
and fix rates are very much enlarged
and they give power to the committee
not only to fix rates upon complaint,
but also to adjust and prescribe class
irications. regulations and practices
generally. The commission may sus-
| pend any proposed rate or change in
classification, taking effect until full
hearing can be had on the subject. The
commission is also given the power to
establish through rates and joint
rates. and the shipper is allowed to Sc
| ect the entire route over which
shipment shall be transported.
Railroads are required to furnish
rates OH written applications. Every
| shipment of property on which re-
| bate is paid is made a separate offense
| and the Elkins law is amended to that
extent The railroads. under the
Mann bill. may exchange transporta-
ton for advertisement of their time Ia
bles in newspapers.
4 common carrier is prohibited from
| owning or acquiring ownership OF
stock in any competing carrier The
| bill also makes it unlawful for rail-
| road company to issue any stock or
bonds except for the acquisition OF
property, the reconstruction of its lines,
| the Improvement of its service or the
| discharge of it's obligations, and after
| fling with the commissioner of trans
po-tation a statement setting forth
the full details of the issue. The bill
| requires stock to be sold for not less
than par and the bonds for not less
| than the reasonable market value and
provides a penalty of $4,000 fine and
imprisonment for five years for the IL
| legal issuance of stocks and bonds.
The bill also makes it unlawful for
any railroad to acquire by purchase,
lease or otherwise, the ownership OF
any connecting line and forblds any
form of ownership to acquire control OF
two competing lines of transportation
| unless permitted by the Interstate
commerce commission.
The bill was referred to the commit
tee of which Mr. Mann is chairman
JUDGE SYLVESTER DANA.